January 2024 Newsletter
Revitalizing Wellness with Workout Wednesdays at PHILLIPS
We're thrilled to announce our 14th week of Workout Wednesday at PHILLIPS Annandale, a transformative program blending health and education. Our innovative approach involves staff and students engaging in movement breaks twice or thrice daily, right in their classrooms. This initiative, supported by video routines for ease and consistency, requires minimal planning from our dedicated staff.
The importance of this initiative is backed by the CDC’s findings, highlighting the myriad benefits of regular physical activity for children and adolescents: improved fitness, better mental health, and reduced risk of chronic diseases.
These classroom movement breaks have had a remarkable impact. Students are not only more physically active but also show enhanced focus, self-regulation, and learning capacity. Workout Wednesdays transcend physical health, fostering a community of wellness and active participation.
So, let's keep moving! Every member of our school community plays a vital role in this collective journey towards a healthier, more engaged learning environment.
Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to embrace and grow this vibrant wellness culture at PHILLIPS Annandale!
PHILLIPS Programs: Cultivating Growth with Farm to School Initiative
In the autumn of last year, PHILLIPS Programs had the honor of being chosen as a beneficiary of the Farm to School program by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). With a generous grant of $82,850, we have embarked on establishing an expansive urban agriculture and nutrition education initiative at our Annandale campus.
Our mission is simple: to improve access to fresh, locally grown food in schools and to connect students with the origins of their food through hands-on learning. The initiative, warmly embraced by our students who've dubbed themselves the "Great Garden Crew," is nurturing a deep-seated appreciation for agriculture through the "Grow Together Project."
Key milestones include the successful purchase and setup of a new greenhouse, where students are actively exploring and planning the growth of diverse plant species. Next month, they'll cultivate their own seedlings in this nurturing environment, and then transplant them into the garden in spring.
Enhancing this rewarding journey, our students have engaged in a national seed exchange program, widening their understanding of agriculture and creating bonds with communities nationwide. They meticulously prepare and dispatch 30 seed packets and have joyfully received various seeds in return. This exchange has not only enriched our knowledge of different seeds but also opened avenues to explore the diverse origins of our seed exchange partners.
This journey is more than just about planting seeds; it's about growing minds, fostering sustainability, and building a healthier future. We're excited for what's to come and invite you to stay tuned as our garden—and our students—continue to flourish.
As part of our ongoing commitment to transparency and continuous improvement, PHILLIPS Programs recently conducted a student focus group to evaluate the impact of the Farm to School Grant. Led by RoseAnn Renteria, Ph.D., Director of Research and Evaluation, the session offered valuable insights into how the grant has transformed our students' learning experience. A heartfelt note from one of the participants highlighted the garden as not just a learning space but a welcome "brain break" from traditional classroom settings.
Findings: Key Takeaways
Number One – Youth Are Learning Key Skills: Emerging List
1. Composting skills and composting language/concepts
2. Harvesting skills and harvesting language/concepts
3. How to work with seeds, seed packets, etc.
4. How to work with new food items (e.g., kale)
5. How to collaborate with the Chef and try out new foods
6. Teamwork with their peers (e.g., as needed with the soil, project)
7. How to organize and plan (e.g., planning next steps for the garden, organizing and cleaning, waiting for spring time (e.g., patience)
8. How to provide their feedback to others (e.g., youth voice engagement)
OT Department Series Highlights: Elevating Child Development
We're excited to share highlights from a recent two-part series designed specifically for parents by our Occupational Therapy (OT) Department. This initiative focuses on child development and offers valuable insights to caregivers.
Positive Feedback and Future Plans
Parents appreciated the hands-on, practical approach of these sessions. The success of this series has inspired us to plan more educational events for our community in the future. Stay tuned for updates, and a heartfelt thank you to all who contributed to the success of these sessions!
Session 1: Exploring the ZONES of Regulation and Interoception Curriculums
The first session provided a comprehensive overview of Leah Kuyper's ZONES of Regulation Program and Kelly Mahler's Interoception Curriculum, offering parents valuable insights into practical applications of these programs. Attendees gained strategies to help children manage emotional regulation and sensory needs effectively.
Session 2: Nurturing Routines and Habits
The second session delved into the development and maintenance of effective routines and habits for child regulation. Drawing from expertise across various fields, this workshop provided actionable advice for creating manageable routines that promote a child's independence and growth within the home environment.
Spotlight Moment: PHILLIPS Programs Shines on NPR!
We're thrilled to share that PHILLIPS Programs had the honor of being featured on NPR last month! Did you catch our moment in the spotlight?
This feature is a testament to the incredible journey of PHILLIPS Programs, and we owe a heartfelt thank you to our dedicated staff and generous contributors. For fifty-seven remarkable years, we've been committed to nurturing success and bright futures for thousands of children and youth with unique behavioral health needs.
Our mission to provide these opportunities has never been more vibrant or vital. Want to learn more about our transformative work and how you can be a part of this journey? Dive deeper into our story at http://phillipsprograms.org.
Together, we're crafting brighter futures, one child at a time. Join us in this mission.
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