NISICHAWAYASIHK
CREE NATION
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FAMILY & COMMUNITY
WELLNESS CENTRE
Alarms are going off, bells are ringing and class is in
full swing at Nelson House. After months off, both
students, their guardians and even people in the
community are making the transition for back-to-
school. Heres some helpful tips to support students
throughout the school year.
Shop Strategically
If the kids are tuning into cartoons, theyre also
watching the commercials for all the back-to-school
supplies. Adults arent immune to all the advertising
either, and its easy to fall prey to them. Just make
sure you get the essentials, because more supplies
and added costs will come throughout the school
year.
Get Everyone on a Schedule
Routines are comfortable for kids, and having stress-
free kids helps make stress-free parents. A scheduled
for doing homework, going to bed, waking up, eating
breakfast and taking showers will make the day-to-
day more organized and less chaotic. Some experts
suggest getting your kids involved in making their
own schedule.
Plan Ahead
Maybe there a corner of the house where the
backpacks go, or theres a stock of lunch options and
snacks in an area of the fridge and pantry.
Designating where those items are help eliminate
disorder at home. Kids can put away their own
belongings and easily nd them the next day. They
can even pack their own lunches, saving you time
and anxiety.
Make time for breakfast
They call it the most important meal of the day for a
reason, and its not just a phrase to tell your kids.
Having this meal together before leaving home will
stave off hunger pains and get the whole family
focused for the day.
Skip sugary cereals and carbohydrate-laden meals.
Instead, opt for a protein-rich breakfast that includes
eggs, oatmeal or turkey bacon.
Its Back to School
Tips to help students reach their full potential
[ ]
THE BOX-
CIRCLE EXERCISE
PRESENTER: JANN DERRICK
HISTORY:
This exercise came to
me in a vision in the
1980s and I have used it
in my professional work
and my personal life ever
since.
I rst described my vision
in writing and it became
a presentation and then
a journal article with the
Mokakit Education
Research Association. It
was printed in their
journal in 1993 as The
Box and The Circle: Two
Systems of Life, The
University of BC, First
Nations Longhouse.
I began sharing the vision as an
experiential exercise in workshops
and in my family therapy practice. I
found that it packs a lot of power.
Participants quickly experienced and
saw the difference between the
Indigenous worldview and the
mainstream worldview. I saw that the
exercise saved a lot of talking, and
that it allowed for an understanding of
the Indigenous worldview based on
the experience.
Using the Exercise