Next week is Mental Health Week! A cross-Canada initiative, Canadian Mental Health Week encourages Canadians to explore mental health literacy and build their personal toolbox of strategies and systems for staying healthy and well. We are excited to launch our inaugural Mental Health Week at UA and are thankful to the teachers and students who have put together a variety of activities to build awareness, infuse some mindfulness (and some fun!) into our days, and most importantly, to find balance. One goal we are aiming for next week is to reduce (or eliminate) homework for the week so that students have more time to go outside and play (perhaps soccer or ultimate in the park or they could try forest bathing!), or to connect with family members through games, activities, or quality family time. We hope the reduction in homework next week has positive effects on everyone.
Please note: next Friday, May 5 is the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirit People (MMIWG2S) in Canada. Some teachers will be discussing this event (mainly in upper grades) in an age-and-stage-of-development appropriate manner.
On a very different note, every year about this time Urban Academy displays some beautiful student art outside for a few days (you may have seen it) as we launched our gala silent auction yesterday that includes artwork from many of our classes. The funds are being raised to complete our ‘Let’s Get Moving Campaign’ resulting in additional play, learn and study spaces for our students. These spaces also benefit their physical and mental health significantly. You can support this auction by bidding on these pieces or anything else that our wonderful community has contributed, online at the Gala Website until May 6. Thank you for supporting us in this way. I am looking forward to attending my first UA Gala, and hopefully, I will see many of you there!
Wishing you a weekend and a week ahead full of fun activities, and physical and mental wellness.
Yours in health & wellness,
Brenda Ball, UA Principal
