Principal’s Message

Happy Friday IA families,

We are ramping up to the end of the year and testing season is on us.

I encourage you to check in with your students as the level of stress they are feeling is going to be ramping up very soon.

There is a great article on Psychology Today that gives you some tips of supporting students.

Be a Cheerleader, Not a Coach: Encourage your children by supporting their efforts and well-being rather than trying to actively coach their study efforts. This can include providing snacks, offering words of encouragement, or simply being there to listen.
Ask What They Need: Each student has unique needs that help them stay motivated and focused. Ask them directly how you can best support them during their exams.
Lower Demands at Home: Reduce the non-academic demands on your children during exam periods. This could mean lessening chores or postponing non-essential activities to help decrease their stress levels.
Healthy Messaging: Emphasize that their value does not hinge solely on their academic performance. Stress the importance of mental and physical health over exam scores.
Support with SMART Goals: Help your children set specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound goals for their study sessions to make tasks more manageable and less daunting.
Handling Withdrawal and Procrastination: When exam stress leads to avoidance behaviors, it’s crucial to offer support by structuring their time, helping set smaller, achievable goals, and reinforcing the message that you support them regardless of outcomes.

Please remind them to stay calm and keep their well-being in mind as they come into this time period. Also, please let us know if you have any concerns with your students where we might be able to help.