Author: Sterling Ta'Bon, Healthy Schools Manager As I prepared for Cairn Guidance’s Shine Light on Depression Ambassador Retreat, I reflected on our theme, “Illuminating the Light”. The opportunity to gather Ambassadors from across the country to one single location for one single purpose brought its special light. We are privileged to have Ambassadors representing the states of Iowa, Missouri, North Carolina, Kansas, South Carolina, Texas, and Washington.The retreat was established to Read ▸ about R&R with Shine Light on Depression: Retreat and Recharge
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A 6 month Reflection
By: Sterling Ta'Bon, Healthy Schools Manager at Cairn Guidance I have been given the opportunity to express what it has been like the last 6 months with Cairn Guidance. My initial thought is, "How do I express moments of laughter, learning, and love of all things Whole Child based?". This might be my most daunting task yet. However, reflecting on the many opportunities Cairn Guidance has presented, I am grateful to share. When you interview for a role such as “Healthy Schools Read ▸ about A 6 month Reflection
Girls Empowerment Group
Written by Allison Sabb-Glenn, Shine Light on Depression Ambassador, School Counselor, South Carolina This past school year, I met with my girl's group in South Carolina and we began the curriculum for Erika's Lighthouse on Mental Health. I met with 20 6th-grade girls to discuss the topic of Mental health and depression. We began by bringing in the school's Mental Health Counselor to discuss her role here at the school and the services she provides to the students. We then began with Read ▸ about Girls Empowerment Group
Summertime and the Living is Easy
By Antionette Meeks of Cairn Guidance, a Dove Self-Esteem Project Partner I have often sung the only line I know from the song, “Summertime and the livin’ is easy”. It was written in 1935. I can’t say I was around for it or even know the history of it, other than it was part of a renown, for its era, stage play and has been sung by Louis Armstrong, Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Janis Joplin, and Billie Stewart – at least, that’s what I read. More importantly, that George Gershwin melody Read ▸ about Summertime and the Living is Easy
Acceptance; A Simple Word with Lots of Meaning
By Antionette Meeks of Cairn Guidance, a Dove Self-Esteem Project Partner Acceptance is a simple and powerful ten letter word. Acceptance opens the door for each student to be themselves and experience all that their classroom and school offer them. As educators, we do not fully know the life stories of our charges, neither do they know ours. Sometimes, a school is the only safe space, and the smiling face of the educator is the one thing they need to get their school day started on a Read ▸ about Acceptance; A Simple Word with Lots of Meaning
Systems Thinking Simulations: An opportunity to rethink mental models and construct vision for us all.
By Sterling Ta’Bon, Healthy Schools Manager for Cairn Guidance In April, I had the opportunity to spend a week indulging and diving into all things system thinking. These training sessions take diverse and complex situations and wrap them into live board game scenarios. My recent experience with these simulations has started to redefine what it means to relearn systems, habits, and skills for the betterment of our missions. Systems Thinking; Systems Changing™ (STSC) and Friday Night at Read ▸ about Systems Thinking Simulations: An opportunity to rethink mental models and construct vision for us all.
A new Skills-Based Health Ed Product… Skills On a Ring™!
By Jess Lawrence, Director of Cairn Guidance About ten years ago, I came up with the idea to create cards that students use in health class engaging them using the health skills in variety of ways. Initially, my idea came to me when I was thinking how to create and active student audience when they observe a role play of other students. My idea was that students hold up the card when they see or hear a communication technique. I thought it might look something like: “I feel angry Read ▸ about A new Skills-Based Health Ed Product… Skills On a Ring™!
Brittany Echols, Health Education Curriculum Manager
Greetings and salutations! I’m Brittany Echols and I’m waving to you all from Waldorf, Maryland! Umm let’s see, where do I start…well I’m the newly hired Health Education Curriculum Manager and while I’ve always loved health education, I didn’t have a linear path into the profession. As a military child, I spent most of my formative years growing up outside of the Nation’s Capital. From the time I was in middle school I told myself, I would never go into the family business—education, Read ▸ about Brittany Echols, Health Education Curriculum Manager