What is a Wellness Calendar?
October is National Substance Abuse Prevention Month.
The goal of Substance Abuse Prevention is for youth to develop the tools they need to connect with peers, cope with emotions, and occupy their free time in healthy ways. Prevention aims to develop life-long healthy habits using a balance of physical, emotional, and social strategies for well-being. During the month of October, we encourage our students, staff, and community to strengthen their healthy habits by trying new strategies or committing to using existing healthy strategies more consistently.
The strategies included in the Wellness Calendar align with the 5 CASEL Core Competencies of Social-Emotional-Learning which are a focus for all of our K-12 students. Encouraging our students to strengthen their social-emotional skills provides the foundation for a healthy and drug-free future.
How can my family use the Wellness Calendar?
Your family is encouraged to use the Wellness Calendar as a resource to increase strategies and start conversations. The calendar is designed for all students K-12, their families, and all West Irondequoit staff. Below are a few ideas of how you can use the calendar with your family.
1. Follow the calendar as it is designed and allow a different family member to select 1 activity each week to try.
2. Pick 1 activity from each week and complete it at any time that works for your family.
3. Customize an activity for your family. For example, try the “Positive Self-Talk” exercise from 10/25 and take turns doing the exercise for each member of the family. Encourage all family members to add to each other’s list.
4. Don’t be tied to just 1 month. Revisit these strategies throughout the year. Prevention isn't just about 1 day or 1 month, it's a lifestyle!
For support at school, please reach out to your counselor or WICSD K-12 Substance Abuse
and Prevention Counselor, Nicole Corcimiglia.
If you'd like to connect for support, please complete the referral link here.