Well done Northbridge secondary school - it's been a challenging year but we made it!

Well done Northbridge secondary school - it's been a challenging year but we made it! We made it! What another incredible year for us at Northbridge International School Cambodia. This is the time of year for us as educators to reflect on goals met, goals still in motion and what we need to push to the top of our lists next year. It is also a time for us to celebrate our wins and achievements with our students through awards and presentations.

We made it! What another incredible year for us at Northbridge International School Cambodia. This is the time of year for us as educators to reflect on goals met, goals still in motion and what we need to push to the top of our lists next year. It is also a time for us to celebrate our wins and achievements with our students through awards and presentations.

As we finalise our assembly presentations, I am once again proud of the number of students that have been actively involved in our school community through a variety of ways.

Proud of the students that achieved the best academically but equally proud of those that have sought out ways to make the NISC community a better place for us all, through local projects and actions. To think that our young adults have done this in unpredictable circumstances makes me realise that I am the luckiest Head of Secondary.

It would be amiss for me to not mention the way in which our students and staff have confidently navigated the virtual learning world, adding the much needed continuity and structure to our teenager’s lives. This therefore leads me to my asking you to consider the need to manage our teenagers' stress management.

Whilst we continue to monitor and support our students throughout the academic year, the summer break is a time to recharge batteries as much as possible. As the world might appear to swirl around them, it is essential for them to take active steps to relax.

As adults we know the importance of this to maintain the presence of clarity, make good decisions and problem solve with confidence. Our teenagers are obviously no different. The more we can teach our teenagers to relax, the better equipped they will be to think positively, and enjoy their lives more. For me personally, this matters the most.

 

Parents can help their teen in following ways:

• Monitor if stress is affecting health, behavior, thoughts, or feelings

• Listen carefully and watch for overloading

• Learn and model stress management skills (easier said than done!)

• Support involvement in sports and other pro-social activities

 

Teens can decrease stress with the following behaviors and techniques:

• Exercise and eat regularly.

• Get enough sleep and have a good sleep routine.

• Avoid excess caffeine which can increase feelings of anxiety and agitation.

• Learn relaxation exercises (abdominal breathing and muscle relaxation techniques).

• Learn practical coping skills. For example, break a large task into smaller, more attainable tasks.

• Learn to feel good about doing a competent or "good enough” job rather than demanding perfection from yourself and others.

• Take a break from stressful situations. Activities like listening to music, talking to a friend, drawing, writing, or spending time with a pet can reduce stress.

• Build a network of friends who help you cope in a positive way.

 

I hope that you are all able to have some quality family time this summer. Lose the devices, read a book and learn something new. For families moving on, I wish you all the best and remember us. For all of those returning we are looking forward to seeing everyone in the new academic year, refreshed.