2014-11-CYR-rpt - Laserfiche WebLink

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5 3. Examine ways to reduce sources of unnecessary and unhealthy stress for students and youth, including academic, extracurricular, social, peer, family, societal, or internal pressures. Schools Town Government Community •Establish best practices for homework through •Create a comprehensive town website for youth •Organize community forums and education teacher groups and PLCs,and provide Professional services that includes information and resources for programs,coordinated by the Committee Resources Learning for teachers on homework best practices reducing stress and building resiliency for Youth,on sources of stress that can be minimized or avoided.Possible topics include: •Revise district and school workload policies and •Work with community groups to institute town-wide guidelines,e.g.review workload,vacation policies, campaigns,such as managing digital media exposure • peer pressures/competition respites from homework,scheduling of multiple ("unplugged week"),good sleep hygiene,meeting- • cyber-bullying tests/projects free and homework-free days,to reduce stress and • social media promote in-person,social interaction • over-scheduling •Examine and consider altering LHS course offerings, • sleep deprivation levels,and sequences in specific areas where •Offer information on health and wellness topics,e.g. • how to balance academics,activities,social life, alternative options would provide more appropriate alcohol and other drugs,sleep,social media through family life choices for students,e.g.adding honors levels where the website,social media,and written material. • college application process and its role in driving needed,developmental readiness for Grade 10 AP student stress courses,science course preparation •Partner with schools to coordinate community-wide programs on bullying,dating violence,Internet safety, • how early student stress starts and how to •Offer greater choice and flexibility of course options alcohol and other drug use prevent it in middle and high school so students can closely align classes to their ability levels and interests,e.g. •Organize parent-teen discussion events to talk about electives that appeal to student interests,alternatives sources of stress and what can be done to reduce for required classes stress in students'lives •Define consistent and clear recommendation •Hold peer discussion groups with students in the procedures for courses in middle and high school to Youth Center,religious youth groups,and other ensure proper placement community youth groups to talk about their own sources of stress and how to reduce stress in their •Examine ways the schools can assist,inform,and lives educate students and families in making balanced choices for course selection; provide information on •Expand efforts to reduce teen engagement in course expectations and workload to students in unhealthy stress coping strategies,such as caffeine, advance alcohol,marijuana and other drug use •Teach time management and executive functioning •Support community activities and events aimed at skills to students in middle and high school reducing stress,e.g.unplugged week,meeting- free/homework-free days •Explore and evaluate implementing a later start time for LHS