Boomerang - August, 2022 by Hancock Health

BoomeranG DON'T FEAR! BACK TO SCHOOL IS HERE.

YOUR PLACE FOR FUN, GAMES & MORE.

ISSUE #19 • August 2022

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IN THIS ISSUE 04 BACK TO SCHOOL Five ways to fight the fear.

06 UNDERSTANDING YOUR EMOTIONS FROM THE INSIDE OUT You have the power to influence your emotions.

08 DO YOU KNOW THESE ARTISTS? Hancock County young artists show their talent through an art contest. PLUS: 10 WORDSEARCH: YOUR EMOTIONS 11 BOOKSHELF READ MORE ABOUT DEALING WITH YOUR EMOTIONS

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BACK TO SCHOOL FIVE WAYS TO FIGHT THE FEAR Five Ways to Fight the Fear The start of a new school year is filled with excitement for many kids just like you. But sometimes going back to school causes fear – sometimes called “anxiety.” This is completely normal! There are new people, different things, and routines, and sometimes you don’t really know what to expect. To help you feel more comfortable, our friends at the Healthy365 Connection Center share the following five tips for combating back to school anxiety.

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It’s a Fresh Start!

INVITE A FRIEND

One way to overcome backto-school anxiety is to think about it differently. If you are feeling nervous, remind yourself: whether you’re starting at a new school or entering the next grade, each school year is a fresh start. Now is the time to come out of your shell. Find your person if you don’t already have one and think of this new school year as a chance to be who you want to be, and not who others think you are. Keep your head up, walk tall and smile. You’ve got this!

Nothing calms the nerves like seeing a familiar face. Before school starts, ask someone from your class over to play. This can help you get to know your classmates better, while serving as a reminder that you’ll be among friends on your first day of school. Here’s a fun fact — Having a friend during the first few weeks of school can improve your grades and

The Healthy365 Connection Center is a free, confidential, and centralized connection for health resources. Its team of support navigators helps residents find solutions to our community’s most pressing health issues. TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HEALTHY365, VISIT THEIR WEBSITE AT BEHEALTHY365.ORG.

how you feel!

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It’s Self Care! In the weeks leading up to school, take the time to prioritize self-care whenever you start to feel stressed out. Self-care means taking care of yourself so that you can be happy and healthy. Do whatever fun and relaxing activities you enjoy. Playing outdoors, reading a good book, or doing something creative like writing, painting, or dancing are all good activities for self-care. These self-care activities can help to calm your nerves and recharge your batteries to reduce stress and improve your overall mood.

FOUR

Keep a Routine Try to keep a bedtime routine, even when you’re not in school. If that’s impossible, go to bed at a reasonable hour and wake up earlier each day. This will help to ease the discomfort of moving from a summer schedule (staying up late and sleeping in) to a school schedule (going to bed early and waking up early). Want to be even more prepared? Get in the habit of setting out your clothes for the next day, too. Not only will this save time and frustration in the morning, but you may get to sleep in a few extra minutes. Who wouldn’t want that?

FIVE

Ready for Bed Some school nights, you may feel overwhelmed, excited, or nervous, making it hard to go to sleep. However, if you prepare in advance and make sure you have a relaxing evening, you’ll be able to fall asleep and wake up feeling refreshed. Do everything you can the night before: lay out your clothes, pack your lunch, and have your bookbag ready to go. With these things taken care of, you can enjoy your night and go to sleep knowing that you are prepared for the day ahead.

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Disney’s film Inside Out (2015) takes place in the head of an 11-year-old girl named Riley, with five personified emotions– Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear and Disgust. These emotions guide Riley through life as she and her parents adjust to their new surroundings after moving from Minnesota to San Francisco. Inside Out has inspired viewers young and old to look inside their own minds, teaching us all about the power of emotion. Here are five lessons about identifying your emotions and how to cope with them.

Understanding Your Emotions from the Inside Out

You have the power to influence your emotions. Although emotions may influence how we feel, they don’t always have to have the final say. Your emotions do not have control over you unless you let them. If you choose to start the day of with a positive attitude by saying, “Today will be a good day,” then it will. It’s all about your outlook on life. As Joy, one of the emotions in Inside Out says, “All right everyone, fresh start! We’re gonna have a good day, which will turn into a good week, which will turn into a good year, which will turn into a life!”

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You can be reactive to other people’s emotions.

Don’t bottle up your emotions, embrace them.

Have you ever been around

Emotions make us who we are.

someone who was angry or

Without them, life would not

frustrated and then started to

be as colorful or complete.

feel the same way yourself?

This is why you should

This is because emotions can

embrace your emotions,

be contagious. Just as our own

rather than bottle them up.

emotions can control us (if we

In a pivotal moment of Inside

let them), so can other people’s

Out, the main character Riley

emotions. Try to surround yourself

chooses to embrace her

with uplifting people as often

emotions, rather than run from

as you can. It’s likely that their

them. She allows herself to

positive attitudes will rub off on

feel sadness, fear, and anger

you and vice versa.

about her idea of running away

Tough emotions like sadness, fear and anger can be uncomfortable for people to experience– which is why many of us go to great lengths to avoid them. However, our emotions serve an important purpose. They provide valuable insight into how we are feeling. For instance, if you keep feeling the same emotion, whether it be frustration, anger or hurt, it may be an indication that something is wrong. Listen to your emotions and respond accordingly.

TRY THIS MENTAL HEALTH CHECKLIST: •

How am I feeling (physically and mentally)?

•

Have I been thinking kind thoughts to myself?

•

When did I last talk to someone about my feelings?

•

When did I last eat a whole meal?

•

When did I last drink water?

•

When did I last breathe deeply?

•

Have I spent time outside in fresh air?

with sadness and fear.

•

When did I last take a shower (or bath)?

When you start to feel caught

•

How long have I spent on my phone or computer today?

•

Am I getting enough sleep?

•

When did I last do a kind thing for someone else?

•

What can I do that will bring me joy?

from home. As a result, Riley

All your emotions are useful.

Do you need help navigating your emotions and deciding how to best respond?

decides not to go through with her plan. This choice reunites Riley with her family, giving her a deeper sense of happiness in the comfort she seeks from her parents, even though it’s mixed

up in your emotions, take the time to mindfully observe them. Check in with yourself. How are you feeling? Why do you feel this way? Create the space for yourself to choose a healthy response. Talk to someone about how you are feeling and seek help when you need it.

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DO YOU KNOW

THESE ARTISTS? KIDS' ART COMPETITION

Hancock County young artists show their talent through art contest. This past spring, Hancock

“We were excited to be a part

fifth-sixth grade, seventh-

County hosted a Kids’ Art

of this fantastic competition

eighth grade, freshman-

Competition in partnership

and are honored to display

sophomore, and junior-senior).

with Greenfield Community,

the artwork of our youngest

The entries were judged by

Hancock Health and

community residents,” says

a distinguished panel from

Healthy365 Connection

Hancock Health CEO Steve

the Leadership Hancock

Center. The themes for the

Long. “It is a cheerful symbol

County program based on

art contest were community,

of hope that both our staff

three criteria: execution,

kindness and unity. Artists in

and patients could use at this

uniqueness, and artistry of

grades kindergarten through

time.”

concept. In addition, a People’s

12 were encouraged to explore

Choice award signified the

their thoughts, emotions and

More than 140 art entries

“best of the best” – artwork

ideas about Hancock County

were submitted, with winning

was posted on the Greenfield

and how we incorporate

students representing every

Community Facebook page for

kindness into our community.

school district throughout

community voting.

Hancock County. There was an overall winning entry, along with second- and third-place winners for each of the six age groups (kindergarten-second grade, third-fourth grade, 08

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Art Contest Winners Age group winners were invited to an art show and awards ceremony on May 18, 2022, where they received Boomerang “cinch sacks” filled with art supplies along with a cash prize. The winning submissions are now on longterm display at Hancock Regional Hospital and at the Healthy365 Connection Center. We are excited to

Marmina Rafael took first place honors in her grade category (K-2) as well as winning the "People's Choice" award through voting on Facebook.

highlight our Kids’ Art Contest winners in this month’s Boomerang issue.

And the Winners Are. 1st

1ST PLACE WINNERS Marmina Rafael (Gr K-2)* Abigail Wasson (Gr 3-4) Camilla Aldridge (Gr 5-6) Fallyn White (Gr 7-8)*

Penelope Dearth (Gr 9-10)* Brianna McConnell (Gr 11-12).

2nd

2ND PLACE WINNERS Johnny Mackey (Gr K-2) Avery Breberich (Gr 3-4) Dellen Douglass (Gr 5-6) Kennedy Tooke (Gr 7-8) Grace Combs (Gr 9-10)

3RD PLACE WINNERS Paisley Fields (Gr K-2) Kaylee Ford (Gr 3-4) Quinn Muterspaugh (Gr 5-6) Madi Moss (Gr 7-8) Savanah Hardin (Gr 9-10)

*The top 15 artist entries were also posted on the Greenfield-Community Facebook page for a People’s Choice award. Page followers selected Marmina Rafael’s contest submission for first place, Fallyn White for second and Penelope Dearth for third.

Classroom Grants for Art Contest Winners Winning entries that were submitted through a local classroom also earned a special $500 supply grant for their teachers. Educators who received grants were: Jessica Buell (Gr K-2 at Mount Vernon) Laura Salee (Gr K-4 art at Greenfield-Central) Lyndsay Ortwein (Gr K-2 at Greenfield-Central)

Dawn Lowe (Gr 3-4 art at New Palestine) Donna Knecht-Strong (Gr 5-6 at Greenfield-Central) Jordan Sell (Gr 5-6 at Mount Vernon) Monica Holden (Gr 7-8 art at Greenfield-Central) Jeff Crague (Gr 7-8 at Mount Vernon) Steven Wheeler (Gr 9-10 art at Mount Vernon) Lisa Sears (Gr 11-12 at Greenfield-Central) The art installation is now open to the public at Hancock Regional Hospital, located at 801 N State Street in Greenfield, IN. A special thank you to Greenfield Community, Hancock Regional Hospital, Healthy365 Connection Center and all of the Hancock County schools and foundations for making this Kids’ Art Contest possible!

Lydgia Palmer (Gr 3-4 at Mount Vernon) Boomerang

Y P R P G V O P W H V I I Z A H B G Y D Q J L K E O A P W Q A W J E F D F E S G L F T L J P E U M R C K J W Y L Y B U V P S X A E K H V R V E A R T P Y R T C L C C C T A O X D O S N W A R I G V F E E L I N G S W S O Q E T B D G X B V Q K N B U U R F S E M G L I E O D Q O R F O R U S M S T I H I R D J P J A U I D E E A C O O U W M R R P N U E F D N D N M P K U I L G N G T D P D T P C H E K S C P N Y E Z J Y S F K D A P E Q J O Y V R N Z Y N B O K

YOUR EMOTIONS WORD SEARCH 10

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BOOMERANG BOOKSHELF READ MORE ABOUT DEALING WITH YOUR EMOTIONS … THINGS YOU CAN’T SAY BY JENN BISHOP CLOSER TO NOWHERE BY ELLEN HOPKINS JUST BE COOL, JENNA SAKAI BY DEBBI MICHIKO FLORENCE THE LONELY HEART OF MAYBELLE LANE BY KATE O'SHAUGHNESSY MANAGE YOUR EMOTIONS BY MARTHA E.H. RUSTAD THE FEELINGS BOOK: THE CARE AND KEEPING OF YOUR EMOTIONS BY LYNDA MADISON Special thanks to Nicole Stichter, Youth Services Librarian at the Hancock County Public Library, for providing these titles!

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Become the healthiest generation ever!

When you know more about your health and how to take care of it, you can be more, do more and have more fun — starting now!