Curt’s Corner

Recharge Put that phone down this Spring Break By Dr. Curtis Finch Deer Valley Unified School District Superintendent

As I reported in the State of the District 2020 in February (dvusd.org/ dvusd2020), Deer Valley Unified School District is doing very well. This is the terrific news for our surrounding communities.

One area that DVUSD has been making strides is in adopting more and more social-economic learning programs for students. These social systems help children deal more appropriately with anxiety, stress and unforeseen obstacles in their lives. Not only does DVUSD work to help students, but we have also designed a wildly successful employee assistance program for staff and their family members to talk to counselors, therapists, financial advisors, lawyers, etc. when life’s challenges get too big.

There are multiple reasons why student and staff stress can be amplified throughout the year, such as not eating right, exercising enough, getting enough sleep or finding a correct work/play balance. This is

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what makes Spring Break so important—not just for the time away from the tasks and stress of pursuing excellence, but the necessary time to recharge.

Historically, Americans have not been the best vacationers, if you look at the international data. We like to skip vacation in pursuit of the “American dream.” If you throw in the advent of social media, Americans are even fared worse when they are on vacation, since they cannot successfully unplug from technology. Americans spend 5.4 hours a day on their phones, and on vacation we check the screen 80 times a day. Ouch!

Therefore, here is a challenge for all of the students, parents, and staff from me: 1) Try to unplug this Spring Break for at least a couple of hours a day. You will be surprised by how much you do not need to check your Facebook page or Twitter account; 2) Spend more time with family activities. The No. 1 gift you can give your child is time; 3) Head outside with your children, friends or neighbors in tow.

One of the joys of Arizona is we have sunshine this time of year that other sections of the United States do not have. We can easily take it for granted. Hiking, biking, walking, playing catch and exploring are adventures that are inexpensive but can provide a completely different perspective on life. Your children may complain about your adventures the entire time, but it will be the memories they talk about the most looking back. This principle was true in my life. I fussed when my dad made all five of us redheaded boys go camping in Alaska with mom and dad. Mosquito bites, scraped knees, smoky campfires, damp clothes and terrible food made for lasting memories that we still laugh about today, 30 years later. Making memories is always a good strategy.

Your homework for this Spring Break? Unplug, get outside and enjoy Arizona!

Dr. Curtis Finch is the DVUSD superintendent and can be reached at superintendent@dvusd.org.