In your daughters ako workbook this week, the theme is Positive Engagement - Coping Strategies.

There are many stressors which trigger negative emotions in students which cause anxiety in them about their capabilities to cope with peer issues and study demands. Unfortunately, often they only speak up about not coping when they are about to implode and give up. Having a number of positive coping strategies to reduce these anxious feelings is essential for their wellbeing.

Introducing students to new coping pathways provides them with opportunities to adopt growth mindsets to create their own strategies. The TED talk by Rita Pierson, ‘Every kid needs a champion’, provides great stimulation to do the above. Adolescents on the whole are not comfortable in immediately asking for help from adults, therefore, it is important for us to take the initiative and raise the issue, by explaining that positive coping strategies are little positive actions which relieve pressure and they vary from student to student. This is our aim in ako time - to equip your daughters with some coping strategies for when the 'going gets tough' for them.

Positive coping strategies fall into four main categories:

• Exercise – anything that lifts the heart rate
• Positive self-talk – personal assertive I can and I will statements, which work for the individual
• Personal support – a trusted adult; their champion who will stick with them
• Meditation – mindfully focusing on their breathing and their thoughts

To look at these further, have a look at your daughters ako book on page 116 for Year 11-13 (senior workbook) and page 117 for Year 9-10 (junior workbook).

As always, we welcome feedback/discussion about our ako programme. Please contact Genevieve Leech leg@cghs.school.nz.