A POSITIVE TRANSITION TO HIGH SCHOOL

The transition from elementary to high school can be an overwhelming experience. Children spend years learning how to get along in elementary school to be swiftly taken out of their safe haven and tossed into
unfamiliar territory. The unknown coupled with the myths about high school are sure to raise concern and, in some cases, anxiety.

High school should be a time for learning, growing, meeting friends and creating memories that will last a life-time. Students should not feel isolated, unwelcome or fearful. With the right support and tools, students can embrace the transition and not fear it. It is important for students to share their feelings, expectations and concerns with other students. Knowing that they are not alone creates a great sense of relief. Another key component to a successful transition is learning the necessary soft skills that will:
A) empower them,
B) enable them to deal with unpredictable situations, and
C) teach them how to get along and co-exist with others.

Some examples include conflict resolution, communication and good decision making. School is a time to learn about math, science and geography but the precursor to academic success and most other success is confidence, positive values and solid interpersonal skills. Give your children these tools and watch them grow!

Written by: Corey Szwarcok, Dynamix Co-founder.



Dynamix: Team-building for Kids and Teens, since 2002.

Picture taken from Google Images, source: http://cdn.sheknows.com/articles/2012/08/junior-high-school.jpg

Sibling Rivalry: Not So Much of a Good Thing

We are proud to share this great commentary by our very own High School Co-op student.  Thank you Evelin for your thoughts and unique perspective on such an important topic.

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I found myself reading this New York Times article and thinking that it is a strange idea, that the worst type of bully can be your brother or sister. As a child in elementary school, I was constantly bullied. I’ve been called names, I’ve been teased, I’ve had my possessions stolen by these bullies, and I’ve even gotten pushed around physically. When you hear the word “bully,” it’s always that same image that comes to mind; a school, a playground, or even a summer camp. You never stop and that hey, maybe, just maybe, both the victim and the bully are living under the same roof.

I have two younger siblings, between us there is a huge age gap. There is definitely some sibling rivalry between us. My sister and I get along well, but when it comes to me and my brother, we definitely don’t see eye to eye. Sometimes I feel as if he’s purposely out to get me, and our fights consist of everything from name-calling and tattling to physically trying to aggravate the other. Of course, since I am the older one, I tend to hear the line “how old are you, and how old is he?” way too often. I feel like my brother is getting away with every single situation, while I’m getting pinned as the bad guy, even if he really did start the fight.

Of course, the majority of the time parents shrug off siblings fighting as normal, and until I read this article, I hadn’t considered otherwise. However, I realized that maybe our fighting is doing more damage to us than we think. Perhaps it will eventually take a toll on the mental health of either my brother or I. After all, the only thing our fighting accomplishes is unhappiness, retracted privileges, and bruises. Although I absolutely cannot imagine the fighting stopping completely, I am definitely attempting to think twice about how I act around my brother, because in truth, I do care about him as well as myself. Maybe picking fewer fights will stop us both from having psychological breakdowns down the road, who knows?

Just know, siblings are going to fight no matter what. Though parents should be watchful and never let it go too far, because that is when rivalry turns into bullying, and isn’t bullying something we want to keep out of our homes? 

by Evelin

Leadership and Teambuilding SUMMER CAMPS - with Dynamix (in Woodbridge, ON)

If you live in Woodbridge, Ontario and haven't already registered your children for one of Dynamix' great summer camp experiences already, you should be sure to check them out!

These action-packed camps will be a ton of FUN and will set your child up for life and academic success by building a strong foundation of leadership, character and teamwork skills!

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE AND REGISTER!

Game of The Month January: Number Sense

Game of The Month - Number Sense

Purpose: An team challenge that focuses on communication and leadership.

Materials: One Blindfold for each participant, One index card per participant with numbers on them

Description:  

• Give each participant a number card, instruct them not to share it with anyone, and then blindfold each participant and have them return their number card to you.
• The goal is for the group to put themselves in numeric order while blindfolded, without talking.
• For older groups, here’s a great way you can increase the level of difficulty.  Do not give the participants consecutive numbers. Skip around with little regard to the pattern, for example 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 9, 10, 14, 17, 18. Be sure to always have a “1” and the number that represents the number of participants in the activity.

Discussion/Reflection:

What was difficult about this challenge?

How did your team overcome being blindfolded?

How did you overcome your inability to speak?

What would you do differently if we were to try this again?

Game of the Month Holiday Edition - Solemn and Silent

Game of the Month: Solemn and Silent

Purpose: The purpose of this game is to integrate group members and work on self control skills.

Materials: Just the participants.

Description:

• Members pair back to back. 
• On the count of three, everyone must face their partner, look each other in the eyes, and then try to remain solemn and serious.  No speaking! 
• The first to smile or laugh must sit down.
• All who remain standing then take a new partner and the activity continues until only one person has not smiled or laughed.  (Second round of playing can involve two teams competing to outlast each other.)
• If you get a pair at the end, who are both keeping a straight face, the rest of the group can act as hecklers to disrupt them.

Discussion/Reflection:

Good activity for breaking into activity groups.

At the end of the activity ask the group the following questions

• Why do you think we did this activity?
• What strategy did you have to complete this activity?
• How did you COMMUNICATE with the group?

TDSB Strike Day Camp on December 18th REGISTER NOW

On December 18th, we'll be offering Strike camps to those affected by the TDSB Strike. We'll have two different locations for these strike camps: 

One will be at Centre Camp which is located at Bathurst and Sheppard.

The other will be at Adventure Valley which is located at Leslie and Steeles.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER NOW!

SPACE IS LIMITED!

Attention YRDSB Families: Strike Camp - Dec 13, 2012, REGISTER NOW!

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER NOW!

SPACES LIMITED!