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Each year North Star Academy (NSA) welcomes students and staff back with a theme carried throughout the school year. This year in particular, a theme of joy and laughter seems quite fitting.

Collectively, the world has seen more challenges in the past 18 months than weve faced in a long time, and with palpable exhaustion and frustration. Building on the courage and resilience theme from the previous two years, North Star Academy principal Kendra Hossfeld kicked off staff development week for the 2021/2022 school year surprising the team with motivational speaker Molly Kennedy and RISE Comedy founder Steve Wilder to jumpstart the joy and laughter theme.

Resiliency is a life-long trait that usually requires challenging experiences and psychological strength. In our household, laughter is the best medicine and sometimes the only medicine. Being able to laugh at yourself and laugh with others relieves stress and creates bonding experiences, Hossfeld said. Research reveals that little moments of joy can help our bodies recover from the physiological effects of stress, and can help us find meaning and purpose in tragic events. Rather than being a distraction, when we allow ourselves a moment of joy, it creates a respite that makes us more resilient, Hossfeld said.

Kennedy, a proponent of the growth mindset, ironman triathlete, author and motivational speaker, shared the importance of gratitude and how it leads to joy. Kennedy has visited NSA in the past, sharing a similar message with students. During her time with the staff, they discussed multiple ways teachers are already practicing gratitude in their own lives, opportunities to expand on that gratitude as well as what it may look like in their classrooms with their students.

Where your focus goes, your energy flows. If we choose to shift our focus to what is good, positive, optimistic, possible, etc, that changes what we see and feel. Operating from this space allows us to feel a bit more invigorated and energized. Thats a good thing, Kennedy said. The North Star teachers were able to easily come up with ways to incorporate gratitude on a regular basis, and some ideas sparked ideas in other teachers. It was wonderful to see!

Following on the heels of Kennedy was guest speaker Steve Wilder, a comedian and founder of RISE Comedy, who took the teachers through several engaging activities that promote joy and laughter. Wilder initiated several games designed to build on the theme.

We focused on simple improv to create fun and laughter in an environment without pressure or expectations, Wilder said. Having fun was the goal versus. trying to be funny. With so many distractions in our world today its important to be present, communicate and take risks in a safe, supportive environment. The improv games we played allowed the NSA teachers to connect in a new way by being silly, goofy and getting out of their heads.

For example, Wilder introduced the clap game, a simple game in which participants get in a circle and take turns clapping simultaneously with a nearby person. While it sounds simple, the result tends to produce an opportunity to pass energy to one another while creating a true presence. The essence of joy is the ability to allow the brain to say, Hey! Im here having fun and theres nothing else clouding my thoughts.

There was a willingness by the North Star staff to go for it and by the end of my time with them, they were having a blast and willing to look silly in front of their peers. It was so refreshing and you could feel the positivity and excitement in the room with a palpable level of support and acceptance, Wilder said.

Our joy and laughter theme seems perfect this year after what we have endured the past year and a half. The trainings were a fun way to start the school year. We certainly had a lot of laughter as we saw our colleagues step out of their comfort zone during the improv session especially, said NSA middle school social studies teacher Kerrie Derosia. The NSA staff is already having fun focusing on the theme when we want to step away from the curriculum in our classes for a minute. We can chalk any fun idea with the students up to incorporating joy and laughter. Things as small as a minute of silly dancing or as big as an additional field trip.

Morgan Schneider, NSA middle school science teacher added, It feels really good to focus on the excitement and to have some space for laughter and fun in life, work and the classroom. It was a lot of fun seeing my coworkers let loose and be silly doing improv with Steve.

Read more:
North Star Kicks off School Year with Joy and Laughter | YourHub - The Know