By Chan Hellman, PhD, Professor at University of Oklahoma, Director of Hope Research Center, Author – Hope Rising: How The Science of Hope Can Change Your Life

Hope is the belief that our future can be better than our past, and that we have a role to play in making that future a reality. This positive expectation of the future is grounded in three simple elements: Goals, Pathways, and Willpower. Goals are the cornerstone of our ability to hope. Goals can be both short-term or long-term. However, goals must be desired enough to motivate action. The nature of the goals we set drive the way we think about both pathways and willpower. Pathways thinking refers to the ability to identify strategies or plans on how to achieve our goals. The hopeful child is able to identify multiple pathways to the goal and can effectively identify alternative pathways or solutions to potential barriers. Willpower (Agency) thinking refers to the mental energy we deploy toward our goal pursuits. The hopeful child has the agency to self-regulate their thoughts, behaviors, and emotions when selecting and pursuing their desired goals. It is important to recognize that hope is a way of thinking and not an emotion. Because hope is a way of thinking about our future, it can be taught and learned.

Hope is About Action: Think about how often we use the word hope in our everyday use. I hope it doesn’t rain today. I hope you are CONTINUE READING

Honoring the graduating class of 2020 has never been more challenging or more important. Thank you for all the time, thought and care high schools and communities have put into making this a special time for seniors. We would like to share what a few of Washington’s high schools are doing to make this a special time for graduates.

Evergreen Public Schools of Vancouver are partnering with a local television station to live stream graduation ceremonies. KATU, the Portland ABC affiliate, will produce three different shows to honor the class of 2020. Many of Evergreen’s high schools will feature individual students and accomplishments on Facebook. Area Faith-based partners have come together to produce a virtual Baccalaureate. In person ceremonies for late summer/early fall are in the planning stage.

Marysville School District: Marysville Graduates visited their schools individually while wearing caps and gowns where photos and video were taken for an online graduation ceremony that’s expected to happen at a later date.

Auburn Mountainview: On Saturday June 13th, Auburn Mountainview High School will honor the class of 2020. Each graduating senior will be allowed to individually walk down the main hallway in their cap and gown to pomp and circumstance blasting. As they exit the building, a stage and photographer will be waiting for them to grab their diploma and a picture. Their family car will be waiting for them and the roped off, socially distanced staff, will be roaring with praise and drying tears as they drive off. The event will likely take about 3 hours, and the AMHS staff could not be more excited to share in this celebration.

Ferris High School: Ferris High School knows memories are an important part of a senior year. Principal Ken Schutz supervised the placing of signs in the yards of all 450 graduating seniors. They will have a virtual awards assembly through Zoom and Graduation will be a video-taped drive-through ceremony where the family will drive up to an outside stage. As a memento each graduate will be given a face mask with the Saxons school logo printed on it.

Art Teacher Tom Pettoello and Carol McQuaid are creating memories on Spokane football fields one at a time. Pettoello and McQuaid are spray painting the names of every senior below their School logo in foot high letters. Read the story in the Spokesman Review

Ending the school year in a way that honors and celebrates the transitions, hard work and incredible flexibility of families and students will help maintain positive relationships.

Here are a few resources to help end the year on a positive note and support families over the summer:

Listen and be inspired!

“Ending the School Year Virtually and Crisis Classroom Closeout Tips”

Share with your community!

Ending the School Year at Home: Tips for Families to support the transition during COVID-19

Raising Caring Kids: A Guide to SEL at Home (in English and Spanish)

Registration for 2020 Healthy Youth Survey is now open! Register on askhys.net

• Log in using your EDS credentials, then click on 2020 Survey Process select Register a School in the drop down menu and follow the prompts.

• The survey will be administered in October of 2020, but we are asking all schools to register by June 30^th so we can plan accordingly.

  If unforeseeable events prevent the survey from being administered in October of 2020, it will be administered in the Fall of 2021.

  If you have any questions, email Emily Maughan; Emily.Maughan@k12.wa.us.

April GATE Equity Webinar 101: High School and Beyond Planning

April GATE Equity Webinar 201: Collaborating for Student Success: Alignment of High School and Beyond Planning and IEP's

March GATE Equity Webinar 101: Implementing & Sustaining Inclusionary Practices

March GATE Equity Webinar 201: Master Scheduling for Inclusionary Practices