This newsletter from the GSP Wellness Center provides students with information and resources about maintaining mental health and staying stress-free. It includes tips from counselors and staff about how they chill out, as well as upcoming events. Students are encouraged to visit the Wellness Center if they need someone to talk to. The newsletter aims to promote healthy ways for students to manage stress and feel their best.

1. Family Meeting
We are excited to present the 1st
edition
of The Chill, brought to you by the GSP
Wellness Center. The purpose of this
newsletter is to provide a space for
students to learn about staying
emotionally, physically, and mentally
happy and stress-free. Stay tuned every
month for a new edition of your
wellness newsletter!
Sincerely,
-Your School Counseling Support Team
Ms. Neaman, Wellness Counselor
Ms. Rupp, Wellness Counselor Intern
University Trips Thanksgiving Break
November 24th
-28th
All students will be
taking a trip to some
of the best schools in
the Nation!
Keep Calm
& Chill
There are lots of ways to chill, relax,
and release stress. Some of these ways
can create more harm than good
though in the long run if they put your
health at risk, interfere with your goals
for yourself, or become addictive. This
newsletter is about promoting some of
the healthier ways to chill that help
your body stay strong and calm in the
long run and help you to stay feeling
your best!
How do you chill?
“My favorite way to chill is to cook. I love
trying to make the best-looking recipes from
TV or magazines, inviting my friends and
family over, and sitting down to share a well-
deserved meal with my loved ones.” – Ms. Reed
“I go for hikes with my husband and dog”
- Mrs. Nelson
“Take my dog to the park and hang out in the
sunshine, go for a run somewhere pretty
and zone out, practice yoga, and then lay down
on my couch and watch something funny on
TV!”- Ms. Neaman
“Playing sports and watching TV - Mr. Ben
“I like to chill on my hammock outside while
reading a book” - Ms. Rupp
“Play basketball and go for runs, listen to
music, write, read, and draw”- Mr. Tyler
Upcoming Events…
November 14th November 18th
Check with your
Advisor about your
SLC schedule.
No School!
Thanksgiving Day
is Nov. 27th
N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 4

2. Wellness Counseling Facts
Answers to common questions about school
counseling and the social-emotional support at
GSP.
What is Wellness?
Wellness is the quality or state of being in good
physical and mental health. Wellness is an active
process of becoming aware of yourself and making
choices toward a healthy and fulfilling life. It is a
lifelong journey of searching for the appropriate tools
and methods which make you a healthier and happier
person!
Who is Wellness Counseling for?
Counseling is for EVERYONE! Social-emotional
health is for any student facing issues such as a difficult
time in their life, conflicts with their peers and family,
and circumstances that cause emotional/physical
distress in their life.
How do I speak to a Counselor at GSP?
To speak to a counselor, stop by the front desk to fill
out a Wellness form. A counselor will meet with you
as soon as possible—usually within 3 days to a week.
If it is an emergency and your safety is at risk, please
speak to a teacher or staff member immediately!
GSP Academy’s Wellness Center (formerly
known as the Counseling Room) is a
confidential place for students to talk with a
supportive adult about personal issues
affecting their well-being: their happiness,
success, and hopes for their lives.
We are open to all GSP students who would
like to work on making changes in their lives
so they can feel better and reach their
dreams! We offer individual counseling,
groups, and drop-in support.
To speak with a counselor, please ask the
front desk for a Wellness center form to put
in Ms. Neaman’s Mailbox!
6th
-7th
Grade
Tuesday & Thursday
LUNCH
11:05am-11:40am
9th
-12th
Grade
NUTRITION BREAK
9:35am-9:45am
All Grades
ADVISORY
(Please call ahead
to see if Ms. Neaman
is available)

3. Aye Bruh!
Chill like a
Senior
Advice from GSP Seniors on ways
to Chill.See your Ally Shout Outs featured on
“Love & GSP” on The Chill.
If you would like to give a shout out to someone
who has been an Ally to you OR if you are an Ally
who wants to give a shout out to someone who is
being bullied, stop by the Think Tank to fill out an
Ally Shout Out slip and drop it in the Drama Free
Box.
“I listen
to Music”
–Carmen
Padilla
“I chill with friends. My
advice is to do things
that distract you from
problems” – Josue Reyes
Aye Bruh,
I’m feeling very overwhelmed,
stressed, and out of control
lately. I really need someone
to talk to. My teacher told me
to go to the wellness center but
I don’t want my friends to
think I’m crazy! What should
I do?
Sincerely,
Feeling Crazy
Aye Feeling Crazy,
Although you might be feeling
crazy, you are not crazy!
Everyone experiences stress and
overwhelming feelings. Some
people need someone to help
them process these feelings and
provide them support. The
Wellness Center is a great place
to go when you feel out of
control. A counselor can help
you learn the skills to cope with
stress and can even help you talk
to your family/friends about your
feelings. Go to the office to fill
out a Wellness form to speak
with a counselor!
“I’d like to give a Shout
Out to Bibiana Torrez
for being a nice friend!”
-Anonymous
“I’d like to give a
Shout Out to
Camila
Rodriguez for
being a good
friend and being
pretty!”
-Anonymous
“I play
sports”
-Richard
Lorenzo
I work out or practice
martial arts. You can also
express yourself creatively
–Aquarius Bronson

4. Mental Health is a positive sense of well-being and an underlying
belief in our own and other’s self-worth. Mental health is the emotional
and spiritual resilience that enables us to enjoy life and thrive through
the pain, disappointment, and sadness we experience. Having positive
mental allows us to:
 Take charge of and regulate our feelings
 Have meaningful relationships with others
 Adapt to change and cope with stresses
When our emotions make us feel CRAZY
CRAZY
Cra∙zy [KREY-zee] adj.
Full of cracks or flaws; Mad, Insane; Being out of the ordinary
Sometimes, when we lose control of our
thoughts and emotions, we can feel just
downright crazy. But, although you might
feel crazy, you are not crazy! Don’t let your
emotions get the best of you. Combat those
crazy feelings by learning how to chill out
and be chill.
Mental Health problems are the common
struggles and adjustment difficulties that affect everybody from
time to time. These problems tend to happen when people are going
through difficult times in life, such as a relationship ending, the death
of someone close, conflict relations with family or friends, or stresses
at home, school or work. Feeling stressed or having the blues is a
normal response to the psychological or social changes most people
encounter at some time or another. Mental health problems are
usually short-term reactions to a particular stressor, such as a loss,
painful event or illness. Everyone chills differently, so find an
appropriate method that works best for you!
Defining Mental Health
It is definitely not easy being a kid! Sometimes it’s hard to avoid feeling
stressed, and pressure can build up in many areas of life (socially, in school, at
home, and while making big life decisions). Mental Health is maintaining a
balance of our emotions when life gets tough!
Learning how to chill out is
important for balancing our
emotions in order to
maintain our Mental
Health. The following are
some ways to chill out
and be chill:
How to
chill out?
Adolescents struggle
with emotional balance
Of youth (ages
12-18) say they
have felt sad,
unhappy, or
stressed
Don’t know who
to talk to when
they need help.
1. Take a Break
2. Dance it Out
3. Smell Something Good
4. Belt Out a Song
5. Talk to a Friend
6. Laugh it Off
7. Write in a Journal
8. Breathe Deeply
9. Listen to Music
10. Think Happy Thoughts
11. Hang out Outside
12. Think About The Good
things that Happened Today
Mental Health=Emotional Balance