Secondary Newsletter 20 – January 22, 2021
CAS Corner by Declan Robinson
Counseling
University Counseling
CAS Corner by Declan Robinson
In-house Kickboxing
Learning Outcomes:
- Identify own strengths and develop areas for growth
- Show commitment to and perseverance in CAS experiences
When I first started my CAS goal of making sure that by the new year I would be ready to jump back into kickboxing, I assumed that I would have quite a few opportunities to be able to practice kickboxing using proper equipment. However, as time went on, it became clear to me that due to the issues with packing and moving to Bali, in addition to the quarantine and exams, I was unable to find a location to be able to efficiently participate in a kickboxing activity.
Despite the hiccups of the multiple events that have occurred these past couple of months, I have been showing my dedication and perseverance by making sure that, even if I lacked equipment I would still be able to make sure that I would participate in some sort of activity that helps me achieve my goals. This was done through a personal decision to instead of punching a sandbag, I would instead use the headboard of a bed, which while inefficient and cumbersome, still allowed me to put some more force behind my punches.
Another thing that I learned whilst doing this, is that proper footwork, as well as full force punches, as well as full force punches, were things that I had to somewhat forego due to the lack of mats. These multiple issues that are apparent through homemade kickboxing practice, have been brought to my attention, and my hope is that I will soon be able to enter a gym of some sort, in which I will be able to use a sandbag and wrappings to not damage my hands.
This experience has also shown me that despite the circumstances, my actual form and remembrance of certain kickboxing moves are not the main issue, rather it is just due to the smaller hitbox of the headboard, combined with the lack of conditioning due to lockdown, which is something that I hope to remedy in the future through continued practice.
Counseling
Parenting Styles
Once food, water, and shelter are provided. Your teen has a few other basic needs:
- A sense of belonging and significance
- Perceptions of capability
- Personal power and autonomy
- Social and life skills
Your parenting style impacts whether your teen will have these needs met and feel equipped when leaving BIS. Whatever you do, do not misread a teen’s need for independence as a sign to stop parenting. Their brains do not fully develop until around 25, and you will likely always be an anchor and source of comfort for your teens as they age.
Researchers have consistently found that authoritative parents tend to raise more self-reliant, socially accepted, academically successful, and well-behaved children. The reality is that most adults have never trained to be a parent, so they parent as their parents did or try to do the exact opposite. With frustration, this often leads to swinging back and forth between permissive and authoritarian parenting leaving teens confused. These days, we hear about Tiger moms (incredibly rigid with high and often unrealistic expectations), helicopter parenting (hovering to make sure their children never face failure or discomfort), or snowplow parenting (removing all obstacles to prevent failure or pain). Have you ever sent emails on behalf of your teen, who is more than capable of communicating on their own? Have you challenged a teacher’s grades so your teen does not have to face receiving a low grade? Have you overscheduled your teen and refused to hear their concerns about being overscheduled? Have you set a curfew for your teen only to ignore their late return? Check your style with this quiz.
If a goal of yours is to build resilience and prepare your children for adulthood, try to embrace authoritative parenting. Positive Discipline and Parent Effectiveness Training are parenting courses that teach parents to be authoritative in their approach.
The basics for creating a connection with your teen through authoritative parenting are:
- Get into your teen’s shoes and empathize.
- Listen and be curious.
- Stop worrying about what others think and do what is best for your teen.
- Replace humiliation with encouragement.
- Make sure the message of love gets through.
- Involve your teen in focusing on solutions.
- Make respectful agreements (Nelson, EdD, 2007).
To get started, download the app called Positive Discipline Parenting Tools to get an idea of the basics. Try reading a Positive Discipline book; there are Positive Discipline books for different age levels. Look for sign-ups for a Positive Discipline course I am offering starting the week of Feb 1st, either at the school or online, once we know our options. I will share the sign-up via class WhatsApp groups and homeroom teachers.
University Counseling
Registrations and deadlines:
Upcoming International SAT Test Date & Deadline
How to Register for the SAT
Virtual events
Schools are offering virtual visits to their campuses. As they contact us, we share it with you. If your family is interested in specific schools, you can also look at the websites via Bridge U.
Canadian Educational Internasional Talkshow Series: Study Human Resource Management in Canada – (Jan 23)
The University of Sydney Update : Sydney International Student Award – (Jan 23)
The University of Edinburgh-extended UCAS deadline – (Jan 29)
Canadian Educational Internasional Talkshow Series: Study Aircraft Maintenance Engineering in Canada – (Jan 30)
Scholarships for International Students | Temple University – (Feb 1)
Carl Benz School Application Portal is Now Open – (April 30)
Resources
UCAS Application Support (Deadline Jan 29)
List of scholarships for international students
Opportunity for a scholarship from Seton Hall University by sharing a unique business idea
Guide for International University Admissions
BridgeU Supporting your child through the application process (G12 should have shortlists completed and should be moving from shortlists to applications.)
BridgeU tips for parents of 2021
BridgeU tips for parents of 2022