tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-54132521350272286972024-03-13T12:43:19.324-07:00Chrysalis School MontanaChrysalis School is a therapeutic boarding school in northwestern Montana for girls 13-18. The Chrysalis experience focuses on helping students build life skills and self-esteem through therapy, academics, adventure, service projects and more.
Find us online at www.chrysalisschoolmontana.com We are also on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.Chysalis School Montanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02517959533960258073noreply@blogger.comBlogger77125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5413252135027228697.post-36364560445435158852015-04-27T08:56:00.000-07:002015-04-27T08:56:58.446-07:00Never Forget<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">
Thursday, April 16th, was a beautifully sunny day on campus. It contrasted starkly with the heavy subject our guest speaker came to discuss with the school: her experiences during the <span class="il">Holocaust</span> in World War II. </div>
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I would guess that Alicja Edwards now stands somewhere around four feet tall and uses a cane to get around, but it's no wonder: she's over 90 years old. If you learned about her first through reading either of the two books she's published, "They Called Us D.P.s" and "God Was Our Witness", you'd never guess that English is her second language, but she speaks with a heavy Polish accent. On Thursday morning, she came to Chrysalis and spoke about her life 73 years ago, when her family was woken in the early hours of the morning by Russian soldiers. She was forced to hurriedly pack a few belongings before she was carted off to Kazakhstan and forced to labor in inhumane conditions. Her brother, her mother, and her grandmother came with her; her father, she learned, had already been executed for his history as a soldier years before. </div>
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While Alicja might not be considered a traditional <span class="il">Holocaust</span> survivor because she was not captured by the Nazi regime, her experience draws heartbreaking parallels. "I belong to a <span class="il">Holocaust</span> of the same era," she said, "but of a different nature... I do not have a Star of David tattooed on my arm, but in my mind there are deeply etched memories of pain and agony of those years spent in slave labor in Soviet Kazakhstan." Food had been scarce before the Russian occupation, it grew rarer when the Red Army invaded, and became virtually nonexistent during her life as a prisoner. Alicja's eyes teared as she explained to us that she had watched her grandmother starve to death in front of her. "Young children and old people suffered the most," she explained, "...there was no medicine, no doctor. You were on your own, fighting to survive." </div>
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And how <i>did</i> she survive? Alicja said: "In those dark hours, you prayed and kept faith -- and helped each other to hope to see a better tomorrow." After three years, she was liberated, but freedom meant a long walk, for 24 hours, with no food or water, through the Persian desert, to get to boats that would take them away from their hell. After that, having no possessions or money, she survived on the generosity of others. </div>
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When she finished telling her stories, the floor was opened to questions. One student asked if she had any advice to people going through tough times, and Alicja says to be honest. Lying will only cause more problems. Flipping through the binder of mementos she brought, it is clear that Alicja has plenty of life experience to draw on. Among the more modern keepsakes such as her letter from the <span class="il">Holocaust</span> Memorial Museum are yellowed passports and crumbling documents, written in Polish, granting Alicja passage out of Kazakhstan. <br clear="all" /><div>
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Alicja met her husband, an American soldier, while waiting tables by serendipitously spilling a drink on his lap. They traveled the world together, and spent some time living in Japan and Paris before settling in Chicago. Alicja was a concert pianist and sometimes plays piano at the local church on Sunday. She has children and grandchildren now, and spends her time painting and running a small antique shop here in Eureka. Her books and paintings are available for purchase in her shop, and her books are available on Amazon. </div>
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Our Sophomore English and the World History classes have been learning about World War II and the <span class="il">Holocaust</span> in school for the past few weeks, so Alicja's presence really helped ground the stories they've read. Somehow, seeing her walk around campus, share her stories, and show her paintings to us made the history so much more real. Sadly, as time goes on, fewer and fewer survivors are around to share their stories with us, making it even more important that our students learn from them now. The next time you visit Eureka, please pay her a visit and thank her for sharing her time with our students! She was grateful to spend time with our girls and said it made her feel young again to be surrounded by so many young people interested in her life -- almost as grateful as we were to listen to her story. </div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5413252135027228697.post-19828547406859973222015-04-22T08:06:00.000-07:002015-04-22T08:06:08.426-07:00Chrysalis Explores Costa Rica!<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="templateContainer" style="background-color: #f2f2f2; border-collapse: collapse; border: 0px; color: black; max-width: 600px; width: 100%px;"><tbody>
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Dear Friends,<br /><br />Seven students, six parents, and a handful of Chrysalis staff met in San Jose, Costa Rica, in early April with great expectations about the adventures at hand. The whitewater sections of the Pacuare River provided class 3 and 4 rapids through beautiful rain forest on day one of the trip. Further north, the mountainous area around the Arenal volcano offered us an exciting zipline adventure, and the chance to hike into the edge of a lava field left from an eruption in the 90's. Our accommodations in Monteverde were virtually on top of a mountain that afforded views of the distant Pacific Ocean by day, and the Southern Cross by night. The southern hemisphere stars were brilliant. <div style="line-height: 20.7999992370605px;">
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<span style="line-height: 20.7999992370605px;">We left the cool mountain breezes of the cloud forest and descended sharply toward the coast, arriving at Manuel Antonio National Park where the temps were above 100 degrees and the humidity made the swimming pool feel comparatively dry. Each of the three hikes we did in disparate areas in Costa Rica were on winding trails through dense vegetation. Added together, they provided up close and personal views of howler monkeys, rare squirrel monkeys, white-faced monkeys, several varieties of sloths, an anteater, brightly-colored snakes, and a number of beautiful birds that we'd never be able to see outside of a zoo, they were sights to behold. </span><br style="line-height: 20.7999992370605px;" /><span style="line-height: 20.7999992370605px;"> </span><br style="line-height: 20.7999992370605px;" /><span style="line-height: 20.7999992370605px;">The thrilling adventures, enchanting natural resources, and fascinating wildlife described above would be quite enough to make this a fine international trip, but it's clear to me in retrospect that the best memories from Costa Rica will be about the excellent human experience we all enjoyed, and the relationships that emerged. Our students were careful and thoughtful about the goals of the trip, which they designed prior to our launch. Each of them moved toward a closer and more considerate relationship with their accompanying parent. Meanwhile, our lovely and generous parent group cooperated in every sense. We couldn't have had a nicer group of folks with whom to spend this amazing adventure.</span><br /> </div>
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Very Best Regards,<br />Kenny Pannell</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5413252135027228697.post-9473600906149488792015-04-15T11:21:00.000-07:002015-04-15T11:21:10.361-07:00One Crazy Ski Season<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The winter of 2014/2015 will surely go down in Chrysalis history. We haven’t seen winter conditions like this in the past and I hope we never do again in the future! The girls had the shortest ski season on record, starting on December 6th and ending on March 7th. They each missed out on 2 or 3 ski days this season due to safety issues when the snow simply melted off of the lower runs. However, if you watched them ski or ride today you wouldn't know they missed out on those last days of the season, I have been impressed with this group since opening day! </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-2d0c8600-be25-2a98-c629-16be38f028d4" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We had amazing skiers and snowboarders this year, the girls tackled various conditions with determination and enthusiasm; it was a joy to watch them excel! They had fun on a few powder days, they enjoyed the warmth and ease of spring skiing (and there were a lot of spring like days, which is just odd in February). But it was the icy days that their skill levels soared, each one of them found the courage and confidence to use their edges properly and succeed! Naturally they had to brave a few sub-zero days here in Northwest Montana, as well as a few rainy days sprinkled through the season. But they loved it and begged to keep skiing and riding despite the unfavorable conditions. They want to feel the excitement and joy of making turns on the snow with the the peaks of Glacier National Park and the Canadian Rockies as their backdrop. Ah, what a beautiful experience, this is the type of adventure we value here at Chrysalis.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My goal is to instill a love of the outdoors in the hearts of our students and share with them the peace that can be found in nature. Many of our students will grow to love skiing and snowboarding, it will become a lifelong passion that they can share with their families. I encourage all of you to get outside and enjoy what each season has to offer. As for me, I am going to do just that!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Julie Hughes</span></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5413252135027228697.post-74714307577259591012015-03-13T11:15:00.000-07:002015-03-13T11:15:16.361-07:005 Ways To Show Love For You Daughter<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Did you know that this past Sunday we celebrated National Women’s Day? In honor of Women’s Day, we would like to share 5 different ways that you can celebrate and show love to your daughter:</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Active Listening</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">During family therapy, be an example of active listening. Not only should you be an example of it, but you should acknowledge [and praise] your daughter when she is doing it.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As you make an effort to actively listen to your daughter, you are sending a message that what she has to say is important to you. As you express interest in what your daughter is saying, and praise her in her listening efforts, this translates into, “I care about you. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">YOU</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> are important to me.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Validating</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You should know and learn about women that your daughter looks up to. Do your homework on these people and anything else that is important to your daughter. Take the qualities in those women she admires and relate them to your daughter. For example, “You’re so like your grandmother. She loves yoga too.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">By taking an interest in what is important to you your daughter, you are reinforcing that you are actively listening to her. This leads to feelings of validation. By taking a step further and finding out WHY these things are important to your daughter, you are silently saying, “What interests you, interests me. Tell me more!”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Holding boundaries</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As you hold important boundaries for your daughter, it gives her consistency in order to feel safe. That safety translates into unconditional love. Safety and love are closely united.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For example, when you hold boundaries during visits with your daughter (at the program or on home visits) it shows your daughter that you respect the program. This translates into your daughter’s success in the program. As you consistently hold boundaries, you show your daughter how much effort you are willing to put into building her success.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You might be scared to hold certain boundaries for fear of damaging your relationship with your daughter. As you CONSISTENTLY hold boundaries, you give your daughter a sense of certainty to know what to expect from you. It also clearly explains what you expect from her. By doing this you are creating stability in her life. Consistency leads to stability, which offers an environment of physical and emotional safety for her to belong to.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Challenging them</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When you challenge your daughter you are ultimately showing her love and that you believe she has the ability to grow beyond her current circumstance.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For example, you could ask about how your daughter is doing in different aspects of the program. Ask about: </span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">school</span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">therapeutic work</span></div>
</li>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">working out </span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and adventure. </span></div>
</li>
</ul>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Actively engage your daughter by supporting her as she works hard and pushes herself to do better. Be specific in why you are pushing your daughter to go the extra mile. It is easy for our teen daughters to misinterpret our intentions if we do not convey what those intentions are. We must have a sturdy foundation in our relationships in order to build on and test them. Teach your daughter to be happy and accepting of who she is. But also teach her that there is always opportunity for growth.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As you practice active listening, validating and remain consistent in your expectations, your daughter will be more willing to accept the challenges you extend to her.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Expressing gratitude:</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Express gratitude to your daughter by showing your appreciation for her willingness and ability to challenge her skills. Again, be specific with your gratitude. Some examples of skills are:</span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Community living skills</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: “Thank you for helping set the table tonight.”</span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Communication skills</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: “Thank you for talking to me about how therapy is going.”</span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Academic achievement</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: “Thank you for working so hard and preparing for that math test.”</span></div>
</li>
</ul>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Those are hard things to do! It is hard to communicate as a teen. It is very hard for girls to live in the community. Girls think that parents have no idea how hard it is to live here. Knowing that you appreciate her and her efforts helps her feel loved.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">By expressing gratitude, you are offering reassurance to your daughter that her current efforts have not gone unnoticed. You cannot push her to do better if you do not also reassure her that you appreciate her, that you are aware of the efforts she is already making. When you express gratitude, you automatically have a positive interaction with your daughter. Be mindful of these interactions. Make sure you have at least 5 positive interactions for every challenging interaction.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Active listening, validation, boundaries, challenging, and gratitude help you connect with your daughter on a deeper level. They facilitate growth resulting in greater confidence and increased capabilities.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What are your favorite ways to celebrate and show love to your daughter? </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4PG7EFZY7wY/VQMlrsPUnWI/AAAAAAAAApk/i_v1Jrgeftw/s1600/5-ways-to-show-love.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4PG7EFZY7wY/VQMlrsPUnWI/AAAAAAAAApk/i_v1Jrgeftw/s1600/5-ways-to-show-love.jpg" height="258" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<span id="docs-internal-guid-87a69b5c-140e-42cd-343f-6a4ff75651ec"><br /><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">By Ashton Snyder- Chrysalis Residential Shift Supervisor</span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5413252135027228697.post-15294363681344969812014-11-26T17:55:00.000-08:002014-11-26T17:55:17.740-08:00Student Gratitude<br />
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<b>Student Responses to the Question: </b></div>
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<b>What are you grateful for?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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I’m grateful for my dad who has been there for me when times
get tough. When he plays around with me and we go out to get ice cream shell
and laugh about silly jokes. I’m grateful for my mom because she has not given
up on me and has faith that our future is bright. For all the times that she
has given me a second chance. I’m grateful that I have a full, complete family
that love me unconditionally. For my sister who can joke and play around with
me and then also be the big sis that everybody wants. For all the times I have
needed help and she drops what she is doing and comes. Christmas is the best
holiday of the year for me: the laughs, family dinners, snow ball fights, warm
fire, hot chocolate and cookies with milk and love. I’m grateful for my strong
faith that my dad has helped me stay focused on. And lastly for bubble baths, Netflix,
music, chick-fil-a, sweet tea, the south, beaches, and most importantly my best
friends. </div>
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<br /></div>
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I’m grateful for sunrises and sunsets. I’m grateful for
family and friends supporting me through the roughest times. I’m grateful for
photography to capture each precious memory in the moment. I’m grateful for big
warm sweaters while sitting by a fire holding a hot cup of tea, and someone to share
it all with. </div>
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<br /></div>
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I am grateful for the nooks and crannies of our world,
waiting to be explored. I am grateful for the expanse of our universe, waiting
to be understood. I am grateful for all the unknowns of our world and the
opportunity to explore them. Also, dogs. </div>
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<br /></div>
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I am grateful for the
java bean, those rare sunny days in Portland, scrambling up rock walls, the
whale sound a frozen lake makes, and great novels.</div>
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I am grateful for the way music and stories take me places
far away or close to home and myself. </div>
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My dad. </div>
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<br /></div>
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I am forever grateful for God’s love, healing, my family,
and my Chrysalis sisters and family. </div>
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<br /></div>
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I am grateful for my brother, dad, and mom. For my dogs. I
am grateful for having food every day. I am grateful for life. </div>
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<br /></div>
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I am grateful for pixels. I am grateful for screens and
soundtracks and buttons and characters. I am grateful for the friends I have.
Also chocolate.</div>
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<br /></div>
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For warm sweaters and hot chocolate by the fire. For
mechanical pencils and down jackets. For glistening fresh snow and steaming
coffee. For family and friends. For fresh starts and old memories. For the
smell of new books and the smell of old books, too. For lullabies and crickets.
And for times when it’s ok to cry. </div>
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<br /></div>
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I am grateful for my family who loves and supports me
endlessly. I am grateful for the ability to walk, talk, and breath. I am
grateful for good food. I am grateful for laughter that makes your stomach
cramp and for smiles that ache. I am grateful for dogs, fires, and life. </div>
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<br /></div>
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I am grateful for my family, for all the amazing things they
have done for me, for the opportunities they have been able to give to me, all the
wonderful memories we have had together. I am grateful for amazing friends who
have always been there for me. For my teachers who have gone out of their way
to get me the extra help I have needed in school. I’m grateful for Bob, Paula,
and their cooking of course! I am also grateful for the mistakes I have made
that have helped me become who I am today. I am grateful for True North
Wilderness Program in Vermont, and Mod for helping me throughout my time at
True North. </div>
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<br /></div>
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I’m thankful for my family. I’m thankful for my dogs, my friends, snowboarding, and music. I’m
also grateful for warm fires, brownies, and blankets. </div>
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<br /></div>
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I am thankful for the incredible support system I have at
home and here. I am grateful for all the people who have been a part of my
journey or impacted my life one way or another over the past year. My life has
changed dramatically and I am a whole new me, and I am so grateful for that. </div>
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<br /></div>
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I’m grateful for nail polish, staff that care, passing
junior year, and whiteboards. And I’m so grateful for my mom, dad, and little brother. </div>
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<br /></div>
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I’m grateful for my super annoying, severe ADHD because it’s
what makes me me, and I’m happy with who I am. I’m also grateful for the ability
to make people smile. </div>
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<br /></div>
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I am grateful for my sister and brother. I am thankful for
warm weather. I am thankful for the beach. I am grateful for Florida. I am
thankful for home. I am thankful for my dad. I am thankful for the ability to
exercise. I am thankful for hot drinks. I am grateful for spas. </div>
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I am grateful for my younger brother, for my wonderful
parents, for good vanilla lattes, Disneyland, and for spending holidays by the fire
with the most important people in my life. I’m also very grateful for Franny! </div>
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For all the unseen and unheard things that come to me
willingly. For all the strengths I have. </div>
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I am so grateful for being alive today – I wouldn’t be
without this place. I’m also grateful for green bean casserole. </div>
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I am grateful for my family, my friends, my teachers, my
coaches, and my role models. These people that I have listed have taught me so
much. I’m also grateful for the knowledge that I posses. I am grateful for star
lit skies with no light pollution where you can see the milky way. I am
grateful for drinking warm hot chocolate with marshmallows on a winter night. I
am grateful for genuine smiles and laughs. I am grateful for hugs when you are
having a bad day. I am grateful for songs that give you chills. I am grateful
for love and support. I am grateful for meaningful quotes. I am grateful for my
life, even with its downs. Those downs are what got me to where I am right now. </div>
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<br /></div>
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I am grateful for my family, my friends, and all the other
people who have been in my life and taught me without knowing it. I am grateful
for crepes, Nutella, eggnog, and my mom’s stuffing. I am grateful for
snowboarding, longboarding, snow, and Bear Lake. I am grateful for the
craziness in my house and the people who have come and gone here. I am grateful
for kindness, and change. I am grateful for Chrysalis and how it has changed me
and my family <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span> </div>
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</div>
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I am grateful for life, the universe, everything – people who
come in and out of our lives. I am grateful for the ability to write this, the
good food we eat, the clean water we drink, and the sweet Montana air we
breathe.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5413252135027228697.post-51441414255412315872014-11-24T10:04:00.000-08:002014-11-24T10:08:25.744-08:00Chrysalis Staff Gratitude<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Some thoughts of gratitude from our wonderful staff:</span><br />
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<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm grateful to have the privilege and opportunity to work with amazing girls and their families in reconnecting. It is truly an honor to be part of each girl's journey. I also feel incredibly blessed to work with such dedicated, kind, and caring people. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>~Natasha, Therapist</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oFScr3ldelk/VHNxk6YuzJI/AAAAAAAAAkQ/YZzqFPND5ss/s1600/Jeremy2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oFScr3ldelk/VHNxk6YuzJI/AAAAAAAAAkQ/YZzqFPND5ss/s1600/Jeremy2.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">First and foremost I am am grateful for my faith and the joy that fills my life because of it. I am grateful for my parents for guiding my faith, for the love they have showered over me and for the strength the have placed in my heart. As I aged, met the man of my dreams and started a family, I could not feel more blessed. The deep love and simple joy that radiates through our home brings a smile to my face with each passing day. I do my best to share my joy, especially with the girls I work with. I am grateful for my parents teaching me to be compassionate, for that too is passed on to the beautiful girls I am trying to help. </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I just wouldn't be true to myself if I didn't mention how grateful I am for the mountains and for ski season being just around the corner. Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!</span><br />
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>~ </b></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Julie, Adventure Supervisor</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am grateful for snowfall, for fashionable AND functional scarves, and hot baths. I am grateful for Cake Batter flavored ChapStick and dark chocolate with sea salt in it. I am grateful for living in a place that is so remote I can look up at the sky on a clear night and see innumerable stars right from my front porch. I am grateful for having food in my pantry that doubles as a gathering place for friends and family. I am grateful that my grandparents, Gert and Ernie, will likely be around for one more holiday season. I am grateful for the Chrysalis environment, both my fellow staff and students, which comprise much more than a workplace. It is an extended family I can learn from, lean on, and laugh with; who make sure everyone has a place not just for the holidays, but every day; who share the primo huckleberry patches and fishing holes; who laugh and smile (and tease relentlessly) like family; who care just as much for our girls as I do; who are only here because their families entrust us with their daughters -- without them, Chrysalis couldn't be such a loving place.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>~Krysten, English Teacher</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am thankful for family and friends, both near and far. I am frequently reminded that people are what matter most, and I feel grateful for the wonderful people in my life. I am particularly thankful for my husband who has had so much patience, grace, and has offered support as I frequently travel for work. I am thankful for our home and land in which we have created a small backyard farm. I am grateful for the simplicity of fresh eggs and veggies, and the many meals shared this year. I love living in northwest Montana and I feel blessed to call it home. While I enjoy traveling for work and collaborating with many fantastic professionals, the more I travel the more I enjoy living in Montana. I am thankful for a job I believe in, and many co-workers who are my dear friends. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>~Carrie, Admissions Director</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am grateful for being able to join a team of people who are willing to work in collaboration for the greater good of young women and their families. I am grateful for the beauty of NW Montana that speaks to my heart and soul everyday without words. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>~ Becca, Therapist</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">Gratitude is essential for the soul. Without it, I wither and shrink from the joys of life. I'm immensely grateful for the blessing of harvesting a deer for my freezer. I'm thankful for my children, their spouses, and for my grandson's bright eyed smiles. My 14 year old daughter's journey from little girl to young lady delights my heart. I'm grateful for being witness to maturing young women and their process of moving forward in a positive manner. I'm thankful for a husband that is always there to encourage and fill up the empty spaces of my being. I'm thankful for a God filled with love and grace for me.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;"><b>~Darla, Academic Director</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This Thanksgiving season has provided us with very crisp temperatures accompanied by azure blue skies and sparkling, dramatic snow covered peaks. How fortunate I feel to be nestled in our beautiful valley, inspired by our glorious scenery. After thirty five short years, Montana and her grandeur still takes my breathe away. I feel blessed to be able to work with an amazing team of professionals who are dedicated to our students and their families. I celebrate the courage that it takes to fully engage in the healing process, and I am surrounded by girls who are finding their voice, mending their hearts, exercising their talents, honoring their values, embracing their families and building sturdy character. I delight in the addition of our new border/bearded collie Charlie, his antics, the smiles he prompts, and the silliness he adds to our lives. I treasure my family, and my husband and our co-founder. I value our supportive, brilliant partners at InnerChange. Life is good! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>~Mary, Clinical Director and Co-Founder</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Gratitude</span> is never more difficult to find and express than when it comes on the heels of a difficult period in one's life. That is, however, undoubtedly when the expression of <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">gratitude</span> is the single most important response we can have, and the most important thing we can practice, day in and day out. That's when counting one's blessings and giving thanks for all that is good about our lives is most healing. It separates us from our burdens and allows us to look forward to the promise of a new day. And that glimpse of something brighter in the distance can make all the difference. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This has been a tough year for many of us, professionally, personally, socially, financially, and perhaps in other dimensions as well. It's been difficult at times to arrive at laughter and lightness of being. And yet, when challenged to search our souls for encouragement, or reasons to be hopeful, we inevitably find them if we but try. I've often heard this described as a treasure chest sitting right in front of us, full of all manner of delights, just waiting for us to use the key in our hand to unlock the chest, open the lid, and discover the bounty of blessings within. This veritable "horn of plenty" may have been sitting there for years, waiting patiently for us to claim it.. At times this process requires some perseverance, some faith, and some action on our part. Fortunately, these are all characteristics that are available to us. We can possess them and utilize them when the going gets tough. And, thankfully, It turns out there are guides and mentors all around us, ready and willing to take our hand and lead the way when it feels necessary. Then, when we do our part, fulfilling our role in this equation, we begin to remember all that is good about the world around us, and all that is beautiful about our life within that world. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In that spirit, I am grateful this year for countless blessings that are known to me, but can go unnamed in this more public expression. I'm also grateful for those blessings that I haven't stumbled across yet, but which are inevitably in my path. I'm grateful for those spiritual qualities of which I wrote that sometimes define us, such as perseverance, faith, and the capacity for positive action. I'm grateful for the guides and mentors in my life, both past and present, who have steered me carefully and collectively toward this lovely moment in time. I'm grateful that I can occasionally be a blessing to someone else along the way. I'm grateful for this beautiful place that we get to call home, and for the beauty of the people with whom we live and work. I'm especially grateful for hope, which we should never take for granted. And mostly, I'm grateful for God's good grace, always much needed, and for HIs willingness to weave all of this together for us, perfectly, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Happy Thanksgiving to all of you at Chrysalis.</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5413252135027228697.post-51216646882763275232014-11-10T08:54:00.000-08:002014-11-10T08:54:48.732-08:00Students Talk with Author Daniel Quinn<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.3333339691162px;">Last week, some of our students had the wonderful opportunity to have a phone call with Daniel Quinn, author of Ishmael, My Ishmael, The Story of B, Providence, and various other novels. Our sophomores have just finished reading Ishmael and are working on their final papers for the unit, and all of our students have just begun writing novels for our participation in National Novel Writing Month (we'll have updates on that later this month!). The opportunity to speak with Mr. Quinn was phenomenal; Ishmael has been in print continuously since its publication in 1991 and has been translated into over 20 languages. It's been used in courses ranging from History to Anthropology to Philosophy to English (and everything in between) and he's been invited to speak at various universities across the country. </span><br />
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Our girls asked him questions on everything they could think of regarding Ishmael and what it takes to be a writer, and we learned that he doesn't believe in writers block. If you have something to say, the words will come. Of course, they may need to be heavily revised and edited, but when a writer has something to say, writing is the natural outlet. We also learned that if he could redo Ishmael, he would clarify the gender of the narrator as it's been a point of uncertainty for some readers. Many of his novels took twelve years to be ready for publication, and he's working on another right now. </div>
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I'm most proud to say that he was very impressed with our students. During the process of setting up the interview, he mentioned that Ishmael was not intended for readers as young as our students. When our interview concluded, he stated that this was one of his most difficult interviews ever as our students asked very challenging questions and made him think. I walked out of the room on clouds, and am so very excited to share how well our girls performed with this prestigious writer! </div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5413252135027228697.post-31915707421711493172014-09-09T08:59:00.001-07:002014-09-09T08:59:14.509-07:0011 Signs Your Daughter May Need A Therapeutic Boarding School<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
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<span style="line-height: 115%;">Sending your
daughter away to a therapeutic boarding school is never in a family’s plan. It can be hard and
overwhelming when your daughter doesn’t thrive at home and may need extra help
and support. It’s hard to know when your daughter needs more help than you can
provide. Here are some common signs that we’ve found in girls needing a
Therapeutic Boarding School. </span></div>
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<li><b><span style="line-height: 115%;">Isolating From Peers: </span></b><span style="line-height: 115%;">Does your daughter isolate more than
normal? Does she hide in her room avoiding her life? Isolating can be defined
as socially withdrawing from friends and family and wanting to be alone more
than usual.</span></li>
<li><b><span style="line-height: 115%;">Codependency/Unhealthy
Relationships:</span></b><span style="line-height: 115%;"> If
your daughter is changing her core identity in order to “fit in” with a certain
group or person, that is a sign of an unhealthy relationship. Needing constant
approval or attention from others is another sign. If your daughter feels like she
“needs” another person and even goes to extreme measures to reel them in, it
may be a codependent relationship.</span></li>
<li><b><span style="line-height: 115%;">Difficulties with
School:</span></b></li>
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<li><i><span style="line-height: 115%;">School Refusal: </span></i><span style="line-height: 115%;">Sleeping in late, frequently late,
unexplainably sick</span></li>
<li><i><span style="line-height: 115%;">Not meeting full
potential in school: </span></i><span style="line-height: 115%;">Grades
are dropping, No motivation</span></li>
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<li><b><span style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">Difficulty in Parent or Sibling Relationships</span></b></li>
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<li><i><span style="line-height: 115%;">Arguing</span></i></li>
<li><i><span style="line-height: 115%;">Avoiding or Isolating</span></i></li>
<li><i><span style="line-height: 115%;">Lying and Stealing</span></i></li>
<li><i><span style="line-height: 115%;">Physical aggression</span></i></li>
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<li><b><span style="line-height: 115%;">Overuse of Technology
or Social Media: </span></b><span style="line-height: 115%;">Wanting
to be on Facebook or other social media sites more than participating in real
life events with others is a red flag as is using television, the internet, or
video games to distract from school or other activities.</span></li>
<li><b><span style="line-height: 115%;">Victim of Bullying or
Another Traumatic Event</span></b><span style="line-height: 115%;">: If your daughter has been a victim of bullying or assault, it can have
devastating effects and can lead to depression, anxiety, and PTSD.</span></li>
<li><b><span style="line-height: 115%;">Sexual Promiscuity: </span></b><span style="line-height: 115%;">Does your daughter act out sexually
or has she had multiple sexual partners? Has she been caught “sexting” or
looking at pornography?</span></li>
<li><b><span style="line-height: 115%;">Substance Abuse: </span></b><span style="line-height: 115%;">Is your daughter numbing herself by
using alcohol or drugs? Giving into peer pressure and hanging with the wrong
crowd can be a red flag for substance abuse.</span></li>
<li><b><span style="line-height: 115%;">Suicidal Thoughts or
Self-Harm: </span></b><span style="line-height: 115%;">Does your
daughter have suicidal thoughts? Has she cut or burned herself in the
past? </span></li>
<li><b><span style="line-height: 115%;">Non-responsive to
outpatient therapy: </span></b><span style="line-height: 115%;">Is
attending therapy once a week or more not doing enough? Often times when
teenagers don’t respond to outpatient treatment sources, you need to reevaluate
their situation. Your daughter may need further care.</span></li>
<li><b><span style="line-height: 115%;">Recommendations from
Mental Health Professionals: </span></b><span style="line-height: 115%;">Often your daughter’s therapist or school counselor will
recognize that she needs more help than they can provide. They may recommend a
Therapeutic Boarding School or a Residential Treatment Center. Even though you
won’t want to send your daughter away, you should take into consideration the
opinion of a professional. </span></li>
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<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">For support, tell a close friend or family member what you
are going through. It’s tough and you </span></span><span style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">shouldn't</span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> go through this alone.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 115%;">Find an expert in the field such as a counselor or educational
consultant who can point you in the right direction. There are thousands of
options for treatment. Sometimes it helps to have someone tell you what these
options are.</span></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 115%;">Give us a call at 888-317-9297 for more information on how we
can help you get your daughter back. </span></li>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5413252135027228697.post-32677146151612276382014-09-03T09:13:00.000-07:002014-09-03T09:13:12.588-07:00Backpacking trip in Waterton Lakes National Park<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
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There are many reasons why we are so fortunate that Chrysalis is in Northwest Montana. One of those reasons happens to be how close we are to such expansive, wild, and dramatic scenery that surrounds us in all directions. We decided to take advantage of our proximity to Canada and head to Waterton Lakes National Park for a backpack trip. I like to describe Waterton as the extension of Glacier National Park in Canada. It mirrors the eastern and western boundaries of glacier and adds another 185 square miles of protected land to the "crown of the continent".<br /></div>
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With a short window of only three days, we wanted the girls to see some of the most magnificent views the park had to offer so we took a trip into Akimina pass on the southwestern end of the park with intent to summit Akimina ridgeline and see views into Glacier and Waterton alike. <br /></div>
After several hours of measuring oatmeal, scooping craisins, and counting granola bars, we put food, tents, sleeping bags and cooking gear into our backpacks and headed north across the border. On our way to the trailhead we passed the famous Prince of Wales Hotel. We were inspired by the dramatic views surrounding the hotel. We re-arranged our packs making sure they were stable and we tightened down all the straps, ready to hike the few miles into our campsite. <br /><br />We spent the evening setting up tents, huckleberry picking, and enjoying our new home for the next two nights. The next morning we woke early around <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_202901189" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">5:30 am</span></span> to start breakfast, pack up, and get ready for a big day. We set off on the trail into Forum Lake and headed up the Akimina Ridgeline gaining elevation quickly. The girls were such a great team supporting and encouraging each other to ascend the steep ridgeline. After many false summits we found our selves in a cloud with little to no view of the surrounding mountains. Many of us were disappointed while simultaneously being satisfied by the fortunate chance to be walking within a cloud. As our view shrank to the few feet in front of us we found ourselves reflecting inwards and finding solace there. Once the cloud cleared on the other side of the ridgeline, some absolutely outstanding views of the park greeted us. It was well worth the suspense to experience such a beautiful site. The energy of the group instantly sparked into a chorus of oohs and aahs. We then descended into the Wall Lake drainage to find three mountain goats grazing above the lake and more huckleberries on the way down. Nine miles later, we arrived to make dinner at camp after a successful day! Early the next morning, we packed up camp and set out down the trail to arrive at the Prince of Wales Hotel where we enjoyed our lunch on the lawn with beautiful views of the lake and valley.</div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">It was a short, but beautiful trip. The girls put in great effort and reaped great reward. I am so thankful to be a part of these life changing journeys.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">~Ashton, Adventure Staff</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5413252135027228697.post-17404108095660609742014-08-26T08:44:00.000-07:002014-08-26T08:44:06.441-07:002014 Mother-Daughter Retreat<br />
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This year's mother-daughter retreat recently concluded its 2014 stint under the high beams of the Cockerall Center at Flathead Camp. Unseasonable temperatures, dramatic clouds and rain provided a unique experience this year as we anxiously awaited for the skies to part and the sun to appear so that we could be pulled around on the speed boat, canoe around the bay, and have our moms teach us how to do back flips off the diving board. Even though there was a bit of wet weather, participants of this year's mother-daughter retreat had an overall wonderful experiencing reconnecting with their daughters and mothers, respectively. </div>
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Our therapeutic focus surrounded the bond that exists between a mother and her daughter. We celebrated feminine energy and set intentions for the retreat in our opening flower ceremony <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1506096273" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">on Tuesday</span></span>. <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1506096274" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">Wednesday</span></span> and <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1506096275" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">Thursday</span></span> events and groups focused on reorienting relationships toward healing and re-connection, while also having a bit of fun with some art projects, spa activities, adventure activities, and a talent show of moms, daughters and staff. With the fire roaring in the main lodge <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1506096276" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">on Friday</span></span> morning, we spent a lengthy, large group circle reflecting on all that was experienced and accomplished throughout the retreat, by highlighting our "favorite frames" and offering gratitude to and for the ones we love, the privileges we are granted, and the ability to be in relationship with each other. We are celebrating yet another extraordinary, healing, rich Chrysalis family event and send our deep thanks to all who helped to make it happen. Can't wait for next year!</div>
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Love, light and gratitude.</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5413252135027228697.post-13007139001250904262014-08-20T10:16:00.000-07:002014-08-20T10:16:05.969-07:00Chrysalis Academics: Above the State AND National Average!<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kudos to the 2014 High School Graduates of Chrysalis! They are ready for college success. The ACT College Readiness letter has arrived in our school office. The results are shown on the graph below. 100% of our students who took the ACT met or exceeded the benchmark score of 18 on The ACT English Test. The average for Chrysalis students was a whopping 23...a full 5 points <b>above</b> the benchmark. Also shown on the graph, our students outscored the average Montana student who took the test by 40 percentage points. </span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">College Social Science scores as measured by the ACT Reading test also exceeded the benchmark.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> We couldn't be happier. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Chrysalis students are out performing other Montana students in 3 of 4 areas measured, and even out score them with the number of students who reach all four benchmarks. Meeting a benchmark score means that a student from Chrysalis heading to her first year of college will be 50% more likely to get a B or higher in that college course. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Chrysalis girls are succeeding academically, and we are happy to share the news with you. What a great time to be a Chrysalis student and have the privilege of experiencing its supportive and challenging academic environment. We are proud of what our girls have accomplished, and look eagerly forward to the new school year. Continued success stories are on the horizon as we strive to regularly make improvements in our academic program. </span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5413252135027228697.post-24083464012638504242014-07-16T09:55:00.000-07:002014-07-16T09:55:38.070-07:00Kootenay River Trip 2014<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
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After a full day of preparing and packing for the second Adventure Trip of the summer we were all ready to hit the road and head north. We drove three and a half hours into British Columbia to arrive just an hour south of Banff National Park, in the Kootenay National Park. We spent our first night on the banks of the river anticipating the next four days of freedom on the water. </div>
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We put in at Mcleod Meadows on a perfect bluebird day reaching temperature upward of 90 degrees. Needless to say, once the two oar frame rafts, single paddle raft, and two inflatable kayaks were rigged and we embarked on our marine journey, water wars abound! Thanks to Natasha, one of our therapists, who brought several water guns for our drenching delight. <br /></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Three nights and four days on the water later we have endless stories of instructors falling into the glacial water, girls working hard paddling "all forward", and each and every one of us getting way too much sun! However, I am happy to boast that we had zero sunburns and did a great job to keep all group members hydrated and happy. </span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-k40bSTs2C8M/U8ar-vObszI/AAAAAAAAAao/2hz--he9_f8/s1600/kootenay+rafting3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-k40bSTs2C8M/U8ar-vObszI/AAAAAAAAAao/2hz--he9_f8/s1600/kootenay+rafting3.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Many girls' favorite moments included watching Tom, another therapist, take a plunge into the very cold Kootenay waters; they thoroughly enjoyed his surprised reaction. Another favorite moment was arriving at the most beautiful oasis of a campsite on our last night on the river - filled with beautiful sandy beaches, cedar trees and a gorgeous limestone cliff face opposite our site on the river. We were all in awe and very thankful for the inspiring beauty around us. I speak for the group when I say that we all experienced a great deal of light hearted happiness, filled with good humor and a healthy dose of humility in our circles and conversations. I could not be more delighted to have been a part of this great adventure!</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">~Ashton, Adventure Staff</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5413252135027228697.post-72974607959658795422014-04-24T08:28:00.003-07:002014-04-24T08:28:37.157-07:00Freezeout Lake Migration Trip<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
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Over spring break, seven Chrysalis
students left Eureka for a weekend trip to the Rocky Mountain Front. ‘The
front’ as locals call it, is the place in our state where the mountains meet
the plains. To the west, snowstorms brew high in the foreboding Rockies, to the
east, golden fields and blue sky stretch into eternity. Out here, you can tell
why they call it big sky country. Below are reflections by one of our adventure
staff who planned the trip:</div>
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Reflections
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=5413252135027228697" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=5413252135027228697" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=5413252135027228697" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=5413252135027228697" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=5413252135027228697" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>We drive by Glacier Park, up and
over Marias pass, then south until we pull in to our destination, Freezout Lake
Wildlife Management Area. We are here to
witness the white goose migration from Southern California where they winter to
the Canadian Arctic where the breed. Nearly a million geese live in the pacific
flyway, and a majority of them stop at Freezout Lake during the spring
migration. For most of these birds, Freezout is the only place they will stop
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We spend the weekend on goose time.
We wake up at sunrise to see them simultaneously take flight and head for the nearby
barley fields where they will spend the day feeding. While the geese are at
lunch, we visit with the area’s biologist who tells us about the species in the
area. <br />
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The spring migration through
Freezout largely consists of white geese – snow geese and Ross’s geese.
Trumpeter swans and tundra swans also fly through in large numbers. In addition
to these birds, ducks, pelicans, seagulls, and songbirds all make a temporary
home here in the spring. </div>
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The students have many questions
for the biologist, and we spend much of the afternoon in his office, looking at
maps of the migration route and pictures of breeding habitat in northern Canada
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head back to our campsite. As the sun sets, flocks of geese begin to fly back to
the water where they will rest for the evening. With hundreds of birds to a
flock, it is easy to hear them coming and we all point and watch in awe as they
pass. We can hear and feel their wings swooshing against the wind. </div>
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We make dinner and get ready for
bed. The girls talk and giggle around the campfire where we roast marshmallows.
We climb into our tents and say goodnight. The cattails rustle in the balmy
evening and the geese on the water sing us to sleep. <br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5413252135027228697.post-23667865297337405232014-04-04T08:00:00.000-07:002014-04-04T08:00:21.391-07:00Reflections on the Poetry Competition and Teaching<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">
I strongly believe that one of the things that makes teaching such a challenging profession is that many of us adopt our students. Of course, this doesn’t happen <i>legally</i>, but I can assure you that it happens emotionally. I teach because I care about the success of your daughter. I am always telling them that I will never ask for them to do more than their best, since many girls are afraid they will fail a class even if they do their best work. They frequently believe that their best will not be good enough. From an outsider’s perspective, I’m sure it often seems I only want her to be able to write an effective analytical essay, but the reason I want her to write effectively is because I want her to thrive in life, get a good job, and become a happy, strong, successful individual. It would be great if, years down the road, they sent us a holiday letter and a wedding invitation to let us know how they’re doing, but we know better than to expect it.</div>
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I got a firsthand lesson in the emotional ride of being a teacher when one of our girls went to the State Finals for Poetry Out Loud. We drove to Helena <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_217330466" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">on Friday </span></span>afternoon and spent the evening practicing the poems, finalizing outfits for the event, indulging in a Chinese Buffet for dinner (which, as it turns out, was not as good an idea as it seemed), and inventing the sport of underwater ballet (look for it in the next Olympics!). The next morning we rose early to get to the venue in plenty of time.</div>
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The Myrna Loy is a theater in the state capital. There is ample seating for a large audience and the stadium seating ensures that everyone gets a perfect view of the stage. There is a pit for an orchestra, great sound and lighting options, and a lobby area selling food and drinks. They’ve done a wonderful job with it, especially considering the building got its start as the jail. The architecture is definitely… “alternative,” and the dungeon-esque feel is exacerbated by the fact that to get to the restroom, one must wind their way through a narrow labyrinth to the basement, surrounded by the cold sarsens originally intended to make their guests feel despairingly confined. I loved it.</div>
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I’m not sure that our student was as nervous about the competition as I was; I made sure to direct her to use the restroom before the event got started, get up on stage and practice adjusting the height of the microphone, test out the various shoe options she had brought, and rehearse the introductions to her pieces. After all, there was a lot riding on this performance and I know how much pressure teens can feel to succeed. I wanted to ensure this experience ran as smoothly as possible so she had the best shot at winning the trip to Washington, D.C. to compete in the National Finals. She accepted my pointers and suggestions, but was honestly more interested in socializing with her peers.</div>
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The first few rounds went very well. I was proud of how well the poems went, but couldn’t help wondering if they would be good enough. I knew that if we could get into the final round of the day, we’d be able to win. Her final poem was a secret weapon capable of destroying even the most formidable of her opponents… we just needed the opportunity for her to recite it. I hardly remember lunch, I was so focused on my nerves. As much as I wanted her to succeed, I wanted to protect her from failing. I knew that the ride home would be devastating if we had to make it knowing she hadn’t won. I knew that she would be emotionally crushed if she wasn’t the best. I knew that there would be tears and heartache and feelings of inadequacy that my words would not be able to soothe away. I wanted to protect her from feeling those things… I wanted her to be happy.</div>
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I locked my eyes on the back of her head as they announced the finalists after lunch, and was utterly deflated when her name was not on the list. I knew she had done her best and I was sure she would be devastated. When she turned in her seat to make eye contact with me, she shrugged and turned back to watch the final round. We listened to the finalists recite their poetry and watched as the winner was announced. When the day was finally over and I had an opportunity to talk to our girl again, I learned so much about being a surrogate parent.</div>
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She was sad to have not won, but she was not devastated. She was not emotionally crushed. There were no tears or heartache or feelings of inadequacy. She was happy to have gone as far as the State level of competition, and to have had time to interact with peers from other schools around Montana. She had eaten terrible Chinese food, she had painted her nails, and she had practiced ballet underwater. She had seen hundreds of miles of our beautiful state and taken a picture in front of a gigantic plaster roadside attraction cow. She knew that she had done her best and that she had been beaten, and she was okay with that. I was so focused on protecting her from failure that I forgot how strong she was. Sometimes, we have to trust that they know their best will be good enough.</div>
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-Krysten, English Teacher</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5413252135027228697.post-52768074797910565612014-03-18T09:13:00.000-07:002014-03-18T09:13:19.907-07:00Volunteering at the Special Olympics<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On Tuesday February 25th, seven Chrysalis students journeyed south from Eureka to Whitefish Mountain Ski Resort, but not for a day of hitting the slopes. Instead of skis, snowboards, helmets and goggles, they arrived with noise makers, flowery leis, silly hats and giddy personalities as we volunteered to help out with the 16th Annual Montana Winter Special Olympics. Excited athletes took on the freezing temperatures as they snowshoed, cross-country skied, downhill skied, and snowboard their way towards gold medals. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After arriving and a quick lesson on how we were to run the medals ceremony, we joined the athletes at the Closing Ceremony for music, celebration, and hugs before the races began. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Some of our students cheered on racers and then helped the athletes line up on the podiums, while other students brought forward the medals on silver trays to be placed on the winners. Though a bit apprehensive at first, everyone who was volunteering soon got into a good rhythm. By the end there were smiles and laughter from our students almost as bright and loud as the athletes. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">This is the sixth Special Olympics I have been part of with Chrysalis, and every year has been a lot of fun. This year was no different, and I am proud of the students who came with to volunteer. They all did a great job, had a good time, and helped make great memories for the Special Olympians who competed this year.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">-Ken Kudick, Program Specialist and Service Coordinator</span></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5413252135027228697.post-51032145009449783052014-02-17T09:26:00.000-08:002014-02-17T09:56:18.344-08:00Student Qualifies for STATE Poetry Out Loud Contest!<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>The following article was written by one of our English teachers after last week's Montana High School Regionals Poetry Out Loud Contest.</i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I think I should have worn velcro on the seat of my pants last night… it certainly would have made it easier to stay seated after hearing our school champion recite her first poem at the Montana Regionals Poetry Out Loud competition. </span></span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-3933b6f0-40da-032e-eb2e-2b9d5a358c09" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As I type, I am so elated from last night’s success that I need to remember to take a deep breath and begin at the beginning. </span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Chrysalis School participated in Poetry Out Loud, a national poetry recitation contest, this year. Students select poems from either the print or online anthology to memorize and recite without costumes, props, or other major theatrics. The goal is for students to fully understand the poem they recite, and then use their presentation to channel the essence of that poem. Successful recitations include appropriate cadence, intonation, posture, stance, and a few carefully selected gestures to enhance meaning and convey the emotion(s) from the poem. Students are judged in several categories, including physical presence, voice and articulation, dramatic appropriateness, level of complexity, evidence of understanding, and overall performance. </span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The journey began in November, when each girl at Chrysalis selected a poem and began memorizing. Students were encouraged to select a poem that spoke to them, a poem that held a special meaning that they would want to hold in their hearts for the rest of their lives. They had five weeks to prepare their poems, and when it finally came time to perform them, their hard work paid off. We heard poems such as “We Wear the Mask,” “Harlem,” and “To the Desert” in the December 19th classroom competition. Each English class produced a champion for their grade and these champions moved on to the school-wide competition. </span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our four classroom champs faced off on January 23rd, which proved to be a fun evening filled with poetry and music. For this round, girls needed to have two poems rehearsed. After performing their first poem, we had a brief musical intermission for other girls to showcase their talents (and to allow the judges to begin tallying scores). We are extremely lucky to have so many girls with diverse talents here, and I’m glad to work in an environment where they feel safe enough to share those talents in front of a large group. After the second round of poems, one contestant emerged as the school-wide winner and we all celebrated the evening with scones, muffins, and apple cider provided by our Freshman/Junior English teacher. </span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our school champ spent the following two and a half weeks poring over poetry, surgically tearing it apart, stitching it back together, and wringing every last drop of emotion out of the selection she’d bring to regionals, and she wasn’t working alone. The Poetry Out Loud Montana State Champion from a few years ago is now living in town and came out to help coach our girl on her road to success. </span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was lucky enough to take our school-wide winner to regionals in Missoula just last night. The velcro-bottomed pants is only a slight exaggeration; while I managed to stay in my seat, it required an exorbitant amount of willpower. The poems went smoothly and our student reported feeling very pleased with her performance before the winners were announced, so whether she advanced to state or not, she was going to be making the drive home with a smile on her face. </span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We huddled together as they announced the seven finalists who would be advancing to state… and squealed with joy when our Chrysalis girl was announced! </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I cannot express how elated I am that Chrysalis participated in Poetry Out Loud this year. All of our girls can carry a meaningful poem with them for the rest of their lives, a mantra to soothe them in times of turmoil or an incantation to bring a smile in times of joy. As a therapeutic school, many of our girls realize how powerful a tool poetry can be. I’m also so proud that we have proven that our girls are smart enough, diligent enough, and mature enough to compete on a state-wide level. I’d like to send out a very heartfelt thanks to all of the staff at Chrysalis and families at home for encouraging our girls to be the best they can be in all areas of their lives, for it’s this excellent support network that makes our girls so successful. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5413252135027228697.post-88433967913309716922014-02-13T09:35:00.002-08:002014-02-13T09:35:51.744-08:00Using Mindfulness to Slow Down and Make Different Choices<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Many of the students who come to Chrysalis present with
anxiety, depression, impulsivity, emotional regulation issues, and difficulty
distinguishing between thoughts and emotions.
Mindfulness practices teach students to begin to slow down their busy
minds, see the difference between thoughts and emotions, and pause before
reacting impulsively to those thoughts and emotions. The concept of mindfulness originated in
Eastern thought and has been translated into Western Psychology as a way to
focus one’s attention on the present moment, see unhealthy habitual patterns,
and respond in new, healthy ways. The
specific goals are to decrease unhealthy behaviors such as interpersonal chaos
and confusion about the self and to increase behaviors related to interpersonal
effectiveness, emotional regulation, and distress tolerance. Mindfulness and awareness of one’s own
process, patterns, and habits is a key foundation for making these positive
behavioral changes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">At Chrysalis, we teach students mindfulness skills to
self-regulate attention on the immediate thoughts and feelings that they
experience, which promotes increased awareness of how the mind works in the
present moment. Often students are
caught in worrying and/or fantasizing about the future; anger and/or shame
about the past; and are so unaware of their thoughts and feelings in the mo</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">ment
that they act habitually and continue to act out old, unhealthy patterns.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">When we talk about this with students we often frame it as
working on auto-pilot without really slowing down to make a choice about how to
handle a particular situation. Students
are encouraged to try to view their present moment experience with curiosity,
non-judgmental stance, openness, and acceptance. The idea is that by promoting curiosity and
non-judgment, one is able to slow down and recognize habitual patterns without
shutting down or acting out. In turn,
one is then able to think about possible outcomes and respond to situations in
new rather than habitual ways. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Natasha Gregg, MA</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5413252135027228697.post-52867342430773760662014-02-07T09:34:00.002-08:002014-02-07T09:34:25.807-08:00Winter Activities and Bloomsday Training It's been a snow filled week here in Eureka, Montana. Chrysalis students are staying cozy and enjoying the fresh snow on the weekends. A group of students are headed to a Forest Service Cabin for a leadership retreat this weekend. Take a look here at <a href="http://chrysalisschoolmontana.blogspot.com/2013/11/chrysalis-leadership-retreats.html">why we do leadership retreats.</a><br />
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In other news, the annual <a href="http://www.bloomsdayrun.org/">Bloomsday 12K</a> training is in full swing! We had twenty-one (!) students show interest in participating in the race this year. Many of these girls have never run a road race before. They will train at morning work out over the next few months, which is also student's PE credit. For the more serious runners in the group, a few girls hope to join the "Sub-One Hour Club" - students who have run the 12K (7.46 miles) race in under an hour.<br />
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What are you up to this first week of February? It's still winter here, but we're ok with that because there are numerous opportunities for growth and fun in northwest Montana all year long.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5413252135027228697.post-27475630319860907322014-01-06T07:16:00.000-08:002014-01-06T07:16:08.353-08:00Celebrating One Year with InnerChange!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: black; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">At this time last year, Chrysalis was preparing to announce our exciting partnership with InnerChange. The final logistics were complete, and it was only a matter of making it official. As of January 1, 2013, Chrysalis has been been a proud InnerChange partner.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">InnerChange is a partner organization that serves mental health professionals, providing clinical and operational support to help them aid struggling families. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">We are happy to learn from their expertise and to collaborate with other professionals. Many people ask us how Chrysalis has changed because of InnerChange, and the answer is rather simple: we provide the same care to students in a warm and nurturing environment that we have for 15 years. On a program level, not much has changed. The main program change is that we now go on two international service trips a year, and <b>every </b>Chrysalis student will go on one international trip during her time here! InnerChange thought that our international service trips were a wonderful opportunity for our students and families, so they encouraged us to do more trips. So we are! We are also in the process of creating a formal alumni program. It has been great to begin to connect more regularly with alumni and to hear the wonderful things they are doing now.</span></span></div>
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The other changes are more staff focused. Our staff are able to travel more, engaging with other clinicians in the field. Our staff are able to learn from staff at other InnerChange partnership programs. We will be updating our website and utilizing social media more to be in contact with prospective, current, and alumni families. There are even better staff benefits as a result of being a part of a larger group of people that are serving families. </div>
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In short, we are pleased and thankful to be working with InnerChange, and we look forward to our continued partnership as we enter 2014.</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5413252135027228697.post-29554219954224566752013-12-12T07:57:00.002-08:002013-12-12T07:57:23.393-08:00Learning from International Travel<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.0pt;">Chrysalis has invested heavily in international travel with
students over the past 15 years. I must confess that a part of the motivation
to do this, originally, was selfish. Mary and I love to travel, and moving
around the planet to explore different cultures and see beautiful places was
gratifying to us. That being said, it's also entirely true that we felt
strongly that this global exploration and exposure would be the best possible
education for our students. Too many kids in our dominant American cultures
have no real understanding of, or appreciation for, the people and places
beyond our borders. If we're going to be good citizens of planet Earth, it
seems critical to journey abroad whenever possible to learn how the rest of our
planet's inhabitants socialize, work, play, eat, learn, and live. True cultural
exploration, beyond the typical tourist haunts, can shape a kid's future in
ways that would never be possible in our classrooms in Montana. Some things
just need to be seen, heard, or touched in person, with one's own eyes, ears, and
hands. Several examples come to mind as I write this: towering pyramids, vast
canyons or thundering waterfalls, classic works of art, mysterious sites of
ancient and vanished cultures, great tropical reefs full of amazing marine
life, African tribes, the Sahara, Kilimanjaro. The list goes on and on. There
really is no substitute for being there.</span><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.0pt;">And then there is service. Nothing in our
human experience brings one's own life into focus, and cuts through narcissism,
like good old-fashioned service work. Our students often begin a service
experience wondering why in the world they would want to do something difficult
for someone else, for no remuneration, and no promise that the recipients would
ever do something for them in return. Then, slowly but surely, across the
process, they begin to understand that even though the service project may be
ostensibly and directly for someone else, the real reward comes back to us, the
giver. When we've traveled to foreign countries and done a variety of service
projects (we've cleaned, painted, built structures, cared for orphans, taught
younger students, picked up trash, developed gardens, created fresh water
systems or sanitation, and delivered food and clothing among other things)
everyone in the equation benefits, but the service provider leaves with the
greatest prize of all. Our hearts are full and our bags are lighter on the way
home. There's nothing like it, and no one can steal from us the sense of honor,
blessing, and accomplishment that comes from doing something wonderfully
important for someone else. It lives in our hearts.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.0pt;">Cultural immersion, education, adventure,
service. These are the building blocks of our international travel
experience. When we do it right, in a moment of absolute clarity, students seem
to find themselves completely open to self-discovery and some universal truths.
They realize for the first time that many of the poor, impoverished people of
the world are much happier and more content than relatively wealthy American
youth. They say something like, "I've got everything that my parent's
money can buy, but I'm depressed and anxious; these people have almost nothing,
relatively speaking, but they're bright and smiling. There's something wrong
with this picture, and there's something important here that I need to
learn." Amen to that. That's what makes international travel so important,
so brilliant, and so worth the cost. That's why we plan and execute two
international trips a year. And that's why, starting this year, every student
at Chrysalis is able to choose to participate in one included international
trip during her enrollment (and pay extra for others if they choose.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.0pt;">International travel is life changing. We're
never the same after we return. The people we help along the way appreciate it
forever, and the world becomes a better place to live as a result. It's hard to
beat that chain of events. I'm hoping, by this time next year that we've
successfully collaborated with other InnerChange programs to build a school
building in Zambia. We'll do a floating safari in canoes on the river while
we're there. Won't that be something?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.0pt;">To find out more about our international service trips, please visit </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 17px;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial;">http://www.chrysalisschoolmontana.com or call us at 888-317-9297. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.0pt;">By: Kenny Pannell, Executive Director </span></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5413252135027228697.post-67269468451435348082013-12-03T09:59:00.001-08:002013-12-03T09:59:49.630-08:00Utilizing EMDR at Chrysalis<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iQG6yekvCNc/Up4bxVP9eLI/AAAAAAAABZQ/4ch1Q2nUDoI/s1600/EMDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iQG6yekvCNc/Up4bxVP9eLI/AAAAAAAABZQ/4ch1Q2nUDoI/s1600/EMDR.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">EMDR is a treatment modality typically used with people who are
suffering from symptoms of traumatic events that happened in their history, and
which continue to beleaguer their current lives. EMDR stands for Eye Movement
Desensitization and Reprocessing and works with the brain hemispheres to
reprocess life events that have become caught or stuck in the person's memory
in a dysfunctional, maladaptive way. Typically, when we experience an event in
our lives, it gets stored in our memory in a way that, when we recall it, it is
simply a picture from a story book that doesn't contain all the same sensory
experiences we may have had at the time of the event. When we experience an
event in our lives that is traumatic, however, the memory of it can get stuck
with all the original images, thoughts/beliefs, sounds and physical sensations
that happened at the time of the event. When this happens, it means that the
brain hasn't processed the memory properly so that the person can move on with
their life without being haunted by the event. The common example here is the
war veteran who hears a car door slam while walking down the street, confuses
that sound with a gun shot or bomb, and is suddenly triggered back to a battle
scene during their service in the war; they become ridden with panic and fear
and the inability to stay attuned to the present moment. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">EMDR originated decades ago and was used with soldiers coming back from
war. What we've learned about the treatment since then, however, is that it
works for those suffering from major trauma or what we refer to as "big
'T' trauma", as well as minor trauma or what we refer to as "small
't' trauma". A person does not have to have undergone an obviously
traumatic event to benefit from EMDR. It has been used in family therapy,
addictions treatment, for people with eating disorders, and with various other
clinical issues whose roots are found in upsetting or traumatic life events
that are causing problems in the person's current life. The goal of EMDR is to
take the traumatic event and transform it into a historical memory by means of
desensitizing the upsetting experiences associated with the memory, and reprocessing
the negative belief connected to it. By engaging in this process, the person
may be free of the post-event distress that occurred at the time of the
event.<br />
<br />
EMDR has been shown to work with a large number of people but is not successful
for everyone. Some of the students who have participated in this treatment
describe the process like a fast-moving train, where many thoughts, images, and
physical sensations happen in quick succession of one another. Those thoughts,
images and sensations are described as seemingly unrelated yet connected to the
event somehow. The human brain is complex and capable of networking many
criterions to any given event, like the smell of mustard while eating a hotdog
at the ballpark--the smell of mustard may later cause a person to remember a
time they were at a ballpark. Similarly, during the EMDR process, the brain
recalls many associated factors of the event and begins reorganizing them in
order for the event to become more functional and not upsetting or triggering.
What's wonderful about EMDR is that we don't have to know exactly why or how
all of the associations are networked the way that they are, as long as the
memory becomes increasingly adaptive, functional, and absent of distressing
material. At the end of a 90-minute session, clients often refer to the
formerly distressing event as "just a picture, now" or "just
something that happened that I'm not chained to anymore". This is a
treatment approach that many clinicians find useful to add to their tool box
when an issue occurs that can't seem to "un-stick" itself with some of
the more traditional methods used in standard practice. It is a tremendously
effective and powerful intervention with which many people who seek mental
health services have found success; they come to live with a greater sense of
ease and freedom from events that formerly kept them from happy lives and
healthy relationships.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">To find out more about how EMDR is used in treatment at Chrysalis, or
how EMDR may benefit your daughter, contact us at 888-317-9297 or visit
chrysalisschoolmontana.com. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">By: Haley Kliefoth, </span> MA, LCPC, NCC</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5413252135027228697.post-67981643970181924942013-11-27T09:22:00.000-08:002013-11-27T10:18:26.588-08:00Gratitude from Chrysalis Staff<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">A few of the Chrysalis staff share what they're thankful for in
regards to being a part of the Chrysalis community:</span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dBtHuUp94L4/UpYm57V7G6I/AAAAAAAAAKQ/6yrpLWg9-Ik/s1600/staff1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dBtHuUp94L4/UpYm57V7G6I/AAAAAAAAAKQ/6yrpLWg9-Ik/s400/staff1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> “I'm thankful that I get to be a part of the
music program at Chrysalis. I love teaching girls about music and encouraging
their endeavors to learn an instrument (or two!), to have the courage to sing
in front of a crowd, or to write and compose their own music. I'm thankful that
I've been able to see how music impacts students’ lives in a positive way. I'm
also thankful for my work as the case manager at the Cottage. We have an
incredible group of girls here and our smaller community feels very warm and
almost like a family. Lastly, I'm thankful to live in a place where I can spend
my weekends outside doing the things I love.” <b>– Michelle</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">“I'm
grateful to be teaching this group of girls and watching them grow and mature not
only in their academic skills, but in so many other ways as well. It is not
only a responsibility I take seriously, but a joy and a privilege I cherish. I
am thankful for fellow teachers who passionately desire to help kids and do odd
and often thankless tasks to show that love and care. I have the perfect
teaching job in so many ways: small class size, encouraging support, and
positive one on one with girls and staff. What a blessing!” <b>– Darla<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">“I'm
thankful to be a part of a program that believes in girls and helps facilitate
lasting change in families. I'm thankful that running is a part of my daily work
responsibilities. I'm thankful for the table fellowship around meal time on
campus. I'm thankful for co-workers who have become good friends. I'm thankful
for collaboration with other professionals and programs. I'm thankful to live
in beautiful northwest Montana where I truly feel like myself.” <b>– Carrie</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">“I
am grateful for the team of therapists I get to work with, and how we
collaborate to take care of the girls whose parents have entrusted them to our
care. And I'm grateful for our mountains!” <b>–
Haley</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Act6HLiIp6A/UpYmvdshjGI/AAAAAAAAAKI/WiWJBEjXcMw/s1600/staff3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Act6HLiIp6A/UpYmvdshjGI/AAAAAAAAAKI/WiWJBEjXcMw/s400/staff3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">“I
am thankful for being a part of a dedicated team who are helping families to
heal and to witness young women discover their true selves. I feel honored to
take care of many of the girls’ needs so they feel loved and cared for. I am
grateful that I get to do it in such a beautiful place!” <b>– Leslie</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">“I
am so thankful to have the opportunity every day to spend time with the
passionate and smart young women at Chrysalis. I am thankful to have a job that
allows me to teach young women about how to be confident playing in the woods
and mountains of Montana. I am so thankful to walk down the road by our house
and see the gorgeous Whitefish Mountain Range covered in snow. I am thankful to
live and work in Montana!”<b>– Ashton<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">“I
am so thankful for Chrysalis and the blessing it has been in my life! I am
thankful for the caring staff. I am thankful for the opportunity to meet
incredible students and their families from around the country. I am thankful
for the beautiful setting in which we have the privilege to work.” <b>- Vicki</b><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">"I am thankful for the magic and healing of human connection
that surrounds me every day at Chrysalis. I am grateful for the resilience of
the human spirit, and our capacity to appreciate joy and wonder that is always
surrounding us if we will but look about. I am grateful for the amazing people
who work at Chrysalis and have dedicated themselves to helping girls and their
families to heal. I am thankful for the trust parents have placed in our
amazing team. I am especially thankful to our co-founder, Kenny Pannell, who has
imagined, created, lived and breathed "Chrysalis" over the last
fifteen years by my side. I am grateful for our fabulous, supportive partners
at InnerChange. I am thankful for all of my relatives and family, including
those extended Chrysalis family members." <b>- Mary</b></span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jI4IrFAiGbo/UpYmjmd92eI/AAAAAAAAAKA/gsvaKap2QS8/s1600/staff4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jI4IrFAiGbo/UpYmjmd92eI/AAAAAAAAAKA/gsvaKap2QS8/s400/staff4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">“I've
always thought that Thanksgiving is arguably the best holiday of them all. No
gifts to buy during an overly commercialized shopping frenzy. No crowds to
fight through in every place where people gather. No confusion about what the
holiday is really about. No shock and regret when the January credit card
statements arrive. And, no extra weight to carry around for months since I
always display great restraint when it comes to holiday eating at Thanksgiving.
(I think this might be where people insert smiling little faces to suggest
intended humor.)</span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">At
this time of year, I always feel enormous gratitude for my parents and grandparents,
who joined together and sacrificed to make my life truly meaningful in every
possible way. Their great expectations helped me realize who I was in the
context of my own, what values were necessary to shape a healthy life
and lifestyle, and what I might become in terms of the larger community of
which I am a part. I love and appreciate them for those critical inputs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">At
the other end of the family spectrum are my children, who are bright,
beautiful, and full of promise. I'm so grateful that they are healthy,
hard-working, kind, and generous of spirit. I couldn't be more proud of them
than I am.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I
also feel grateful for all the good people who have collaborated with us for
the past 15 years to make our little school a winning place to live and work. I
hear from our former students and their parents almost every week, and the
message is always one of thanksgiving. We have facilitated great change in the
lives of so many fine young people, and the futures that they've embraced are
full and rich because of the powerful investments made by our remarkable staff.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">And
lastly, I would be entirely remiss if I didn't acknowledge the reservoir of
gratitude that I feel for my beautiful Mary, whose devotion to this place,
these people, and her family, make all the struggle and strain of our chosen
life totally worthwhile. She's the best. She's my favorite person in the world.
And I thank God everyday for her presence and partnership in my life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">We
are truly blessed! Happy Thanksgiving to one and all,” <b>Kenny</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><b>~</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><b>HAPPY THANKSGIVING! </b></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5413252135027228697.post-63592165282557012832013-11-18T11:05:00.000-08:002013-11-18T11:05:01.012-08:00Understanding Attachment Disorder<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The Father of Attachment Theory, John Bowlby, described
attachment as the “lasting psychological connections between human beings.” The
way in which humans attach to others has been proven to influence the way an
individual relates to others, themselves, and the world. Understanding
attachment serves as a solid foundation for understanding the development of
ineffective coping strategies and the underlying dynamics of a person's
emotional health and difficulties. Research has found that attachment style
impacts behaviors throughout life. Failure to form secure attachments early in
life can have a negative impact on behavior in later childhood and throughout
adulthood. Disruption in the parent-child relationship, adoption, and early
trauma are all factors that negatively impact an individual’s attachment style.
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Here at Chrysalis, we understand the importance of
attachment and the devastating effects unhealthy attachment styles can have on
individuals and their families. Many of the girls that come to us have
experienced attachment disruptions early in their lives. These situations have
impacted their ability to connect with others, form a healthy self-esteem and self-concept,
manage their own emotional states, and form healthy and secure relationships. We
treat attachment issues by helping individuals understand how past experiences
with caregivers, significant others, and previous life experiences have shaped
our students’ coping patterns. We show them how these patterns work to protect
them initially but then later contribute to their feelings of distress. </div>
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Chrysalis seeks to heal attachment wounds by working with
the individual to find alternative ways to meet their unmet needs and learn how
to form long lasting healthy attachment bonds to themselves, others, and the
world around them. We hope to not only modify their ineffective coping
strategies, but also better understand the underlying unmet needs that are
satisfied by their ineffective coping strategies. We want to help them learn
alternative ways to satisfy their psychological or emotional needs. Our focus
on relationships and providing consistent, warm, and nurturing care creates a
safe place to look at attachment issues, begin to heal old wounds, and find healthy
patterns of attachment.</div>
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Remember, there is hope for healthy attachments and
relationships. To find out more about how we work with attachment disorder at
Chrysalis, call us at 888-317-9297 or visit our website, <a href="http://www.chrysalisschoolmontana.com/">http://www.chrysalisschoolmontana.com/</a>. </div>
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By: Amy McClung, LMFT and LPC </div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5413252135027228697.post-8594747892345847182013-11-13T11:18:00.004-08:002013-11-13T11:18:55.389-08:00Chrysalis' Leadership Retreats<b id="docs-internal-guid-70c4f0e1-52e5-a0ec-83bf-4c6d0b6297c5" style="font-weight: normal;"></b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b id="docs-internal-guid-70c4f0e1-52e5-a0ec-83bf-4c6d0b6297c5" style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--w2R6ws8xLg/UoPQkxdP3OI/AAAAAAAAAUo/xKw5QhmHsC4/s1600/Chrysalis+Hiking.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--w2R6ws8xLg/UoPQkxdP3OI/AAAAAAAAAUo/xKw5QhmHsC4/s320/Chrysalis+Hiking.jpg" width="240" /></a></b></div>
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<b id="docs-internal-guid-70c4f0e1-52e5-a0ec-83bf-4c6d0b6297c5" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-70c4f0e1-52e5-a0ec-83bf-4c6d0b6297c5" style="font-weight: normal;"></b></span></b></div>
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<b id="docs-internal-guid-70c4f0e1-52e5-a0ec-83bf-4c6d0b6297c5" style="font-weight: normal;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-70c4f0e1-52e5-a0ec-83bf-4c6d0b6297c5" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></b></b></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<b id="docs-internal-guid-70c4f0e1-52e5-a0ec-83bf-4c6d0b6297c5" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-70c4f0e1-52e5-a0ec-83bf-4c6d0b6297c5" style="font-weight: normal;"></b></span></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="display: inline !important; line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<b id="docs-internal-guid-70c4f0e1-52e5-a0ec-83bf-4c6d0b6297c5" style="font-weight: normal;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-70c4f0e1-52e5-a0ec-83bf-4c6d0b6297c5" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dear Students and Families-</span></b></b></div>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<b id="docs-internal-guid-70c4f0e1-52e5-a0ec-83bf-4c6d0b6297c5" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hope this letter finds you all well. As it has been said, “Teamwork can be summed up in five short words: We </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">believe</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> in each other.”</span></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<b id="docs-internal-guid-70c4f0e1-52e5-a0ec-83bf-4c6d0b6297c5" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The first leadership experience this past summer, held in Glacier National Park, was a success for the Chrysalis community. This initial retreat gave students the opportunity to be recognized for their positive contributions throughout the year; we would love to keep this positive momentum rolling. The staff, teachers, clinicians and directors feel it is both imperative and beneficial to continue gathering select students, who are demonstrating the characteristics listed below, for seasonal retreats throughout the year as an acknowledgement of their positive efforts to strengthen both themselves and the Chrysalis community. </span></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<b id="docs-internal-guid-70c4f0e1-52e5-a0ec-83bf-4c6d0b6297c5" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A leadership criteria has been established with input from staff and house parents, school teachers, adventure staff, clinical staff and Kenny and Mary, that will hopefully help you clearly understand the purpose and context of these retreats. We want to illustrate what we are looking for from our students in order to gain an invitation to one of these retreats. The purpose of these retreats, in short, is to help each student attending Chrysalis strive to be intentional and purposeful in their personal, relational, educational, and community leadership.</span></b></div>
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<b id="docs-internal-guid-70c4f0e1-52e5-a0ec-83bf-4c6d0b6297c5" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Leadership has been defined as the ability to motivate yourself and others to accomplish a common goal through a united effort. Every student at Chrysalis has the potential to not only be the leader of their own lives, but also have the capacity to provide leadership for those they see struggling in the community. Leadership develops through </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">direct</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> involvement with family, school and the community.</span></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<b id="docs-internal-guid-70c4f0e1-52e5-a0ec-83bf-4c6d0b6297c5" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So, what will it take to get an invitation to the next retreat, you might be thinking? The staff at Chrysalis will be looking for student leaders who are demonstrating the following characteristics:</span></b></div>
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<b id="docs-internal-guid-70c4f0e1-52e5-a0ec-83bf-4c6d0b6297c5" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Responsibility</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: Staying on top of her daily responsibilities in all facets of the program.</span></b></div>
</li>
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<b id="docs-internal-guid-70c4f0e1-52e5-a0ec-83bf-4c6d0b6297c5" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Optimism</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: Maintaining a positive attitude and helping students who may be struggling with negativity develop a healthier concept of their circumstances, opportunities and potential for success.</span></b></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<b id="docs-internal-guid-70c4f0e1-52e5-a0ec-83bf-4c6d0b6297c5" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Resiliency</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: Consistently turning obstacles into challenges, and overcomes these challenges through perseverance, determination and hardwork.</span></b></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<b id="docs-internal-guid-70c4f0e1-52e5-a0ec-83bf-4c6d0b6297c5" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Organization and focus</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: Maintaining an organized living space and consistently completing tasks; is able to simplify even complicated tasks into achievable goals.</span></b></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<b id="docs-internal-guid-70c4f0e1-52e5-a0ec-83bf-4c6d0b6297c5" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Diligence</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: The student who is willing to complete a task to its conclusion.</span></b></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<b id="docs-internal-guid-70c4f0e1-52e5-a0ec-83bf-4c6d0b6297c5" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Delegation</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: Embracing the support of others; not afraid, embarrassed or resistant to ask for and rely on help from others in the community.</span></b></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<b id="docs-internal-guid-70c4f0e1-52e5-a0ec-83bf-4c6d0b6297c5" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Encouragement</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: Openly and enthusiastically acknowledging the accomplishments of other students who are struggling to do well in the Chrysalis community.</span></b></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<b id="docs-internal-guid-70c4f0e1-52e5-a0ec-83bf-4c6d0b6297c5" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Trustworthiness</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: Earning the respect of the community through consistent leadership characteristics.</span></b></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<b id="docs-internal-guid-70c4f0e1-52e5-a0ec-83bf-4c6d0b6297c5" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Leadership Development</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: Willing to participate in activities that promote and encourage their own personal sense of what is right and good for themselves and the Chrysalis community.</span></b></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<b id="docs-internal-guid-70c4f0e1-52e5-a0ec-83bf-4c6d0b6297c5" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Accountability and Authenticity</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: Willing to hold themselves and others accountable, not just because it is expected, but because they sincerely believe it is the right thing to do for themselves, their peers and the health of the community as a whole.</span></b></div>
</li>
</ol>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<b id="docs-internal-guid-70c4f0e1-52e5-a0ec-83bf-4c6d0b6297c5" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It’s important to note that we don’t require that a student be doing all these things exceptionally well at this moment in order to be invited to a leadership retreat. That would be unrealistic, of course, because those are very high standards that few people completely achieve in a lifetime. We are, however, looking for girls who are working in these directions, demonstrating a capacity to grow toward this kind of excellence in everything that they do, and who have a willingness to commit to the process. If someone is willing to try very hard to get there, we want to do everything we can to help them accomplish that goal. Leadership starts with involvement! Students, involve yourself with your school, with your community, and perhaps most importantly, become involved and attuned with your self. Parents, encourage your daughters in this direction. It could make all the difference.</span></b></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-70c4f0e1-52e5-a0ec-83bf-4c6d0b6297c5" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Chrysalis staff looks forward to helping each Chrysalis student achieve their leadership potential and witnessing their sense of accomplishment upon receiving their invitation to the next leadership retreat.</span></b>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5413252135027228697.post-88406974434797273752013-11-07T13:20:00.000-08:002013-11-07T13:20:28.537-08:002013 Parent Workshop<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In
order to help families be successful at home, Chrysalis has always focused on
the needs of our parents, as well as our students. With that focus in mind, Chrysalis
holds a Parent Workshop each fall. This three day workshop offers parents a
wealth of information about child development, family dysfunction, and overall
family healing. They also participate in group exercises to experience certain relationship
concepts and then sit down in small groups to discuss their experience. . These
small groups are facilitated by experienced parents who have been through the
workshop previously. Parents explored topics including family systems, the
etiology of relational injury, Erickson's Psycho-social Developmental Stages,
negative belief systems, trust, negative control mechanisms, and how to give
and receive feedback.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Twenty-five
parents participated in our workshop this year. These parents represented
seventeen of our current students. Overall,
the parents found it very impactful and exhausting. Since this workshop focuses
strictly on the parents, they learned a lot about themselves and what they
contribute to their individual family system. They went away with a new
perspective on how their family functions in a healthy or unhealthy way, and
what they can do to change it. We
encourage parents to do their own therapeutic work at home while their daughter
is working on herself on campus. At Chrysalis we know that research shows that
if the student does her work while away from the home, but the family system
does not change, the student will likely quickly return to her old behaviors
and patterns.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In
conclusion, the 2013 Parent Workshop was a huge success. However, what these
parents reported as being the most helpful were the small group interactions,
getting to know other parents, and learning about feedback. Several parents
remarked that now they know what their daughters go through on a regular basis
with groups and feedback, and were amazed at their resiliency. The workshop
concluded with a touching and heartfelt closing ceremony with the students. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our
next workshop will be the Family Workshop in the spring. This will be a
fabulous opportunity to include students, parents and even siblings. For more
information about Chrysalis’ Parent Workshops, call our admissions department
at 888-317-9297. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><a href="" name="_GoBack"></a><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0