Sherbrooke Record e-Edition

Summer time

Yet another school year has come to a close. How the months flew by. One moment the leaves were dropping off the trees and the next they were budding all over again. Now, the streets of Stanstead are full of kids on their bikes with their ball bats peeking out of their book bags.

Last week, we said goodbye to our participants for the summer. We know the importance of focused attention in academic achievement. However, diffused thinking is just as important. Alternating between the focused and diffused mode is what allows us to form deep reservoirs of knowledge. Diffused thinking happens when your mind is freed up to follow its organic flow. It’s easy to fall into this mindset in the summer. Take the time to develop this ability and try some of the following diffused thinking activities that our students love best.

Fishing - A boy in grade 7 shared: I will be fishing as often as possible over the summer! My line will be dangling in Lake Memphremagog. I will be catching perch and maybe bass, if I get up early enough. Throwing them back in and sometimes pulling up something that will make my dad proud. Then, I will bring that fish home and we will cook it up with salt and oil. That’s the best taste in the world.

Lying in the grass and watching the stars - A boy in grade 11 told us: From a grassy knoll behind my home I can stretch out my body in the warm grass and look up at the night sky. I can see the town lights of Stanstead, Beebe and sometimes Ayer’s Cliff casting a glow. When I was younger I wanted to live in town so that I could bike around with my friends. If I had to do it all over again, I would still choose to live out in the middle of nowhere because I know that night sky like the back of my hand.

Playing in the backyard pool - A girl in grade 6 said: This year my parents decided to get a pool. I couldn’t believe my luck when my mom picked me up after school one day in Spring and told me we were going shopping for summer delight. We had trouble finding the one we wanted but when we did I was the happiest kid in Stanstead. I couldn’t wait for the day that it would be delivered. Now, it’s actually in our backyard, filled up with water and when I get home from school the first thing I do is put on my bathing suit. I float around with my pink flamingo and life is good.

Catching salamanders - A boy in grade 5 recounted: My favorite part of summer is being quietly alone in the woods, turning over rocks and finding salamanders. I love the way they feel and their big bright eyes. They let me tickle their bellies for a few seconds before they scatter out of my palm. I love to bring them home and put them in my aquarium. They never stay long, they always escape back to the underside of a cool rock, I suppose.

Phelps Aide Phelps Helps was founded in 2012 and has grown organically from a single high school tutoring program to six unique programs, providing the Stanstead area with free educational and career support. For more information or to volunteer, please email us at info@ phelpshelps.ca, visit our website www. phelpshelps.ca or call our offices at 819-704-0799.

LOCAL NEWS

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2022-06-23T07:00:00.0000000Z

2022-06-23T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://sherbrookerecord.pressreader.com/article/281560884470199

Alberta Newspaper Group