Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (May 6, 2020)
14 Wednesday, May 6, 2020 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon SOS: Community, schools embrace program Continued from page 1 high school staff. Though the program is relatively new, it is already having an impact, according to Bradley. Bradley said, <Sources of Strength is a proactive positive culture program that spreads messages of hope, help, and strength across existing social networks. Although Sources of Strength has been around for decades, the program is just getting started at SHS. As a result, our Sources of Strength team is putting on a series of events in order to promote the program and support our community during this diffi- cult time.= Bradley and a dozen SOS student mentors have put together a Sources of Strength care package that is being sent out to all high school students and their families via regular mail as well as through email this week. A link to the entire package can be found at the end of this article as well as through a QR code (see graphic) that allows for the download of all the materials through a smartphone. Sources of Strength, which is an international organization, uses a colorful wheel graphic to illustrate the eight components that the program emphasizes related to where human beings find their sources of strength. These eight components include family support, posi- tive friends, mentors, positive activities, generosity, spiri- tuality, physical health, and mental health. Bradley and his students designed the care package to promote actions related to these concepts includ- ing a <Weekly Workout,= a personal bingo-like game dubbed <Outlaws Quingo= and a <Scavenger Hunt.= The Weekly Workout includes suggestions for things to do each day associated with each of the eight wheel com- ponents. For example, under Generosity a per- son might check in on their neighbor, thank an essential worker, or donate to a charity. Under Mentor a person could contact some- one who has supported them and ask for a book, film or music recommendation. Outlaw Quingo is simi- lar in that the quingo card includes 25 boxes with sug- gested activities to do, so participants can read through the quingo card and decide which direction to take for that day. Suggestions include things like enjoy the out- doors, sing or dance, read a book for pleasure, or make plans with a friend for after the quarantine. Samantha Ryan helped modify the game to fit the Outlaws and said, <Everyone loves bingo and you can have a little fun during this time and stay connected and pull from your sources of strength. We are hoping that people from beyond the school com- munity will take part.= Q u i n g o p l a y e r s a r e encouraged to add their par- ticipation to their Instagram story and tag the Sisters SOS account to become eli- gible for some raffle prizes in the form of gift cards to local businesses that have been provided by a variety of anonymous donors. The Scavenger Hunt includes using the provided Sisters Strong poster and adding a message to it that exemplifies something that makes us stronger. People are asked to hang a com- pleted poster where it would be visible from the street. Senior Maddison Anderson explained, <This is just one more way to spread that posi- tivity and hope that Sources 8 1. Family Support: This strength comes from the love and support you get from family members. 1 2. Positive Friends: This strength comes from the connection and direction you get from your good friends. 7 2 6 3 5 4 of Strength is all about. As people are out on a walk and see the posters it may cause them to have a conversation about it.= The group is also planning a campaign to send notes to Sisters High School students through <snail mail,= accord- ing to students Anna Mensing and Rachel Dale. Members of the SOS team hope to send notes of hope to all students and in turn encourage them to do the same for other people in their lives. Sydney Wilkins said, <I think there is a lot of possibil- ity for a really strong impact for SOS as a positive culture program, including how we can recover from bad things that have happened and by focusing on good things and things that make us better and stronger.= Skylar Wilkins added, <We are trying to reach peo- ple now who are not in school and who may be feeling dis- connected because that con- nectedness is the one thing that really helps, especially in times like this.= She also wanted to express her sincere gratitude for the financial support for this program from anony- mous donors. <We are sending out mail- ings, printing materials and doing all sorts of stuff that we couldn9t do without the gen- erosity of donors. We want to thank them somehow since we don9t know who they are, but we honestly couldn9t do 3. Mentors: This strength comes from the wisdom and guidance you get from your adult mentors. 4. Positive Activities: Strength comes from the satisfaction you feel when you do good things that you love. 5. Generosity: This strength comes from the joy you feel when you do good things for others. 6. Spirituality: This strength comes from fostering faith, getting connected, and practicing gratitude. 7. Physical Health: This strength comes from caring for your body by hydrating, resting, exercising, eating right, and going to the doctor (among other things). 8. Mental health: This strength comes from the healthy ways you cope when you’re feeling worried, sad, or angry. what we need to do without them.= Those who want or need to connect to the care pack- age documents directly can access the do so through the google document link: https:// drive.google.com/file/d/1c- DGyRhk7JAnLlR9SXE- BASUmBpOumOyj/ view?usp=sharing The group has plans in the works for a number of other outreaches to students in the weeks to come, according to Bradley. Bradley is grateful for the tremendous support for the SOS program. <This program probably wouldn9t have gotten off the ground without the gener- ous donations and incredible wisdom of many community members,= he said. <The pro- gram has also been embraced by all of our administra- tors, teachers, and other staff members. Together, we are bringing this program to life at Sisters High School.= Make us your natural & organic foods destination! Located in the Cascade Village Shopping Center, Bend Open every day, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Isolated shopping hour: 6 to 7 a.m. • Large organic produce selection • Huge organic & natural selection storewide • Meat cut & ground fresh daily • Huge bulk-foods department • All your favorite local brands & items • Only 20 minutes from Sisters • Proud to be 100% locally owned