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Taking care of yourself is important so that you can take care of your family. Living through the experience of a hurricane or natural disaster is stressful, nerve wracking, and exhausting. As you begin to settle back into your lives and routines, you and your family may continue to experience stress reactions–which are natural–over the next few days and weeks. This will change over time. You may find feelings of fatigue, exhaustion, and a low tolerance for stress. In the wake of Hurricane Ian, your children are also watching, listening, feeling, and processing what has occurred, and it isn’t always easy to know how to respond or what to do. Self-care can help you instill the calmness and focus you need to help you handle problems and manage this stress. Self-care is taking care of our bodies, our hearts, and our minds. It is important for our own recovery and also important to be modeling for our children. 

Self-care strategies after a natural disaster:

Below you will find three helpful resources as you continue to navigate these physical, emotional, and behavioral reactions so that you can continue to be gentle and kind to yourself while supporting your children. The ODA Counseling Department is available and will continue to provide support to you and your family. Please reach out to your division level counselor if we can be of any assistance. We are keeping you close at heart and wishing you peace and restoration as you recover from Hurricane Ian.

The tradition of Convocation at The Out-of-Door Academy began in 2002 to acknowledge the senior class as the leaders of the school community. The event initially focused around the graduating class signing the School’s honor pledge in front of the Middle School and Upper School student body, but within two years Convocation had evolved to include the kindergarteners—just beginning their educational journey at ODA—into the celebration. Click for photos from the event. 

Each fall, seniors are matched with kindergarten “buddies” to mentor throughout the year. This year, they got to know one another at the Senior-Kindergarten Picnic held on the Siesta Key Campus. Then, Lower Schoolers came to the Uihlein Campus for Convocation, a feel-good tradition that exudes a sense of unity as the student body comes together to honor our eldest students as they begin their final year at ODA. Seniors make their entrance hand-in-hand with their kindergarten buddies.

Sixth grade students’ investing project combines math and research to learn real world skills.