The Impact of Mindfulness!

Awareness Affects All Areas of Life!

Fall Edition Newsletter - September 2024

According to the American Psychological Association (APA), mindfulness involves being aware of one's internal states and surroundings, helping individuals avoid destructive or automatic habits and responses. At Operation Xcel, we highly value the well-being of every student entrusted to our care. For this reason, we hire teachers and counselors who are trained and certified in social-emotional learning (SEL). These educators work with our students individually and in groups to ensure they have the tools to identify and manage their emotions. We promote mindfulness as a tool to help students focus on optimistic outcomes, especially during interactions with others.

We also encourage parents to be aware of anything extraordinary that negatively impacts their child, so they can provide the necessary support and direct their child toward positive solutions when dealing with issues affecting their mental health.

It's important for us at Operation Xcel to understand when our students and families are facing life issues so that we can offer the best support. Letting the site directors and teachers know about any family or life issues that may weigh on your child’s mind and emotions helps us recognize when they need emotional support.

Remember to practice mindfulness and encourage your children to do the same. It may help eliminate destructive thoughts and guide them toward more viable solutions when dealing with temporary problems. We are here for you! We see and value you and your children. Let us continue to support you, as we always have your well-being, success, and best interests at heart.

Thank you for allowing us to be part of your village.

Kind regards,

Charlene Gladney, Executive Director

Operation Xcel utilizes social and emotional learning (SEL) strategies to address negative perspectives and promote emotional competence in the youth who participate in its programs. In North Carolina, Suicide is the second and third leading cause of death among children between ten and fourteen and fifteen to seventeen-year-olds, respectively. Less emotionally competent children are less expressive, making it difficult to verbalize what they are experiencing in a crisis. These youth are at risk of considering suicide rather than tackling problems with emotional competence.

Various mental health organizations recommend a list of things parents should do to help steer their children away from contemplating suicide. Pediatric researchers suggest that parents and caregivers should be the first to recognize and address suicide risk factors. Operation Xcel advocates for parents and caregivers to catalyze their youth toward emotional competence. That is why we recommend parents and caregivers become familiar with the impact of SEL and how to steer their children away from suicide as a permanent solution to a temporary obstacle.

#GivingTuesday is coming on the 3rd of December. Why not identify the people and companies you may ask to support this organization that you care about. Ask us how you can participate and donate to #GivingTuesday 2024.

At Operation Xcel, we are blessed to have a whole Hispanic/Latino vibe!

There is a majority Hispanic population at a couple of our sites, and we couldn’t be more excited about the culture and character they add to our diversity tapestry. Listening to the rhythmic pronunciation of words in their native language and the deliberate punctuation of words in English—their second language- is as harmonic as a multi-voice chorus is to a song. National Hispanic Heritage Month is recognized and celebrated from September 15th through October 15th to honor the achievements and contributions of Hispanic-American leaders who have inspired others to succeed. Visit bit.ly/HispanicHeritageEventsGC to explore Hispanic/Latino events in Guilford County and participate in or learn more about the Hispanic/Latino vibe that adds depth and color to our multicultural community. Operation Xcel embraces diversity and is pleased to learn more about various cultures first-hand while sharing life with families that don’t all look and act alike. It is a beautiful thing!

Are you ready to vote in the upcoming elections?

Did you know that NC has some new rules for voters this year?

Have you moved since you voted in the primaries?

It is important that you verify that you are still registered.

These are four (4) questions that only you can answer. However, you may need to find the answers to these questions by accessing the information under the buttons here.

Click on the buttons on the left to make certain you are voter ready!

As a nonprofit operating in NC, Operation Xcel may support a ballot measure but cannot endorse a candidate and we will oblige. Operation Xcel supports the Fraction of a Penny ballot measure. County Officials estimate that A FRACTION OF A PENNY sales tax will bring in $25 million to allow an increase in pay for teachers and frontline workers.

NC ranks 38th in the nation regarding teacher compensation, behind South Carolina, Virginia, and Georgia. Guilford County is one of only four counties left out of additional funding for teacher salaries via a supplement increase. A “low wealth supplement” formula excluded Guilford County from receiving this funding even though 31% of Guilford County residents are Medicaid eligible and 57.4% of GCS students are eligible for free and reduced lunch. Our kids deserve the best, but our teachers are now paid an average salary supplement of 35% less than teachers in Forsyth, Durham, Wake, and Mecklenburg Counties. Guilford County must be able to attract and retain quality teachers and frontline workers, like bus drivers, custodians, and cafeteria workers. Equitable pay is a large part of that.

NC Legislature’s lack of support for teacher and frontline worker salaries puts a heavy burden on local government to fill the gaps. So, when you vote up through November 4th, we ask you to vote yes to equitable pay for Guilford County teachers and front-line workers.