7 Mindsets Initiative Makes Impact in Second Year

POUGHKEEPSIE – The second year of 7 Mindsets in the Poughkeepsie City School District has already made an impact on the student and staff experience this fall.

7 Mindsets is an evidence-based learning platform that centers on the idea that a person’s success is based more on what they think and less on what they know.

Through the Office of School Engagement, 7 Mindsets was implemented district-wide last year as part of the district’s commitment to providing exceptional social and emotional learning opportunities for all. There are philosophies and components to assist employees, parents and families, and students alike, with newsletters and daily motivational messages available.

“The essential goal is for everyone to learn this powerful language and live it so that they can live the lives of their dreams,” said Christine Smack, the Office of School Engagement caseworker responsible for the implementation of 7 Mindsets.

The district kicked off with the 1st mindset of Everything is Possible in October.

The Everything Is Possible mindset teaches we are all capable of living extraordinary lives. We learn that everything that exists today was once just an idea until someone believed it was possible and took the actions to make it into reality. Each week during the mindset month, a component is introduced to help support and expound on the mindset.
The Everything is Possible mindset is made up of the following four components:

• Dream Big focuses on raising our expectations for our lives.
• Embrace Creativity focuses on experiencing new experiences.
• Think Positive focuses on finding the positives in all situations.
• Act and Adjust focuses on learning from our mistakes.

“7 Mindsets has taken off this year,” Smack said. “I have received a lot of positive feedback from faculty and staff. They have shared that they are equally excited about teaching and speaking the language of 7 Mindsets.”

Morse Elementary and Poughkeepsie High School are great examples of putting this month’s mindset Everything is Possible into action.

At Morse, students reported missing out on the fun seasonal activity of pumpkin decorating. Crisis Intervention Worker Tricia Emmons embraced the Dream Big component by partnering with teachers, staff and local businesses to obtain free pumpkins, which the children decorated.

At the high school, coach Cody Moffett and physical education teacher Diane Moore reflected on the Think Positive component as they taught Dream Big to an engaged group of mixed-grade students during a physical education class.

Join in each month as we dive into a new mindset with supportive components. Here are 4 ways you can join in:

* Read the monthly 7 Mindsets newsletters, the links to which are included in the Superintendent’s Brief when they are available. There’s a parent edition and a staff edition. Parents can learn and participate in fun at-home activities with their students. Staff can learn and grow at home with encouraging self-reflection activities. And each month high-achieving students and staff are recognized.

* Staff can participate in the monthly 7 Mindsets Healthy Mindsets group. The next staff group meeting is scheduled for Nov. 6 at the Columbus Administration Building.

* Everyone can sign up to receive a daily 7 Mindsets Morning Mindsets quote to kick off your day with encouragement and motivation.

* Visit 7Mindsets.com to learn more about the national initiative.