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St. Peter School Fights Food Insecurity for Ward 6 Neighbors

Students collect 117 boxes of food for The Father McKenna Center

WASHINGTON — St. Peter School (SPS) students gathered last week to fight hunger in Ward 6 and beyond by participating in the 36th Annual Greg Gannon Canned Food Drive.

At final count, 117 boxes of food were loaded onto the truck destined for The Father McKenna Center. Donations were gathered from SPS families and neighbors as well as parishioners from St. Peter’s and St. Joseph’s churches.


“The Greg Gannon Food Drive is a cherished St. Peter School tradition in which students live their Catholic values by caring for our neighbors,” said St. Peter School Principal Karen Clay. “Our ongoing partnership with the Greg Gannon family is a blessing to us all that has enabled generations of St. Peter School students to put their faith into action, and we look forward to many more years of collaboration.”


“The relationship between St. Peter and the Greg Gannon Food Drive goes way back to when my father and all of his siblings went to St. Peter back in the 40s,” said Greg Gannon Canned Food Drive Executive Director Rick Gannon. “It is truly fitting that their efforts to collect the food to help those in need is a great one, with the food ending up at the Greg Gannon pantry at the Father McKenna Center. Thank you to St. Peter School for your continued efforts and supporting our fight against food insecurity.”


For more information about St. Peter School community engagement and academic offerings, visit stpeterschooldc.org.


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EDITOR’S NOTE: Click here for photos available for publication.

Supporting your child’s mental health during the holidays

December 4, 2024
By Jessica Chamoun, Intervention Specialist The holiday season is a time for joy and celebrations. However, for many children, the changes in routine may elicit anxiety and stress. The holidays can also cause overstimulation in children, who may feel overwhelmed by all the various events taking place. Parents may see increased meltdowns, withdrawal from activities, or even changes in behavior, and children may need extra support during this busy time of the year. Here are some ways you can support your child’s mental health during the holiday season: Keep routines. With exception to special occasions, such as Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, try to keep routines as consistent as possible. Strive to maintain eating and sleeping schedules like those your child follows during the rest of the school year. Limit screen time and social media. Before the start of the holidays, establish rules regarding when and how your child can use screens during the break. Set limits on how much screen time your child can have access to throughout the day. With vacation downtime, it can be easy for children to fall into the habit of using their screens more frequently. Get outside. Plan outdoor activities that the whole family can enjoy. This can help minimize screen time, foster more family time, and create meaningful experiences and memories. Encourage downtime. Scheduling quiet time for your child can reduce overwhelming feelings. Ensure that your child has time to relax and unwind by reading, listening to music, or even engaging in calming activities. Practice gratitude. Have your child focus on the positives in their lives by practicing gratitude. Encourage them to notice and write about the things they are thankful for this holiday season. Gratitude charts or Gratitude jars are great activities that can be used at home to help your child express gratitude and promote family discussions about what you are grateful for (click on the gratitude links for resources). Click here for additional resources.

SPS Students Collect 186 Boxes of Food for the Greg Gannon Food Drive

November 25, 2024
WASHINGTON — Saint Peter School (SPS) students gathered on November 14 to participate in the 37th Annual Greg Gannon Canned Food Drive. At final count, 186 boxes of food were loaded onto the truck destined for The Father McKenna Center. Donations were gathered from SPS families and neighbors as well as parishioners from St. Peter’s and St. Joseph’s churches. “The Greg Gannon Food Drive is consistently one of our students’ favorite service activities, and their commitment grows with each school year,” said Saint Peter School Principal Karen Clay . “Greg Gannon’s mission has encouraged generations of SPS students to put their faith into action. We are humbled and grateful for the opportunity to participate once again and look forward to continuing this meaningful collaboration for years to come.” “The relationship between St. Peter and the Greg Gannon Food Drive goes way back to when my father and all of his siblings went to St. Peter back in the 40s,” said Greg Gannon Canned Food Drive Executive Director Rick Gannon . “It is truly fitting that their efforts to collect the food to help those in need is a great one, with the food ending up at the Greg Gannon pantry at the Father McKenna Center. Thank you to St. Peter School for your continued efforts and supporting our fight against food insecurity.” For more information about St. Peter School community engagement and academic offerings, visit stpeterschooldc.org . # # # EDITOR’S NOTE: Click here for photos available for publication .

The Benefits of Mindfulness

November 7, 2024
By Jessica Chamoun, Intervention Specialist Research has consistently demonstrated the effectiveness of mindfulness activities in enhancing focus, lowering stress and anxiety symptoms, as well as improving wellbeing. Moreover, studies have shown that mindfulness techniques, such as mindful breathing, can effectively improve concentration, memory, compassion, and positive feelings. Engaging in mindfulness practice can help children concentrate on the here and now. Mindfulness can also assist children in recognizing negative thoughts and focusing on their current actions or emotions. Kids may be able to discover new emotional balance with the help of easy mindfulness practices. Below are some mindfulness exercises for children of all ages ( you can click on the title of each exercise to access a sample resource ). Mindful Breathing . The goal of mindful breathing is to encourage your child to take a deep breath inward followed by a deep breath outward. Teaching your child easy breathing exercises that they are more likely to engage in, such as finger breathing, can be helpful. 5,4,3,2,1 Grounding Technique . This exercise can help your child become more grounded and focus on the here and now. Have your child name five things they can see in the room, followed by four things they can feel, three things they can hear, two things they can smell, and one thing they can taste. Mindful coloring . Another popular mindfulness technique for children is coloring. Mandala coloring sheets are great mindfulness exercises that can benefit your child when they are having strong feelings and need a little break. Download Mindfulness Apps. Use screen time as an opportunity to practice mindfulness. Look for applications that support breathing, body scans, progressive muscle relaxation, mindfulness meditation, and guided imagery. Some recommended Mindfulness apps include Calm, Cosmic Kids Yoga, Moshi Kids, Smiling Mind, Breathe, Think, Do with Sesame, and Headspace . Click here for additional resources.
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