On September 15th, ISD joined the global celebration of International Dot Day—a day inspired by Peter H. Reynolds’ book The Dot, which encourages creativity, courage, and a growth mindset. The simple yet powerful message is clear: all it takes is the first step to unlock endless possibilities!
Our young artists in the Performing Arts embraced this theme with enthusiasm, showcasing two incredible dot-themed musical performances:
PreK to Grade 2 students performed Big Dot, Small Dot, a lively and interactive song by the Scottish Chamber Orchestra that had everyone tapping along!
Grades 3-5 students followed with The Dot Song by Emily Arrow, a performance filled with energy and spirit, celebrating the creative journey each of us embarks on.
It was a day brimming with joyful performances, vibrant colors, and positive energy. The students made their mark, reminding us all to take that first step toward creativity—one dot at a time!
[…] “Smile, though your heart is aching Smile, even though it’s breaking When there are clouds in the sky You’ll get by If you smile.” These are the words penned by Charlie Chaplin, and as a child, I remember watching this black-and-white movie scene on my grandparents’ TV. The words, the sentiments, and the gravity of the meaning stayed with me. Today, as we observe World Mental Health Day on 10/10/24, I am reminded that not everyone who is smiling on the outside may be smiling on the inside. The outer world may not reflect the inner world. I write this article not only to raise awareness but to help ground us in the reality that, while life may feel like it’s spinning so fast, and gravity pins us down, life can still hit us—or our friends—with challenges. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that approximately 1 in 8 people globally suffer from what I will coin as ‘Cognitive curveballs’, according to a 2019 report. Nearly 970 million people worldwide live with no one to help them (I coin again) ‘navigate their emotional landscape’, such as anxiety and depression, and this number has likely grown due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (the substitute comfort will be overuse of technology and doom scrolling but that’s another topic for another time, but I wish they would make Chaplin into a meme or viral song!) Interestingly, research also suggests that smiling itself can induce well-being. The facial feedback hypothesis shows that even forcing a smile can trigger positive emotional responses. Studies have found that smiling can stimulate the release of dopamine and endorphins, chemicals associated with pleasure and pain relief, helping to lower stress levels and improve mood. Additionally, smiling during stressful situations has been shown to reduce heart rate and promote quicker recovery from stress. So, as we consider the importance of mental health, we should also remember that the simple act of smiling can create small but meaningful changes in both our own and others’ emotional and physical states. Life, much like our emotions, moves through different phases and seasons. King Solomon, a poet, once spoke about the different seasons and times for everything in life: “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.” As we move through these seasons, it’s important to remember those we love, our friends, and even the strangers we pass on the street—any one of them may be feeling sad, alone, or quietly battling their own struggles. ‘Just because you can’t see it doesn’t mean it’s not there’ – Bryn Stillwell If you ever need to talk or to signpost someone, please feel free to pop in and have a chat with your counselor. I am in room 007, or I can signpost you to other counselors or services that can support us on a journey of wellness and the discovery of our authentic self. And finally, in Chaplin’s closing song: “You’ll find that life is still worthwhile If you’ll just smile.” Giuseppe Tagliarini […]
PreK to Grade 2 students performed Big Dot, Small Dot, a lively and interactive song by the Scottish Chamber Orchestra that had everyone tapping along! 
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[…] “Smile, though your heart is aching Smile, even though it’s breaking When there are clouds in the sky You’ll get by If you smile.” These are the words penned by Charlie Chaplin, and as a child, I remember watching this black-and-white movie scene on my grandparents’ TV. The words, the sentiments, and the gravity of the meaning stayed with me. Today, as we observe World Mental Health Day on 10/10/24, I am reminded that not everyone who is smiling on the outside may be smiling on the inside. The outer world may not reflect the inner world. I write this article not only to raise awareness but to help ground us in the reality that, while life may feel like it’s spinning so fast, and gravity pins us down, life can still hit us—or our friends—with challenges. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that approximately 1 in 8 people globally suffer from what I will coin as ‘Cognitive curveballs’, according to a 2019 report. Nearly 970 million people worldwide live with no one to help them (I coin again) ‘navigate their emotional landscape’, such as anxiety and depression, and this number has likely grown due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (the substitute comfort will be overuse of technology and doom scrolling but that’s another topic for another time, but I wish they would make Chaplin into a meme or viral song!) Interestingly, research also suggests that smiling itself can induce well-being. The facial feedback hypothesis shows that even forcing a smile can trigger positive emotional responses. Studies have found that smiling can stimulate the release of dopamine and endorphins, chemicals associated with pleasure and pain relief, helping to lower stress levels and improve mood. Additionally, smiling during stressful situations has been shown to reduce heart rate and promote quicker recovery from stress. So, as we consider the importance of mental health, we should also remember that the simple act of smiling can create small but meaningful changes in both our own and others’ emotional and physical states. Life, much like our emotions, moves through different phases and seasons. King Solomon, a poet, once spoke about the different seasons and times for everything in life: “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.” As we move through these seasons, it’s important to remember those we love, our friends, and even the strangers we pass on the street—any one of them may be feeling sad, alone, or quietly battling their own struggles. ‘Just because you can’t see it doesn’t mean it’s not there’ – Bryn Stillwell If you ever need to talk or to signpost someone, please feel free to pop in and have a chat with your counselor. I am in room 007, or I can signpost you to other counselors or services that can support us on a journey of wellness and the discovery of our authentic self. And finally, in Chaplin’s closing song: “You’ll find that life is still worthwhile If you’ll just smile.” Giuseppe Tagliarini […]
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