Greetings Cottonwood Families!

Welcome to the 2025–26 school year! I hope your summer was filled with moments that recharged your spirit—whether through adventures, laughter with friends, or quiet time with family. I’m honored to step into another year together, ready to embrace fresh possibilities with each and every student. Here, everybody counts—every voice, every effort, every dream.

I’m Kelly McIntosh, your Social Emotional Learning Foundations (SELF) Coordinator, and I’m excited to continue building our community of connection, growth, and well-being.

What’s New & Continuing:
Starting September 8, Mindset Mondays will return on Zoom, guiding us through another year of the 7 Mindsets, Zones of Regulation, and Big Life Journal resources. These tools will also be shared weekly in the SELF Talk Newsletter so you can keep the learning and conversations going at home.

This year, I’m also bringing more in-person connection opportunities to Cottonwood—fun, engaging moments where we can grow together beyond the screen.

I’m looking forward to partnering with you and your children to create a school year where connection thrives, curiosity grows, and everybody counts. Stay tuned for our full Mindset Monday schedule!

Here’s to a year of learning, laughter, and lifting each other up,

Kelly McIntosh

SELF Coordinator/HST

Email: SELF@cottonwoodk12.org

Mindset Mondays will be offered every Monday that school is in session beginning September 8, 2025. This year, we are working through Course 2, continuing our journey through the 7 Mindsets curriculum. One of my favorite things about the 7 Mindsets is that it continues to provide new and different information each year. I look forward to seeing your students in class the Monday after Labor Day as we explore the Everything is Possible Mindset in September together!

Mindset Mondays are taught on Zoom each Monday that school is in session. Zoom links will be provided in the September 8th SELF Talk Newsletter, available on the Event Calendar in the Nest, and through your student’s Clever dashboard.

You will find the class times below. Classes are arranged by grade levels as follows:

Grades K-2: 9:30 am

Grades 3-5: 10:30 am

Grades 6-12: 11:30 am

The lessons are approximately 45 minutes long and designed to be interactive group lessons; however, because we recognize the importance of students attending comfortably, each student may choose their level of participation in the lesson.

This year I am excited to continue bringing your students Mindful Moments classes *in person* a few times throughout each month! I hope you will join me and other students in movement, mindful games, connecting with others, and more! All ages of Cottonwood students are welcome, including parents!

More information will be sent in next week’s SELF Talk Newsletter and be available on the Nest!

“The only way to discover the limits of the possible is to go beyond them into the impossible.” – Arthur C. Clarke

Our September Focus: Everything is Possible

In September, we’ll be diving into the Everything is Possible mindset. Students will explore what it means to believe in possibilities, stretch their thinking, and dream beyond their comfort zones. Together, we’ll look at how a positive outlook, a spark of creativity, and the courage to dream big can open the door to achieving their goals—both now and in the future.

We’re excited to continue The Let Grow Experience this school year—a movement dedicated to helping kids grow into capable, confident, and resilient young people.

Why Let Grow?
Let Grow believes kids are far more resourceful, creative, and strong than our culture often gives them credit for. In recent years, our society has leaned toward protecting children from almost every challenge—often with the best intentions—but that overprotection can unintentionally limit their growth.

In truth, kids are what researchers call “anti-fragile”—they don’t just handle challenges, they grow stronger because of them. Every time a child tries something on their own, navigates a tricky situation, or solves a problem without an adult stepping in right away, they build confidence, problem-solving skills, and resilience for life.

What the Experts Say
Let Grow Co-founder Prof. Peter Gray explains: “Children who have more opportunities for independent activities are not only happier in the moment, but also better equipped to handle life’s inevitable challenges in the future.”

What This Looks Like for Our Families
Through Let Grow activities, we’ll be encouraging students to take safe, age-appropriate risks—whether that’s making a plan with friends, trying something new without immediate help, or finding their own solutions to small everyday problems. These experiences spark independence, creativity, and a deeper sense of capability. Each month beginning in September, the monthly Let Grow Experience will be provided in the SELF Talk Newsletter for your family to explore and experience!

We can’t wait to see how your children will grow through these opportunities this year—learning not just that they can do hard things, but that they thrive when they do.

Email SELF@cottonwoodk12.org for submissions and questions.