Thanks to Linda Harris, Tiffany Bowhay, Natalie White and Ron Regenstreif, our last day of school was a pajama day, followed by a Grinch-themed Christmas breakfast, a train ride around the playground and Christmas gifts for all 228 students.
You may be thinking to yourself, "so how does a meal or a Christmas present actually change a child's life?" A doctor explained it to me like this:
Because many of our students suffer from continuous traumatic stress disorder (CTSD), they have increased levels of adrenaline and cortisol. Having high levels of these hormones for prolonged periods of time can cause health issues and inhibit critical brain functioning.
Every time our students receive a meal, present, smile, hug or encouraging word their adrenaline and cortisol levels decrease and their levels of oxytocin and dopamine increase. And, you guessed it, oxytocin and dopamine cause our cells to rejuvenate and stimulate brain functioning. These changes can be measured metabolically. Consequently, every positive moment for our students results in a physiological change, that over time, will change the trajectory of their lives.
The doctor concluded by saying, "I don't think you really know what you're doing here."
