Marvelous Monday: POSITRATIONS

Positrations are a special, daily tradition at the RMH school.

Past Monday posts have mentioned positrations… so today we'll explain what this positrations thing is and why students love it so much! Each morning, after the students arrive at school, there is a morning meeting. It's a time to review the date, weather and plan for the day. At our school, we also “do positrations” at this meeting. A positration is a time for concentration on something positive: positration. Students at our school are under a great deal of stress. They each have a sibling who is critically ill, or they are critically ill. They’re away from home; leaving familiar surroundings, school, friends and pets. Our goal is to provide not only an education for students at our school, but an entire network of support during a medical crisis. There is so much love and support for our students in the classroom. The lessons move at a different pace, leaving time for conversations about change, fears and life being different. One major way students are supported is through positrations. At positration time, each student is encouraged to share something positive from the past day. This isn’t always easy for students, but each day, with the help of their teachers, the kids find something. Sometimes it's a special event at the RMH, or the prize they won at BINGO. Sometimes it's an important milestone in their sibling's (or their own) treatment. There is always time for conversation about each positration, including time to explain medical procedures. While we know focusing on the positive is not the only way to cope in such challenging circumstances, positration time allows for positive thinking, and most importantly, wonderful sharing and a warm cushion of support from peers and teachers. It's a safe time for students to share and be heard. And, there is an added bonus! Each positration is written on a poster board. When the board is full, there is a special positration lunch or event! The students always encourage writing with BIG letters! :)

Here are a few examples of recent positrations. (First initials used for anonymity.)

©       B is breathing on his own

©       Book club is today

©       C (a patient) is back at school

©       L is excited to go home next week

©       L’s mom got to hold her baby sister

©       A’s brother got a new heart!

©       L has been off her vent (the breathing machine) for 4 days

©       D is very excited for BINGO!

©       R lost her tooth last night

©       K had his big surgery

©       L’s mom went to trach (tracheostomy) class

©       R went to the Mall of America. The turtle ride was scary and fun.

©       A played the drum set with Melody at music

©       Today is field trip day

©       D is so glad to be in school

©       B went to the Twin’s game

©       Today is bouncy house day

©       B’s sister is coming in 2 days

©       A and M went to Kevin Love’s baseball camp

©       J had his 100 day biopsy

©       L is getting help at the hospital

©       A’s hickman (permanent IV line) comes out today

©       A likes the author Gary Paulson

©       B hurried to school this morning

©       L got to hold his brother for the first time

©       M solved the geography riddle

©       The Ronald McDonald Care Mobile is coming to the House!

©       R won a tie-dye kit at BINGO and made her dad socks