Kindness is an emphasis at Old Adobe.  We work to do more than teach children to not hurt each other, we strive to develop kind people.  We use several tools for this work.  We use a program we developed called, "Kindness Matters,' we also use Toolbox, we also use a one-pager that captures what we want the children to know about kindness and conflict resoultion as well as staff beliefs about kindness.

Old Adobe School has adopted "Toolbox."  Toolbox is a program that teaches children how to use ther own internal resources to manage themselves and to deal with difficult situations.  Toolbox is based on mindfulness and is used throughout our school.  

Bryan Clement, a parent at Old Adobe will once again be working with parents and staff on the use of Toolbox as well as building resilience and handling stress.

Learn more about Toolbox Training at Dovetail Learning.

 

Here are some testimonials from our students about Toolbox

 

Breathing Tool

One good time you could use the breathing tool is when you are mad and you could use it to calm yourself down. Also, when you get in a fight and instead of kicking back or say bad words or something else you could use the breathing tool to calm and relax yourself down. When you see your friend or somebody in your family doing something wrong just tell them to use the breathing tool. A breathing tool is a tool you use when you feel mad, angry,or sad. A breathing tool is used to calm yourself.

 

Quiet/Safe Place

One good time to use the quiet/safe place is when you are irritated. Or when you are left out from something. Also, when your mom shouts at you and you feel mad, you could go to your quiet/safe place. That’s why these are some good reasons why you could do your quiet/safe place. A quiet/safe place could be used when you are upset.

 

-Alexandra     

 

Breathing Tool

I think a good time to use the breathing tool is when you get upset or irritated.  When you get irritated you can take 3 deep breaths and calm your body.  You may use it in a different way like meditation.  You also might use it to center yourself.  These reasons are why and when you might use the breathing tool.

 

Quiet Safe Place

A good time to use the quiet safe place tool is when you’re fighting or when people are yelling at you.  When you go to your quiet safe place it can be in your mind or a real life place that you go to.  Quiet safe place is where you calm down and think.  Quiet safe place can make you feel peaceful.  This is why it is a good thing to use the quiet safe place.    

 

-Elena

 

Breathing Tool

I would use the breathing tool when I am upset and angry.  The reason I would use the breathing tool like that is because I am a nice and caring person and I wouldn't want to get in trouble for getting someone hurt.  The breathing tool can help me from going expelled. It will help people calm down and we wouldn’t have to hurt anyone.  The way the breathing can help all of us is when you have stress and I hope you get better and have fun.  But I hope everyone is having a nice and beautiful day today and tomorrow.

 

Quiet/Safe Place Tool

I enjoy the quiet safe place because there are a lot of things you can do with the quiet safe place.  The quiet safe place is so you can play a hiding game.   It will also help when you're getting bullied at school.  You can get home and go figure what happened and why he decided to bully you. And I hope all schools are bully free.  I really want you guys to tell me what your quiet safe place is. My quiet safe place is used for stress.  My quiet place is my closet.

 

-Aaron      

 

Breathing Tool

One good time for me to use the breathing tool is when I am in a fight with somebody and I am frustrated. I just walk away sometimes and I use the breathing tool. It helps me by calming and relaxing myself.

Quiet/Safe Place Tool

One good time for me to use the quiet/safe place tool is when I am mad or frustrated. I just walk away and go to my quiet/safe place. It helps me by calming my body.

 

-Rebecca Reid       

 

Breathing Tool

The breathing tool helps me when I am mad, sad, and angry. I like to go to my quiet/safe place and take a deep breath. Sometimes someone or something will make you mad or frustrated. Sometimes instead of getting into an argument you can just use your breathing tool and then you can talk to that person to try to make the problem better. The breathing tool also helps when you are nervous or even when you get too hyper. For example…  you may get nervous before a play that you're in and you just need to take a deep breath. Sometimes you get too hyper and you need to take a small breath to get calm. Sometimes I get into a argument at school and I am in a rush to get out of it… I try to take a deep breath and try to tell myself it is going to be ok. I like this tool because it helps me calm down. It makes me feel relaxed and not to keep the small things that bother me inside. I think this is a great tool to use.                                                 

Quiet/Safe Place Tool

The quiet/safe place tool helps me when I am sad or upset. I go to my quiet/safe place and use the breathing tool to make me calm down. I like to go there when I am upset or sad and try to calm down. Sometimes people upset me and I want my space so I like to go to my quiet/safe place to get away from the people that hurt my feelings or upset me. I like this tool because it makes me feel better. I also like this tool because sometimes you just need some alone time to get away.

-Olivia

 

Breathing Tool

The first thing I like to use my breathing tool is when I’m doing math. The second thing I like to use my breathing tool is when I start school. Also, the final thing I use my breathing tool is when I get hurt. The reasons I like to use the breathing tool is because it helps me calm down. The breathing tool is awesome.

Quiet Safe Place Tool

The first quiet safe place is in my room.The second quiet safe place is the bathroom. The final quiet safe place is my desk which is upstairs in my home.The reasons why I pick all those places for my quiet safe place is so I can do my homework and I can color on the table in my room. Sometimes having a quiet safe place is the most cool thing on earth.

 

-Yvette Quiroz Vega                                                                                                 

 

Breathing Tool

One way I use the breathing tool is when I’m upset and need to get my anger out.  I often get angry if I can’t find out a problem on my homework, or I get angry at my mom.  I also like to go up in my apple tree and breath in and out.  Using the breathing tool helps me slow down and relax.

 

Quiet/Safe Place Tool

I enjoy using the quiet/safe place tool when I need to calm myself down. I use my quiet/safe place tool up in my apple tree and I read while I listen to music.

 

-Katie

           

Breathing Tool

Breath in and out. Using the breathing tool is very important. You can use the breathing tool when you’re very stressed, angry, or feeling really sad.  It calms you down and makes you feel relaxed. If you are angry, you may not be able to focus in class or at home. That’s why you should use the breathing tool.

Quiet/Safe Place Tool

Close your eyes and think of a quiet safe place. Let your body loosen up and all that worry and anxiety will go away. This is a very good tool to use when you aren’t very happy, or aren’t in a terrific mood. If you don’t have a quiet safe place then think of something that makes you cheerful such as drawing, coloring, painting, or listening to music. This is why I like using this tool.

-Carolena

 

Breathing Tool 

Use the breathing tool when you’re frustrated, mad, sad or very angry. You put your finger tips together, pull apart, and then put them back together. It is like using a tape measure. Another way you can use the breathing tool is to stretch your arms, legs, and back, to relax and be calm. I breath through my nose and out my mouth.  It just makes me calm, relaxed, and not frustrated.

Quiet/Safe Place Tool

Quiet safe place is when you put on your headphones and you go in your mind and find somewhere that you think is your quiet, safe place. I personally think if I need to use the quiet, safe place tool is when I am mad or sad. I put on my headphones and imagine my quiet, safe place.

-Avarose

 

Breathing Tool

I will tell you about a breathing tool I use.  I use the breathing tool when I am mad, sad, frustrated, or nervous.  I think it is a great idea to use because it is good way to deal with your emotions.  I think you should always use the breathing tool for your feelings.  I feel like the breathing tool is a great way to express your feelings.  So if you are ever feeling sad or mad or any other feelings, just remember to use your breathing tool.

Quiet/Safe Place

My Quiet/Safe Place is to sketch and do art.  I love art.  It is calming and an easy way to make me very ultra mega happy.  I hope you have a quiet/safe place.  My safe place is colorful and wonderful.  The things I like to do with art is Fun to Draw which is a fun app many kids use. I really like to do it at home and free time at school.  Art is my quiet/safe place.

-Damaris Macias

 

Breathing Tool

A good time to use the breathing tool would be in an irritating or infuriating situation.  Say, someone made you angry and you didn’t want to get in trouble, you might use the breathing tool.  The breathing tool helps calm the body and center it.  Another good time for the breathing tool is at home because your family can be difficult when you try to talk to them, and you don’t want to have a hard time.  You especially don’t want to go to your room unnecessarily.  That’s why the breathing tool is useful.

 

Quiet/Safe Place Tool

A good time to use the quiet/safe place tool would be when you are scared or need some space.  When you close your eyes, you tune out some of the sound around you.  This helps because the quiet/safe place tool makes you feel a sense of calm and TLC.  Also, the quiet/safe place is good for your health because stress is not good for your health. That’s why the quiet/safe place tool is useful.

 

-Patia  

 

Breathing Tool

Sometimes people get stressed out or mad. One thing that calms you down is that you breath. One way I use the breathing tool is when I'm  mad at my sister or when I get upset. Breathing is like taking good things in and bad things out . It is always important to use the breathing tool.                                                                                                               

 

Quiet /Safe Place Tool

People have places at  home where  you calm yourself down. Mine is with the sheep, in my room, in my secret hide outs, and in the car. (When no one is in it.) Many people have their own quiet safe place.(or places.) It is always important to have a quiet safe place to calm yourself down.

-Emma Burnett                                                                                                         

 

Breathing Tool

A good time to use the breathing tool is when you’re mad or having struggles.  The breathing tool can help you when you're mad, or it can calm you down and remind you that everything is going to be alright.  The breathing tool helps me when I'm mad and about to punch someone.  I simply just take deep breathes and close my eyes.

 

Quiet Safe/Place Tool

It would be a good thing to use the quiet safe place tool when you feel super sad or embarrassed. This tool is important to use so you feel safe and and comfortable in your own unique way.  One time my mom saw my friend at the grocery store and started whispering to him, and I got so embarrassed I just stood there and used my quiet safe place tool.

 

-Abby Elliott

 

Breathing Tool

Sometimes you get mad, stressed, or overwhelmed.  When this happens to me, I close my eyes and breathe in and out. I do this for about thirty seconds. This makes all the anger and stress go away and leave me all happy and relaxed. This is called the breathing tool.

 

Quiet/Safe Place Tool

When you have a bad day at work or school, it makes you want to scream into a pillow. I go to my quiet/safe place which is my room. When I go to my room I turn on some music, climb up in my bed, and snuggle in my covers and blankets. I relax for a while. When I get up I feel relaxed and happy!

 

-Taylor

 

Breathing Tool

A good time for me to use my breathing tool is when I am agitated with someone or something.  It helps me relax myself or calm myself in ways that give me inner peace.  Another way it helps when I am angry is it helps me not be as stressed with the thing I'm mad at and breath slower to think of solutions to the problem at hand that gives me the problems.  Also, another way it helps in this situation is it allows me to take time off it so I don’t go back to what was making me angry and I take time to think out my solutions.

Quiet/Safe Place Tool

A time I like using me quiet safe place tool is when I am filled with stress, loss a game, got mad, or if I was mad at someone.  It helps relieve me of whatever stress that fills me and the quiet helps me think.  I mostly use it when my siblings are fighting and I want to hide in my safe place so I don't need to listen to it.

 

-William Marc Friedland

 

Breathing Tool

I use my breathing tool when I’m mad, stressed out, or if someone is bugging me. I use it because those things get me annoyed.  That's why I use my breathing tool. When I get stressed or mad at someone.

 

Quiet Safe Place Tool

When I'm mad, upset, or stressed, I like to use my quiet safe place because that calms me down. It helps so I don't get mad or want to fight someone, or say disrespectful things to friends or family.  That's why I use my quiet safe place.        

-David Lopez                                                                                                                                                    

 

Breathing Tool

A good time to use the breathing tool is when I’m nervous, upset, or sick. I usually use it when I’m sick because I need to take deep breath to make my body calm down. I always use it when I'm nervous at home or at school. I have trouble calming down sometimes. I get very nervous sometimes and I need to use my breathing tool. It's hard for me to calm down because I have ADHD so when I’m hyperactive I use the breathing tool which helps alot.

 

Quiet/Safe Place Tool

I use the quiet/safe place tool when I'm in a loud place or when I'm stressed out. I usually use it when I'm nervous because it relaxes me and keeps me calm. I use it when I'm in a loud place because I need a break from loud stuff that's around me or if it's hurting my ears. I am a very sensitive person. I have sensitive ears if I’m in a place that's really loud, my ears can start ringing. I enjoy using my Quiet/safe place tool.

 

-Arden Wilson

 

Breathing Tool

One way to use my breathing tool is when I’m mad and my friends don’t want to be my friends anymore.  I use my breathing tool to slow down and breath through my nose. Sometimes I use it when my soccer team loses a game. My mom will just say to use the breathing tool and it makes me all better. I also use the breathing tool when I’m disappointed.

Quiet/Safe Place Tool

A good way for me to use the quiet safe place tool is in my backyard.  I  listen to the birds chirping and the leaves falling off the trees.  I also use it when I just need time alone, reading in my backyard.

 

-Makayla

 

Breathing Tool

The breathing tool is something that people use when they are sad or mad.  When this happens I go outside and use the breathing tool. Another time that I use the breathing tool is when I get mad at my friends. I try to walk away and use the breathing tool.  When I get really worked up by being sad and mad, I start breathing really hard and that makes me feel like I am going to blow up, so I try my best to use the breathing tool.

 

Quiet/Safe Place Tool    

People use the quiet safe place when they are stressed or scared. One time that I use the quiet/safe place is when I am stressed about homework and I am really confused so I go into my quiet safe place, AKA, my room. Another time that I use the quiet safe place is when my parents are fighting and yelling at each other. I get scared and go to my other quiet safe place which is outside. When I am scared or I have had a bad dream my quiet safe place will be on my bed. I like to use the quiet safe place, it is very helpful.

             

-Emma Brockman

 

Breathing Tool

The breathing tool can help you when you're frustrated, angry, or just sad.  The way it helps is that it simply calms you down.  It also helps by making you want to start over to a fresh new start and also make things right.   Maybe one day when you get stressed, you can try the breathing tool and calm down to make things go the right way.  Sometimes when people get stressed they don’t know what to do so that means that they should try the breathing tool. You start by pretending to have a measuring tool and breath in and out. When you breath in open you’re measuring tool and when you breath out, close you’re measuring tool.

Quiet Safe Place

The quiet safe place can help you when you are sad.  Basically all you do is simple just pretend to put on some earphones and imagine your quiet safe place. It helps you because you are just closing your eyes and covering your ears and then there, that's it. You plug your ears and close your eyes and imagine the calming, relaxing place of your dreams.

-Dehanna