Welcome to another edition of Positively Pearl!

At Pearl, we know that even the smallest moments can make a big impact—whether it’s celebrating our team’s successes, drawing inspiration from history, or simply taking a moment to recharge. Positively Pearl is our way of spreading encouragement and appreciation throughout our fast-paced days while reinforcing the core values that shape our workplace: teamwork, gratitude, and a commitment to excellence.

This month, we’re embracing the energy of spring season of renewal, growth, and fresh opportunities. As we step into April, we take a moment to recognize National Stress Awareness Month, reminding ourselves of the importance of self-care and balance. We also celebrate National Volunteer Month, honoring those who give their time and talents to make a difference in their communities. And of course, we continue to appreciate our incredible team, whose dedication and hard work drive our success every day.

Stay tuned for stories, shoutouts, and moments of inspiration in this edition of Positively Pearl! 

CCO Updates

March was a month full of fun and generosity! CCO celebrated St. Patrick’s Day in style, with everyone sporting their best green, snapping festive photos in the break room with fun props, and enjoying some delicious popcorn. Plus, their email activities kept the spirit going with interactive and engaging challenges. On a more meaningful note, they wrapped up their donation drive for those affected by the recent flood, gathering much-needed supplies and delivering them to those in need. Overall, there were over 1400 supplies collected and donated! A big thank you to everyone who participated, whether in the celebrations or in giving back to the community!

 

We’d like to take this opportunity to recognize a few outstanding employees for their amazing achievements.

• Cindy Shelton – CCO – Supervisor of the Month
• Marisa Christopher – CCO – Onsite Employee of the Month
• Whitney Green – CCO – Virtual Employee of the Month

Hello again from Brain Breaks – we’ve got our answers from last month and a few new activities that will hopefully provide a moment of refreshing in your day. 😊

Here are the answers to the “Guess the Emoji Story” challenges:

1. 🚀🌕👨‍🚀 – Apollo 11
2. 🏝️⚽️🤕 – Cast Away
3. 👀🔍🕵️‍♂️ – “I Spy”
4. 🐭🧀🏰 – Disneyland
5. 📞👻🚫 – Ghostbusters
6. 🐉🏆⚡ – Triwizard Tournament (Harry Potter)
7. 🍎💀👸 – Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
8. 🎸🎤👨‍🎤 – Elvis Presley
9. 🌊🐠🔍 – Finding Nemo
10. 💡💭💰 – Shark Tank

Take a Breath

Benefits of the 4-4-4 Breathing Exercise

The 4-4-4 breathing technique (also known as box breathing) is a simple yet powerful way to reset your mind and body in just a few minutes. It involves inhaling for four seconds, holding the breath for four seconds, and exhaling for four seconds. This controlled breathing pattern offers several benefits:

1. Reduces Stress & Anxiety – Deep, rhythmic breathing helps activate the parasympathetic nervous system, which calms the body and reduces stress hormones like cortisol.
2. Improves Focus & Clarity – By increasing oxygen flow to the brain, this exercise helps clear mental fog and enhances concentration.
3. Lowers Blood Pressure & Heart Rate – Slow, controlled breathing promotes relaxation, helping to lower blood pressure and steady the heart rate.
4. Enhances Emotional Regulation – Practicing mindful breathing can help you stay present and manage emotions more effectively, reducing feelings of overwhelm.
5. Boosts Energy Levels – Proper oxygen intake revitalizes the body, preventing fatigue and improving overall well-being.

Taking just two minutes for this simple exercise can make a noticeable difference in your mood and productivity. Give it a try during a busy workday or whenever you need a quick reset!

Two-Minute Breathing Exercise – Take a deep breath in for four seconds, hold for four, and exhale for four. Repeat for two minutes to reset the mind.

Riddles:

1. What can travel around the world while staying in the corner?
2. What comes Once in a Minute, Twice in a Moment, but never in a thousand years?
3. What can be cracked, made, told and played?

April Trivia:

1. What unique holiday is celebrated on April 3rd that encourages people to find something new to read?
2. What is the most commonly celebrated holiday in the world that takes place in April?
3. What is the official flower for the month of April?
4. What famous event happened on April 15, 1912?
5. What popular phrase is associated with April showers?

Let’s take a look at our newest recommendations this month in From the Top Shelf!

Rachel Meade – Program Manager

Channels/Streaming – ID + Netflix for True Crimes

Documentaries – The Search for Instagram’s Worst Con Artist and the Apple Cider Vinegar

Movies – The Curious Case of Natalia Grace

For those who enjoy true crime and documentaries, there are several compelling options to explore. The ID Channel offers a steady stream of crime stories, while streaming platforms like Netflix provide a diverse selection of documentaries. The Search for Instagram’s Worst Con Artist and the Apple Cider Vinegar docuseries both examine the same subject but take different approaches—the latter plays more like a dramatized movie with some truth, whereas the former features firsthand interviews with those involved. Another gripping yet intense watch is The Curious Case of Natalia Grace, which delves into a shocking and controversial case involving child abuse, making it a thought-provoking but potentially difficult viewing experience.

Robert Thyrion – Program Manager

Movies: Spaceballs, Princess Bride, Matrix.

TV Shows: Parks & Rec, The Boys

Music: Stormzy “Heavy Is The Head”, Polyphia “Remember That You Will Die”.

Books: Dennis E. Taylor “We Are Legion (We Are Bob), Orson Scott Card “Ender’s Game”, Scott Meyer “Off to Be the Wizard”.

For those looking for entertainment across various mediums, there are several standout recommendations. In movies, classics like Spaceballs and The Princess Bride offer a perfect mix of humor and adventure, while The Matrix remains a must-watch for fans of sci-fi and action. For TV shows, the comedy Parks and Recreation provides lighthearted humor and memorable characters, whereas The Boys delivers a darker, action-packed take on the superhero genre. Music enthusiasts may enjoy Stormzy’s Heavy Is The Head, an album showcasing powerful lyrics and grime influences, or Polyphia’s Remember That You Will Die, which blends instrumental mastery with experimental sounds. For book lovers, Dennis E. Taylor’s We Are Legion (We Are Bob) presents a witty and engaging sci-fi adventure, Orson Scott Card’s Ender’s Game is a classic of the genre with deep strategic and philosophical themes, and Scott Meyer’s Off to Be the Wizard offers a fun and imaginative take on time travel and programming.

Easter – April 20^th

Easter has a fascinating mix of history, tradition, and fun! Whether you celebrate with egg hunts, chocolate treats, or family gatherings, there’s plenty to enjoy. We hope you enjoy these fun facts about Easter.

Easter Eggs Symbolize New Life – The tradition of decorating eggs dates back to ancient times, symbolizing new beginnings and fertility. In Christianity, eggs represent Jesus’ resurrection and new life.

The Date Changes Every Year – Easter is celebrated on the first Sunday after the first full moon following the spring equinox, meaning it can fall anywhere between March 22 and April 25.

The Easter Bunny’s Origins – The idea of the Easter Bunny delivering eggs originated in Germany in the 1700s. German immigrants brought the tradition to America, where it evolved into the Easter Bunny we know today.

Americans Eat a LOT of Candy – Easter is the second biggest candy holiday in the U.S., after Halloween. Each year, Americans consume over 16 million jelly beans and millions of chocolate bunnies!

Chocolate Bunnies: Ears First! – According to surveys, about 76% of people eat the ears of a chocolate bunny first, while a small percentage start with the feet or tail.

Peeps Mania – Over 1.5 billion Marshmallow Peeps are consumed each Easter. They were first made in 1953, and today they come in a variety of colors and flavors.

Earth Day – April 22^nd

The History of Earth Day

January 1969, many witnessed the ravages of a massive oil spill in Santa Barbara, California. This inspired Senator Gaylord Nelson, the junior senator from Wisconsin, to act. He organized teach-ins on college campuses to the national media. He recruited Pete McCloskey and Denis Hayes to assist.

Recognizing its potential to inspire all Americans, Hayes built a national staff of 85 to promote events across the land and the effort soon broadened to include a wide range of organizations, faith groups, and others.  They changed the name to Earth Day, which immediately sparked national media attention, and caught on across the country.  Earth Day inspired 20 million Americans — at the time, 10% of the total population of the United States — to take to the streets, parks and auditoriums to demonstrate against the impacts of 150 years of industrial development which had left a growing legacy of serious human health impacts.

By the end of 1970, the first Earth Day led to the creation of the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the passage of other first of their kind environmental laws! Today, Earth Day is widely recognized as the largest secular observance in the world, marked by more than a billion people every year as a day of action to change human behavior and create global, national and local policy changes.

How To Help The Planet!

• Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. Cut down on what you throw away.
• Volunteer for cleanups in your community
• Conserve water. The less water you use, the less runoff and wastewater that eventually end up in the ocean
• Shop wisely. Buy less plastic and bring a reusable shopping bag
• Use long-lasting light bulbs. Energy efficient light bulbs reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• Plant a tree. Trees provide food and oxygen. They help save energy, clean the air, and help combat climate change

Administrators Professional’s Day – April 23^rd

A huge shoutout to all our amazing Administrators at Pearl who keep us all running!

• Cassondra Conrad
• Zakiya Edwards
• Sarah El-Attar