Counseling Newsletter

Transcription

1 N O R T H E A S T E R N K - 6 S C H O O L C O U N S E L I N G Newsletter V O L U M E 1, I S S U E 1 N O R T H E A S T E R N S C H O O L D I S T R I C T The mission of the K-6 School Program is: To provide a comprehensive, developmental counseling program that addresses the academic, career, and personal/social development of students. INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Groups Rebecca s Place Cyber Bullying Red Ribbon Week Counselor Info Byrnes Health Center K-6 counselor website Dates to Remember 3 4 School counselors are professionals who work cooperatively with students, parents, other educators, and the community to facilitate opportunities to maximize potential for all students. As part of the K-6 comprehensive guidance plan, students learn social, emotional, personal, and career skills. Classroom guidance lessons are one component of our guidance plan. Guidance Lessons: Students will have the opportunity to participate in classroom guidance lessons multiple times throughout the year. Typically the lessons last 30-4 minutes. A variety of techniques are used to engage student in learning, such as Books, Videos, Role Playing, Games, and Activities. Topics covered during the Fall 013 school year may have included Bullying, Cliques, Feelings, Friendship, Diversity, Tattling, and Autism Awareness. Extend your Child s Learning on the topics taught in Classroom Lessons. Parents provide invaluable guidance to their child s social/emotional growth. The following resources are an excellent place to start. Bullying: Feelings: Autism Awareness: During the Months of August-November 189 guidance lessons were taught across grades K-6. The Bobcat Way: 100% of our students will graduate and be prepared for a post-secondary education.

2 Volume 1, Issue 1 Rebecca s Place, LLC Rebecca s Place is a developmental and therapeutic center for children and families which provides occupational therapy, speech/language therapy, and child/family therapy to children ages birth to eighteen years. The facility offers a child-centered environment for children to learn and develop the necessary skills to lead a successful life. Referrals can be made by doctors, therapists, schools, and parents. Children are not required to have a specific diagnosis. In fact, Rebecca s Place provides both preventative care and clinical services to children with a variety of developmental and mental-health needs (i.e. sensory processing deficits, neurological disorders, motor deficits, feeding difficulties, written language deficits, and many more). A thorough evaluation is completed for each child to determine appropriate services, and a transdisciplinary approach is utilized to maximize growth and potential. Contact Information: Rebecca s Place, LLC 180 Loucks Road, Suite 800 York, PA Page Small Group Intervention The Northeastern Elementary School Counselors offer small groups throughout the school year on a variety of topics to help students learn life skills that help them to be more successful in school. Groups can help students with coping skills, finding positive ways to build self-esteem, developing positive behavior patterns, and decision-making skills to help solve problems. As students learn to deal with personal issues, they are more able to reach their full potential academically. Small group topics may include New Student Group, Social Skills, Behavior, Study Skills, Family Changes, Self-Esteem, Anger Management and General Coping Skills. All groups meet during the school day. Referrals are made by teachers, parents and administrators. Parents must sign permission for their students to participate in a group. 01 students have participated in 38 elementary counseling groups so far this school year! Inspector Craig LeCadre and Agent Jerry Mitchell from the PA Office of the Attorney General recently met with Shallow Brook 6 th graders to present on the topic of Cyber Bullying. Incidents of Cyber Bullying continues to rise across the Commonwealth, as more students in Elementary and Intermediate grades than ever have their own cell phones, laptops, ipads, and other connected devices. Children are being targeted by online predators at an alarming rate, so it is critical for us to help them learn how to protect themselves while still enjoying all of the benefits of the Internet. Parents can be one of the keys in preventing cyber bullying. Much of the bullying that occurs happens on the family computer or tablet. Children and teens often are unsupervised on the home computer. They know more about technology than their parents and don't follow proper online etiquette. As parents, it is important that you know what your children are doing online. It is important that your children are able to trust you and feel comfortable enough to talk to you about bullying and the Internet. Parents can help prevent cyber bullying by: Supervising the use of the computer, tablet, and cell phone; Get the computers out of the bedrooms and into a family room or common living area; Learn about and monitor the Web sites that your child visits while on the computer; Talk to your children about cyber bullying and encourage them to talk to you if they feel threatened while on the Internet. According to a survey by isafe.org, 8 percent of kids did not tell their parents when someone was abusive to them online; Be concerned if your child spends an excessive amount of time online and, if necessary, limit his/her time spent on the computer and cell phone; and Have your child fill out and sign an agreement or pledge, such as the ones on the PA Attorney General website, about safety online: As a parent it is important that your children are able to trust you and feel comfortable enough to talk to you about bullying and the Internet.

3 Volume 1, Issue 1 Page 3 Red Day Team up Against Drugs I m too Bright to do Drugs! Orange You Glad You re Drug Free Red Ribbon Week Each year during the month of October one week is designated as Red Ribbon Week. This special week is an emphasis on substance abuse prevention promoting a drug-free life. The Red Ribbon campaign originated in 198 when Federal Agent Enrique Kiki Camerena was murdered while he was investigating Mexican drug traffickers. At that time, parent groups and others began wearing red ribbons to take a public stand against the illegal use of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs - - and to show their support of drug-free youth. The Red Ribbon became the symbol to reduce the demand for drugs. Each October the elementary and intermediate schools in the Northeastern School district celebrate Red Ribbon Week. With each activity, there is an emphasis on drug and alcohol prevention and teaching the children about the importance of a healthy drug-free life. Some of the ways we have promoted Red Ribbon Week in the past have been to provide special assemblies, teach classroom lessons on substance abuse prevention, and have special theme and dress days to encourage the children to think about living a drug-free life! Follow Your Dreams

4 Volume 1, Issue 1 Page 4 Sue Howe is the counselor at York Haven Elementary. She started working in NESD in Before that time, there was not an elementary counseling program in the district, so she was hired to begin the program. She is glad to see how far the program has come since then - - with a counselor in every elementary school helping and serving children and families in our community. Sue has a Bachelor s degree in Music Education from Messiah College, certification in Elementary Education from Penn State University, a Master s degree in from Western New Mexico University, and certification in Pupil Services from Shippensburg University. Sue loves her job - - and loves working with the wonderful children at York Haven Elementary. Jodi Albin is the counselor at Conewago Elementary School. She has been with NESD for 1 years. Jodi earned her Bachelor s Degree in Life Science from Penn State University and her Master s Degree in Education from Shippensburg University. She has her Elementary and Secondary School Certificate. In Jodi s free time she likes to spend time with her family, which includes her husband Joe, and her three children, Adam, Allison, and Aaron. Lisa Kinsinger is the counselor at Mt. Wolf Elementary. She has been with NESD for 8 years. Lisa s Bachelor s Degree in Psychology is from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and her Master s Degree in Education is from Shippensburg University. Lisa has her Elementary and Secondary School Certificate, as well as a Marriage, Family and Couples Certificate. Outside of school Lisa enjoys being outside (running, hiking, and camping) and spending time with her husband and her daughter. Meet the K-6 Northeastern School Counselors... Amy Nohe is the counselor at Orendorf Elementary School. She has been with NESD for 7 years. Amy s Bachelor s Degree in Psychology is from Millersville University and her Master s Degree in School is from the University of Scranton. She has her Elementary and Secondary School Certificate. Outside of school, Amy enjoys the beach and spending time with her husband and two children, Ian and Ella. Bill Linker is the counselor at Spring Forge Intermediate School. Bill has been with NESD for 14 years. He earned a Bachelor s Degree in Criminal Justice and a Minor in Sociology from York College and his Master s degree in School / Education from Western Maryland University. Outside of School, Bill spends time with his wife and 3 sons. John Carlisle is the counselor at Shallow Brook Intermediate School. John has been a counselor for 13 years, serving in NESD for 9 years. He earned his Bachelor s Degree in Psychology from Lock Haven University and his Master s Degree in from West Virginia University. He has his Elementary and Secondary School Certificate. John is an avid Penn State football fan. He has not missed a home game in 18 seasons and attends many bowl games and away games. John is married and has two children.

5 Volume 1, Issue 1 Byrnes Health Center On the evening of 11/19/013, Byrnes Health Center came to Spring Forge Intermediate and presented: Drugs 101: What Parents Need to Know. This program educated parents about the various forms of drugs and the peer pressures facing students to use them. A mock bedroom of a teenager served as the backdrop to the two hour presentation. Parents entered a mock bedroom that was set up to resemble a teenage drug user s room. Parents were asked to identify drug and alcohol paraphernalia items that were placed within the bedroom. Throughout the presentation, more than 80 trendy drug and alcohol indicators were unveiled to show how some adolescents hide drug and alcohol use from their parents. Signs, symptoms and current trends of alcohol, marijuana, inhalants, ecstasy, prescription drugs and synthetic drugs were presented. Throughout the program live role playing demonstrations occurred to help parents initiate conversations with their child and to show parents ways they can help their child beat peer pressure. Dates to Remember Operation Help a Neighbor 1/19/13 End of nd Marking Period 1/3/14 Parent Teacher Conf. /-/6/14 National School Week /3-/7/14 PSSA Grade & 8 Writing 3/11-3/1/14 End of 3rd Marking Period 3/8/14 PSSA Gr. 3-8 Math/Reading 4/8-4/19/14 PSSA Gr. 4&8 Science 4/-4/6/14 NORTHEASTERN K-6 GUIDANCE DEPARTMENT Jodi Albin Conewago Phone- (717) albinj@nesd.k1.pa.us Lisa Kinsinger Mt. Wolf Phone- (717) kinsingerl@nesd.k1.pa.us Page Amy Nohe Orendorf Phone- (717) nohea@nesd.k1.pa.us K-6 School Website Did you know that the K-6 school counselors have developed a website? Check it out at On this website you will have information about Northeastern School District K-6 program, resources, and Community Resources at the tip of your fingers. The website is an excellent way to access information. Sue Howe York Haven Phone- (717) howes@nesd.k1.pa.us John Carlisle Shallow Brook Phone- (717) carlislej@nesd.k1.pa.us Bill Linker Spring Forge Phone- (717) linkerw@nesd.k1.pa.us