VVMS
Mental Health Newsletter
May 2022
Final Countdown
Can you believe it is May and there are only a few weeks left of the school year? Our Student Services team would like to thank you for your support and collaboration this school year! Helen Keller said it best, “Alone we can do so little. Together we can do so much!"
As summer approaches, our student services team wanted to share a few tips with you and your family:
Schedule fun – Summer is the perfect time to enjoy the outdoors and have fun as a family! Whether it is hiking trails locally and state-wide, camping in the woods and telling stories around the campfire, enjoying dinner as a family on a patio, or taking a fun road trip to a new destination. Summer is the perfect time for family fun!
Resist the urge to overschedule – Students and families have clear and predictable schedules during the school year. During summer, there is more “free” time and less predictability. While there are many opportunities to keep kids busy, it is equally important to balance the summer activities with down time.
Attempt something new – There are many opportunities that exist within our community! We encourage you to take time to create a summer “bucket list”. Experiencing new activities encourages positive brain development and will help your child explore new interests. What are those activities that your child or entire family have always wanted to do, but haven’t yet? Maybe there is a new program through community education to experience? Is there a new summer activity that is now accessible that wasn’t during the pandemic?
Keep predictable routines – Teens function best with predictable routines. Following a consistent sleep schedule, eating schedule, or participating in activities are important for our overall health. Being intentional and mindful about sleep schedules, eating nutritious foods, and finding movement are all keys to living a healthy life!
Continue to build healthy habits – Organization, goal setting, reading, etc. can also be reinforced at home. Encouraging your student to set their own goals and have check points for your child to reflect on their progress is beneficial to not only meeting goals but also greatly impacts self-esteem and learning from mistakes. Organizational opportunities may include following a chore schedule for the week, cleaning their room, going through items to keep, donate, or throw away, or independently organizing their sports/activity equipment! Plus, it creates a positive family culture in which everyone pitches in, teaches independent skills, and it will definitely help you as parents.
Set limits with screen time – During the pandemic, screen time greatly increased. It was our way to continue to safely socialize and to distract ourselves from our outside world. Although we became more technologically savvy through this, it is equally important to interact in person with those we care about. Naturally, humans have increased emotional regulation when we participate in typical human activities…plus it build the connections we have missed. It may be helpful to track screen time using various apps. Most importantly, model positive screen use. Our kids learn through observing us.
May is Children’s Mental Health Month. One in five people are impacted by mental health. Feel free to take some time to review the following resources to learn more about mental health. As your student services team, we are here to support you and provide resources as needed.
Minnesota Association of Children’s Mental Health
National Alliance on Mental Illness
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
We wish you all a safe, relaxing and fun summer!
Gretchen Brandt
Counselor
6th grade
7th grade
(Team Voyageur)
Kent Downing
Counselor
8th grade
7th grade
(Team Denali)
Amy McAllister
School Psychologist
Jill Wait
Social Worker
504 Coordinator
Contact Information
Gretchen Brandt 952.848.3391 - gretchen.brandt@edinaschools.org
Kent Downing 982.848.3390 - kent.downing@edinaschools.org
Amy McAllister 952.848.3392 - amy.mcallister@edinaschools.org
Jill Wait 952.848.4481 - jill.wait@edinaschools.org
April 2022
Digital Parenting
This month we are highlighting three common social media apps that our middle school students use frequently: Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok. Kid Matters Counseling has highlighted 5 important things for parents to know about each platform. These simple, helpful tips will increase your knowledge and awareness, and most importantly, keep your child(ren) safer on social media. Click on the image below to navigate to "The 5 Things Parents Need to Know" digital tips on these popular apps.
Snap Chat
Instagram
Tik Tok
March 2022
Healthy Minds, Thriving Kids
Throughout the school year, our student services team has been delivering Mindful Moments to all of our students in Advisory class on Tuesdays. Mindful Moments are an opportunity to reach ALL of our students and teach them important foundational information and skills about mental health. These Mindful Moments range from sharing positive, impactful real life stories, teaching coping strategies, learning social emotional regulations skills, and helping students manage stressors.
This month, we will be sharing a series of evidence-based videos focused on mental health and increasing our students' understanding of the connection between their feelings, thoughts and intense emotions. This video series and the related activities are a part of the Child Mind Institute's Healthy Minds, Thriving Kids Project.
Students will view the videos throughout the month of March. We are sharing the short videos (~5min) with you in the hopes that they may ignite healthy conversations about mental health in your home, too. We have also linked "Skill Sheets for Caregivers" which outline key points and offer parents thoughtful ways to engage in these critical conversations.
March 1: Understanding Feelings and (Skill Sheet for Caregiver)
March 8: Relaxation Skills and (Skill Sheet for Caregiver)
March 15: Understanding Thoughts and (Skill Sheet for Caregiver)
March 29: Managing Intense Emotions and (Skill Sheet for Caregiver)
April 5: Mindfulness and (Skill Sheet for Caregiver)
If we can provide additional support, please reach out any time. As always, thank you for partnering with us to support the mental health and social emotional wellness of our students.
February 2022
Support Rather Than Solve
This past month was tough. Our school systems, teachers, students, and families were placed under tremendous stress and hypervigilance due to the rapidly spreading Omicron variant. The timing of it was more challenging with students out ill or in quarantine as we wrapped up the first semester of school. As mental health providers, we have seen an increase in anxiety, sadness, withdrawal, stress, irritability, sleep deprivation, and frustration. If our kids are feeling this, we know you are too.
During the pandemic, Dr. Becky Kennedy, a clinical psychologist and parent of 3 emerged on social media with quick snippets of parenting tips. She swiftly developed a flood of followers and has created a newsletter, Good Inside, where shares practical parenting strategies on big topics. The premise of her message, "We are all doing the the best we can with the resources available to us in the moment. Even when we are struggling, even when we are having a hard time on the outside, we still remain good inside."
In the Good Inside newsletter from January 13th, Dr. Becky shares this wisdom:
Our kids need our support more than solutions. If we jump into fixing or solving, a child ends up feeling more alone because we aren’t willing to “be there” with them in their experience. Our presence and connection are what make kids feel emotionally safe, especially in uncertain situations. This parenting truth goes for any tricky situation at school, from COVID to academic struggles to bullying. Understanding + Connection = Safety
We don’t need to help our kids feel better right now. We need to help them make sense of how they feel. Information doesn't scare our children. It is the absence of information that scares them. Find a time to proactively talk to your child(ren) about what is happening around them and within your family. Validate their perceptions and share age appropriate information.
Reflect on This
Check-in with your own feelings, too. Whatever comes up, one way to cope is reminding yourself that so many parents in this community are right there with you. Two things can be true: You can be a good parent and also feel overwhelmed.
Try This Today
Kids are dealing with all of the normal stresses of school right now, too! The next time your child comes to you with a problem—whether it’s struggling with math or a social issue with friends—use the Support Not Solve framework. Instead of jumping in with a solution ("Tell your teacher”), offer words like, “I’m so glad you’re sharing this with me... I believe you… That sounds so tough... Tell me more… I’m here...
To learn more parenting tips and tidbits, follow Dr. Becky @drbeckyatgoodinside or visit www.goodinside.com to sign up for the Good Inside newsletter or to listen to the Good Inside podcast.
January 2022
January Outlook
Happy New Year! 2022...when we were kids, many of us believed there would be flying cars now (cue the Jetson's theme song)! A new year puts 2021 in the rearview mirror and has us looking ahead to the hopefulness of 2022. January also brings the end of the holiday season, colder weather, cloudy skies and maybe an empty savings account. Could it be the “January Blues”? How fast can we get to March? Even though January can bring many challenges, we are still equipped to approach each and every day with an opportunistic attitude. So, it is important that we all continue to take stock in our mental health moving into 2022. To help guide our reflection, here are some suggestions from Integrative Life Center:
Contentment refers to feeling secure no matter what your circumstances. Those with high levels of contentment are able to laugh and enjoy life.
Resiliency means that you can stand up to stressful situations, effectively deal with them, and return to a sense of normality. Resilient individuals can adapt to changing situations and life events.
Work/Life Balance is healthy. Having balance means that you can separate your home and work life. Those with balance in this area make sure to allow for both work and play.
Ability to Build/Maintain Relationships refers to your social abilities and confidence. Those who are good at managing their relationships adhere to a concept of give and take. They understand the importance of other people in their lives.
Self-Confidence refers to high self-esteem. Those individuals have a strong self of self, use their strengths to their advantage and learn to overcome weaknesses.
An Unwavering Sense of Purpose can help you with all of these characteristics, even when times get tough. When you have meaning in your life, you tend to take more positive steps to accomplish your goals.
As we embark into the new year, take charge of how you feel, exercise just a little more, eat healthier, hang around positive people more often, find a good book and just do the things which make you happier. January can be a re-set of the changes you wanted to make last year. So, move beyond the “January Blues” and look forward to what's to come. It all starts with a positive attitude!
December 2021
Mental Health Support
As school based mental health practitioners, our role in supporting students and families centers around academic, social-emotional, and behavioral concerns. Our students come to us with a variety of needs and experience an emotional spectrum including fear, anxiety, stress, confusion, isolation, uncertainty, and sadness. Often we are helping students problem solve and manage real life issues that are impacting them both in and out of school. We team with families and teachers to provide support and interventions that remove barriers to learning and improve student wellness. Some of the areas within our scope of practice include: building relationship/social skills, supporting emotional regulation, teaching coping and stress management strategies, developing self-awareness, and strengthening self-management tools.
It is important to note that we are not mental health therapists providing on-going mental health treatment. Unfortunately, given our caseloads and time constraints, we do not have the capacity to provide 50 minute weekly therapeutic sessions. However, we are available to partner with mental health providers to ensure that students have access to the more intensive support they may need. With that in mind, we get a lot of questions about mental health referrals. While we don’t endorse any specific organization or provider, our district has a list of local, reputable providers which can be found here: EPS Mental Health Resources.
In addition, Edina Public Schools has a partnership with Fraser to provide school-based mental health therapy for students. The Fraser therapist meets with students during the school day at Valley View, which can be a convenience to families and provide easy access to mental health services. Valley View Middle School has a Fraser therapist on site three days a week. *Referrals are taken through the student services team.
Growing Through Grief (GTG) is another in-school support for students who have experienced the loss of a primary family member. GTG provides a safe space for emotional expression and on-going healing with an expert grief counselor. Our GTG counselor connects weekly with students and meets them where they are in their grief journey. Some students benefit from one to one support, while others meet in a group with students who have also experienced the loss of a loved one. *Referrals are taken through the student services team.
Below are continual school-wide mental health supports provided by our team at Valley View:
Weekly "Mindful Moment" videos in Advisory (coping strategies and inspiration)
Weekly Flex options - Students sign up - focus on positive mental health/wellness
Social Emotional Wellness Site
Partnerships of services in-school (contact us for a referral)
Growing Through Grief services through Park Nicollet
Additional resource to navigate mental health supports via location, insurance, and specific need:
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us
We know that navigating the mental health system can be challenging. Feel free to contact your Valley View Student Services Team for more information. We are always here to help!
November 2021
Advisory: Character Strong
Advisory is an extremely important class within our middle school model. The main objective of advisory is to build relationships and create a positive community at VVMS. Advisory also strives to create a school culture that enhances learning and fosters a sense of belonging for all students through our ICCCAR values. Advisory teachers can offer guidance and support as students navigate their middle school years.
Character Strong is an Advisory program that focuses on developmentally appropriate social and emotional learning for students in grades 6 through 8. Our teachers are currently using Character Strong during Advisory on Mondays. Below are the 5 key focus areas of the Character Strong program:
Emotion Understanding & Regulation: How We Feel & How We Act
Empathy & Compassion: What We Understand & How We Care
Values & Purpose: Who We Are & What We Do
Goals & Habits: The Dreams We Have & The Actions To Get There
Leadership & Teamwork: Developing Agency & Working Together
Character Strong will help ensure that our VVMS students acquire and apply the social emotional competencies of self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making to promote student wellness.
As a parent/guardian you can help support your child’s development by asking questions such as: What did you learn about (on Mondays) in Character Strong? What are you learning about yourself in Advisory class? Can you tell me what tools or strategies you have learned to help you grow as a person? What do you like or dislike about Character Strong this week and why?
We will build our students to be Character Strong by equipping them with coping techniques, self-management tools, relationship skills, and mindfulness strategies so that they can better manage their current environment and relationships as well as prepare for their post-secondary experiences.
You can learn more about Character Strong by visiting the website https://characterstrong.com/
October 2021
Activities and Connections
Middle school is an exciting time to try new things and meet new friends. It is also an important developmental age for students to feel connected. Participating in extracurricular activities has a range of benefits for middle schoolers and has been linked to positive outcomes from academic performance and social-emotional development. Not only are students increasing social connections, they are building self-esteem, demonstrating responsibility, developing leadership skills, learning the value of teamwork/cooperation, and strengthening critical life skills. Often we are asked about how students can sign up for various extracurricular activities for middle school students. We know it can be difficult to keep track of the assorted offerings, so we'd like to highlight a few places to keep watching for updated information.
First, check the VVMS website and the Peek at the Week (PAW) as they will have information about activities that become available as the year progresses. For example, sign up and audition opportunities for the fall musical were listed on our website earlier this year, and more theater opportunities will be available in the winter and spring.
Second, check the Middle School Clubs, Sports, and Activities that are offered through the Edina Community Center. Registration is open and there are a variety of options available.
Did you know that some Edina High School activities and athletics are available to students starting in the 7th grade? The current activities are listed below, and here is a link to the Edina High School activities registration page.
If you are new to Edina, it can be hard to find some of the extracurricular sports clubs. Here is a list of sports clubs available in our community. The list is not exhaustive, but it might be a good place to start if you are looking for options for your child(ren).
Also, many of our teachers are familiar with activities and resources specific to their area of expertise (e.g., music classes, math team, etc.). Your student might learn about some of those opportunities at school. Feel free to reach out to teachers if you are curious about possible extracurricular activities related to their content areas.
Finally, please ask other parents about activities in which their children are participating. There are also nearby resources like Three Rivers Park District, YMCA classes and camps, and Hyland Hills that can expand student experiences and increase connections with others who have similar interests.
For those families who may need a scholarship, please feel free to check out the Connect Card and Edina Give and Go for more information.
September 2021
Introduction to Student Services
Welcome to the 2021-2022 school year at Valley View Middle School! We are thrilled to have all of our students in person five days a week. The student services team recognizes that each student possesses unique interests, abilities and goals. Through a collaborative, tiered service delivery model, our team supports all students in the acquisition of the educational and social/emotional competencies necessary to grow as compassionate lifelong learners who discover their talents and embrace their authentic selves.
Each month, we will send information and ideas to help parents and caregivers navigate these middle years. We look forward to partnering with you and supporting your child(ren) this school year. Meet the team: