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This site serves as a tool for sharing information and resources that may be of interest to our community. If I include an article, link, or resource here, it means that I find it interesting and potentially useful. It does not mean that the content or author is specifically endorsed by MCPS.
As the school year begins and students transition from the "staying up late and sleeping late" patterns many have drifted into over the summer, it may be helpful to consider the value of sleep.
Most Americans attempt to function on too little sleep. Many students believe they simply cannot sleep before midnight or 1:00am. It is true that adolescents tend to shift their waking hours naturally later in the day, but a better sleep schedule can be achieved with structure and practice.
Counseling Resource List.docxIt can sometimes be difficult to connect with a counselor. The counselors want to help, but demand is high and they often have waiting lists. The Counseling Resource List offers guidance on how to begin the process of locating a counselor. Available resources are often changing... if you know of a counselor or counseling practice you would like to share, please email me so that I can add them to the list! I will do my best to keep this list updated, but things change quickly. If you reach out to someone on this list and learn that they are no longer in business, please let me know so that I can remove them.
I can be most useful to your student if I am aware of outside counseling. With parent/guardian permission, I collaborate with outside counselors to insure that school-based supports align with treatment strategies and goals whenever possible.
10Consent to Exchange -Release Information.docIf your student has a counselor outside of school and you would like for me to be able to consult with them to plan and implement school supports, please complete and submit the Consent to Release and/or Exchange Information form. Make sure to provide contact information for the provider with whom you would like for me to consult.
Hawk Circles:
All students and teachers will participate in "Hawk Circles" this year. Hawk Circles are small group discussions focused on a particulare topic. Students learn improved communication skills and explore topics that promote connections within the school community. The schedule of topics is included here. Don't hesitate to call or email if you have additional questions.
I offered a number of mini lessons last year on basic topics impacting middle school students. The mini-lesson on understanding and managing stress was by far the most engaging.
As parents we work hard to protect our students from adult stressors. Because our students have fewer responsibilities than we do as adults, it is sometimes difficult to imagine that they even experience stress. It turns out that they do experience stress, just sometimes about different things. And their ability to manage stress may not be well developed.
Google "managing stress" and you will find more information than you probably want. The tips here may serve as a place to start. It may take some experimentation to find the techniques that work best for your student (or for you). Have fun with it. The payoff is worth it.
Basic Relaxation Breathing can be the foundation of a mediation practice, but it is a stand-alone skill for stress management. Breathing in a slow and intentional way works against the alarm systems in our brains that trigger the physical experiences of stress or activation. It calms the body so that we can calm the mind.
An added benefit of this technique is that we can do it anywhere, at any time, and not be obvious to those around us. Basic Relaxation Breathing is a great thing to do before a test, or before responding to someone with whom we are in conflict.
The more often we practice when we are not under stress, the more effective it will be when we are.
Grief Counseling, ages 7-18
Grief Counseling, ages 7-18
These resources came to me from a family who has utilized them. While I am not personally familiar with them, I hear positive things.
Grief Counseling, ages 13-18
Grief Counseling, ages 13-18
A contact from this organization tells me that as of 10/12/22, they still have openings.
MCPS offers the "See Something, Say Something" tab on its homepage. Anyone can report suspected bullying, remaining anonymous if they want to do so.
If you prefer to speak with someone directly, we strongly encourage you to call. There is no wrong staff person to call... teachers, administrators, and school counselors work as a team to make SCW a safe place to learn.
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