This month, we are focused on Compassion. 

• For some children, coming back to school can be a challenge.  For information on school refusal and compassionate ideas for supporting your child, click here. 

• For attendance resources, click here. 

• To contact our school counselor about school-related concerns, click here for the request form. 

CPCS CARES 

Our CARES Program collects and distributes resources to families so students have what they need to be successful. CARES stands for clothing, assistance, resources, essentials, and snack sacks. 

• To request a CARES package, click here. 

• To donate to our CARES closet, click here. 

• For local mental health resources, click here. 

• With questions or concerns, contact Ms. Sayers - acsayers@smcps.org . 

This month, we are focused on Compassion. 

• Use read alouds to teach, discuss and practice this CRABS Virtue. For a list of books that you can check out from our school library, click here. 

• Set a goal to have a consistent Smart Start or Morning Meeting every day so that students are connecting with each other and feeling that they belong. This allows for compassion and empathy to build within your classroom. 

Updates - School Counseling & Student Support

• Alison will return next week but in a part-time capacity. 

• Before referring students, please ensure that you have established and are consistently using Tier 1 strategies to teach your routines, reinforce your expectations, and encourage students to try again when they make mistakes.

• Tier 1 suggestions: Conscious Discipline strategies; Smart Start; Behavior Response Flowchart; First Four Weeks Planning Guide;  Classroom Rules and Routines (Highly recommend our book study that starts on Monday....) 

• If you have student needs, please complete a referral sheet to request support. Suggestion: Print these and keep them on a clipboard, ready to go - click here. 

• If you have a crisis emergency, please do not send or bring a student; send a chat that you have an immediate need and someone will come as soon as possible. Don not leave the student unattended until help arrives.

SEL Suggestion: The Smart Start

• This month, start each class with a Smart Start. 

• This easy, quick four-step sequence helps prime each student's brain for learning. This is really important since so many students come into our classes tired, dysregulated, unmotivated, etc. 

• A Smart Start helps everyone get in gear because it creates feelings of safety, belonging, and connection - things that must be present for the learning brain to engage.  

• To read more about how to do it, click here.