Counselor Corner
Mrs. Nelson LCPC, DBTC-School Counselor
Hello!
I am Mrs. Nelson, I am so excited for this school year. I have been a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor for several years. I began my counseling career in 2005 as a substance use counselor working with adults, families and adolescents.
I absolutely love my position as a school counselor at Harrison Elementary. I have been with Harrison Elementary School since 2018. I am thrilled to be your child’s counselor.
I am a wife and mother of 5 adult children with 10 grandchildren who I always love spending time with.
Calendar for Four Quarter 2024
May 3, 2024-No School
May 14, 2024-Spring Concert-7:00-8:00pm Roper
May 17, 2024-School Carnival 1:00-3:00pm
May 20, 2024-Field Day
TBD-Kindergarten graduation
Last DAY of SCHOOL-May 22, 2024
Background check has to be completed. It will take up to two weeks to get results back so please complete the background check now so you can volunteer.
Simply scan QR code
Harrison Elementary VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!
1 . R e a d i n g s t o r i e s t o s t u d e n t s
2 . A s s i s t i n g i n s u p e r v i s i n g t h e l o a d i n g a n d u n l o a d i n g o f b u s e s
3 . H e l p i n g i n l e a r n i n g c e n t e r s , c o m p u t e r l a b s , l i b r a r i e s , c a f e t e r i a s , e t c
4 . L e c t u r i n g o n s p e c i a l t o p i c s
5 . A s s i s t i n g w i t h t e c h n o l o g y
6 . H e l p i n g t o s e t u p s c i e n c e e x p e r i m e n t s
7 . A c t i n g a s h o s t f o r s c h o o l f u n c t i o n s
8 . P r o v i d i n g e x h i b i t s
9 . A r r a n g i n g a n d a s s i s t i n g i n f i e l d t r i p s
1 0 . A s s i s t i n g i n s u p e r v i s i n g p l a y g r o u n d s
1 1 . T u t o r i n g
1 2 . C o n t a c t i n g g r o u p s o f p a r e n t s b y t e l e p h o n e
1 3 . O r g a n i z i n g p a r e n t s f o r s p e c i a l p r o j e c t s
1 4 . M e n t o r i n g
1 5 . P a r t i c i p a t i n g i n b u s i n e s s a n d c o m m u n i t y p a r t n e r s h i p s
1 6 . R e c e s s e s : P l a y i n g w i t h s t u d e n t s / t e a c h i n g n e w g a m es
1 7 . W e l c o m i n g s t u d e n t s i n t h e m o r n i n g .
Ways to Volunteer if you can not pass a background check
Google Meet reading stories to students in the classroom
Cutting out things for the teacher for a classroom lesson
Provide snacks or games for parties
Send in videos of your workplace to show students different careers
Sharing your culture on google meet or video to share with classroom.
Complete family involvement activities with your child at home and send them back to school to share with everyone.
Donate books to the library
Parent Pack Team
If you are interested in building a culture at Harrison as a parent, please contact Mrs. Nelson, Mrs. Holcomb, Mrs. Larson or Mrs. Kenyon to join PPT. 208-733-4229
New Policy
Dear Student,
Thank you for visiting the counseling office. Per Idaho Code 33-6001 public school districts have the responsibility to notify parents/guardians of any change to a student’s health or well-being. Because conversations with counselors often cover these topics, we want you to be aware that any conversation about a change to your health or well-being will be reported to your parent/guardian. Aside from the reporting to parents/guardians required by law, conversations with school counselors will remain confidential.
Make Time for Hobbies and Leisure Activities
Having a hobby or engaging in a leisure activity you enjoy can improve your life. It can be good for your health, mind, and relationships. The right hobby can lead you to learn new skills, take pride in new accomplishments, and set aside (for a time) your day-to-day pressures and worries.
But how do you find a hobby if you don't have one? Here are some ideas!
Think broadly
The range of potential hobbies and leisure activities is limitless. Consider these examples:
Arts and crafts—woodworking, quilting, sewing, knitting, crocheting, weaving, origami, drawing, painting, photography, computer programs for graphics
Food and drink—cooking (learning a new style of ethnic or regional cooking, or trying all the recipes from a cookbook), baking bread, fermentation, brewing beer, smoking meat and fish, canning and preserving
Music, dance, and performance—playing an instrument, singing, dance, acting, exploring a particular genre of music
Writing—writing short stories or poetry, documenting family history, journaling
Nature and the out-of-doors—gardening, birding, plant and mushroom identification, spotting and identifying animal tracks, hiking, camping, boating, fishing, raising houseplants
Physical activity—cycling, running, walking, swimming, yoga, lifting weights, playing basketball or tennis, rollerblading, golfing
Puzzles and games—crossword puzzles, jigsaw puzzles, card or board games, playing pool or billiards
Collecting—coins, stamps, antiques, postcards, buttons, beach glass, or whatever strikes your fancy
Animals and pets—horseback riding, animal grooming or training, keeping an aquarium or terrarium
Volunteering—helping at an animal rescue center, your local library, a youth center, or a senior citizens' center; teaching English as a second language; helping recent immigrants with resettlement
Exploring history—genealogy, re-enactment, visiting historic sites, learning about the history of your community
Repair and restoration—furniture restoration, restoring a vintage motor vehicle, home repair and restoration, fixing old electronic equipment
Personal growth—learning a foreign language, meditation, attending a religious study group or educational lectures
Give it a few tries
The way to get started with any activity is to try it. Because picking up a new hobby or leisure activity typically involves learning new skills, give it a few tries. If, after three or four tries, the activity is still frustrating or boring, try something else. It can take a few tries before you find an activity you really enjoy and that fully absorbs your attention.
Think about what interests and engages you
Is there something you've always wanted to do? Now might be the time to try it.
Did you have an interest or hobby as a child, teenager, or young adult—before the commitments of work and parenting took hold—that you could pick up again or that might be the inspiration for a new hobby?
How do you like to spend your time? Are there activities that you settle into happily and can cause you to lose your sense of time? These might lead you to an enjoyable and absorbing hobby.
Try something new
Another way to find a hobby is to take a leap into the unknown:
Try something you've never done before. It's a sure way to open the door to new learning and skills, and you may discover new interests and new sides of yourself.
Try something that's the opposite of what you think you're good at. If you tend to choose precise and neat activities, try something loose and messy. If you've always thought you had no ear for music, try learning to play an instrument. If you lead a mostly sedentary life, try something active and strenuous, like rock climbing.
Find an activity that makes you forget about your day
As you consider and try different hobbies and leisure activities, look for one that fully absorbs your attention. The perfect activity is one that allows you to enter a state of flow, in which you're so intent on what you're doing that you lose track of time. When you're that involved in an activity you enjoy, your day-to-day worries melt away, and you free yourself from your normal stresses and tensions. That's one of the most important benefits of a good hobby.
Only you can tell what hobby or activity is right for you, and only you will know when you've found one that gives you that stress-relieving sense of enjoyment.
Morgan, H. (2021, November). How to find a hobby (Z. Meeker & B. Schuette, Eds.). Raleigh, NC: Workplace Options.
Access My Life Resources
Go to BPAHealth.com Choose the appropriate Service Program, then enter the following information:
School Name or District:
Toll Free Number: 8339353816
Select the My Life Resources button and you will be connected to the resource web portal.
On the Homepage, under the "Resource Locator" tab, there are numerous tools to help you locate services. With summer quickly approaching there is a camp locator, or help finding a pet sitter while you're away.
Access Counseling Services
To access your Student Services Program, please call BPA Health at 1-833-935-3816 or visit us online at ww.bpahealth.com to view your benefit details, find and choose a provider, locate valuable mental health and substance abuse resources, and access the My Life resources.
About Us
BPA Health delivers customized behavioral health solutions for employers, health plans, schools and government entities. Today, people in Idaho, the Northwest and beyond experience a greater well-being as a result of our services, both at work and in life. We believe everyone deserves the opportunity to realize their human potential. Learn more at www.bpahealth.com
The SFAP information is live on the district website here: https://www.tfsd.org/student-and-family-assistance-program/
Click the video link to gather more information
EMPOWERING PARENTS GRANT APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE TO IDAHO FAMILIES IN MID- SEPTEMBER
The Idaho State Board of Education today announced that it intends to make Empowering Parents grant applications available to Idaho families in mid-September.
Created earlier this year by Governor Brad Little and the Idaho Legislature, Empowering Parents is a $50 million grant program modeled after the Strong Families, Strong Students (SFSS) program administered in 2020 by the State Board of Education in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Eligible parents or guardians will be able to use the grant funds to purchase education-related resources and services from the Empowering Parents online marketplace such as internet connectivity, computer hardware and software, instructional materials, tutoring services, etc.
“We know that there are thousands of students throughout our state who experienced learning loss as a result of the pandemic disruption,” Board President Kurt Liebich said. “The SFSS program made a real difference during the pandemic and we expect the Empowering Parents program will continue to provide needed resources to help address learning loss and get our students back on track.”
The program will provide $1,000 per student or a maximum of $3,000 per family. Students attending Idaho public or private schools, or students who are homeschooled are all eligible. The program applies to students in kindergarten through the 12th grade.
Grants will be prioritized and awarded first to households with an Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) at or below $60,000 per year. Once the first phase of awards are made, the AGI limit will be expanded to households earning up to $75,000 per year. After that phase, if there are any grant funds still available, the program will be available to all other eligible students.
The State Board announced the updated timeline after the State Division of Purchasing reviewed four competitive proposals and selected Primary Class, Inc. to create the grant application portal and the online marketplace for the Empowering Parents program. Under the terms of the agreement, Primary Class will have the application portal ready for launch within 30 days, meaning parents and guardians should be able to begin applying for grants in mid-September.
A portal is available on the State Board of Education website where parents can sign up to receive updates on the program at: https://boardofed.idaho.gov/empowering-parents-program/
Services provided by the School Counselor:
Individual Counseling: Individual counseling offers students one-on-one time with a caring adult in a safe and confidential environment. Students will be able to explore their thoughts, feelings, and/or behaviors in order to better understand themselves and others. The counselor will help students set personal goals, and work toward desired growth.
Group Counseling: Groups give students a chance to work together to create growth. Groups may include: *Feeling Better About Everything *Friendship *My 2 Homes*And much more. • Feeling better about everything group: It is a one time per week 30 minute group during student lunch. The group is four weeks. The students will learn “what makes you mad”, “how does your body feel when you are mad”, “how other feelings come out as anger”, “how to communicate feelings”, “learn to share/work together” and “different ways to cope with feelings”. The group has 5 students that are all in the same grade so they learn from each other and see how other kids deal with frustrations. Social Distance will be maintained throughout the 2020-2021 school year.
Friendship group: It is a one time per week 30 minute group during student lunch. The group is four weeks. The students will learn “How to ask someone to be a friend”, “What does it mean to be a friend”, “What is empathy”, “How do you know if someone is your friend”, “Boundaries” and “Healthy activities to support each other as friends”. Social Distance will be maintained throughout the 2020-2021 school year.
My 2 Homes Group: This is a divorce group for students who are currently experiencing divorce or who have dealt with parents divorce/separation. The students will learn ways to "communicate their needs", "learn from peers how they cope", "how to manage emotions when moving from home 2 home", "understanding there may different rules at each home and learn how to cope with the differences", and "planning ahead when changing homes".
Classroom Guidance: We will explore: *7 Habits of Leader in Me *Kelso's Choices-Conflict Resolution *Second Step *Career development *Rules/Safety *Drug Education *Anti-Bullying *And More
How to teach your child on how to make Healthy Friendships
Using the STOP THINK THEN DO model. Your child can use this skill to handle teasing, aggression, social isolation and peer rejection. It links feelings to behavior and develops the idea of inserting thinking between feeling and reacting. It helps them with self-control and communication skills at STOP, problem-solving skills at Think and behavioral skills at Do.
Teach and Reteach rules for friendship. Children often need rules of friendship as recipes to follow. They soon discover that it's one thing to meet new people and successfully gain friends. Rules for making friends:
Be brave, walk up and introduce yourself
Say your name and look the person in the face
Smile
Ask the person about him or her self
Talk about things you have in common
Listen and do not interrupt
Be yourself, Avoid bragging or looking cool
Be Kind
Rules for keeping friends:
Just be nice to them. Care for their feelings.
Include them in what you are doing. Share
Talk and listen
Find out what they like and don't like
Sometimes do things together outside of school
Coach your child on how to say “I’m Sorry”. It is important for a child to understand that bad choices sometimes happen. It is important in a friendship to apologize and move on. Help your child to understand saying they are sorry is only part of it. The other part is changing their actions so they did not hurt their friend again.
Teach empathy, sympathy and compassion. Easy way to do this is by watching cartoons or shows. While watching, have the child recognize when the actor had empathy, sympathy or compassion. These are big words for your child but it is important for them to hear and understand what they mean.
Skills for Strong Emotions
Rip paper
Pop bubble wrap
Squish playdough
Wrap your arms around yourself and squeeze
Write a letter to someone
Jump on a trampoline
Do wall push-ups
Write down what’s bothering you and rip it up
Squeeze a stress ball
Talk about it
Scribble on paper and crumple it up
Do jumping jacks
Put the palms of your hands together, push and release
Do stretches
10 deep breaths
Time out and breath
Vision your favorite place
Draw your favorite person or place
Run
Touch or rub something ruff
Write down your favorite song
Count to 100
Count backwards from 20
Name all the colors in the room
Count books in the classroom or room
Have your child process their behaviors:
A-Activating Event which caused the behavior or strong emotion
B-Behavior-how your child reacted
C-Consequences from their behavior
Once you discussed the A, B and C then ask them what they were thinking about during the activating event. Your child’s thought of the event causes strong emotion which controls their behavior. If you work with your child on their thoughts then it will help them control their emotions and behaviors.
Food Pantry
If you need food please contact the front office 208-733-4229 and let Mrs. Smith know you need assistance. Due to COVID-19 a box will be prepared and be held at the front office for pickup.
Mind Yeti: Mind Yeti is a wonderful resource for relaxation and mindfulness to assist you and the student in homework breaks or even stressful life events. YouTube has several Mind Yeti videos to benefit from today.
Counselors in Twin Falls
A Chance 4 Change 208-539-2226---459 Locust Street North #102, Twin Falls, Idaho
Mountain West Behavioral Health 208-370--8288--155 2nd Ave. North, Twin Falls, Idaho --mountainwestbehavioral@gmail.com
Jamie Goffin LCSW-208-316-7103-- 493 Eastland Drive, Twin Falls, Idaho 83301
Kathy McRill LCSW-208-280-0365--419 Shoup Ave. West, Twin Falls, Idaho
A+ Solutions Center-208-933-9555--1411 Falls Ave. E. #207 Twin Falls, Idaho
Valley Community Counseling-208-736-0695--419 Shoup Ave. West, Twin Falls, Idaho
Positive Connections Plus-208-737-9999-1373 Fillmore St. Twin Falls, Idaho
Crosspointe-208-736-7090--1363 Fillmore St. Twin Falls, Idaho
Alliance Family Services-208-737-0572--141 Morrison St. Twin Falls, Idaho
Family Health Services-208-734-1281---826 Eastland Dr. Twin Falls, Idaho
Pro-Active Behavioral Health-208-734-0407-- 264 Main St. Twin Falls, Idaho
Preferred Child and Family Children-208-733-7186 --284 Martin St. Twin Falls, Idaho
St. Luke's Behavioral Health-208-814-9100--414 Shoup St. Twin Falls, Idaho
Welcome to Youth Empowerment Services (YES)!
YES is a system of care for youth in Idaho under 18 who may benefit from mental health support. YES uses a youth and family-centered, team-based, and strengths focused approach for early identification, treatment planning, and implementation of mental health care.
Lauren's Kids-A Guide to Hope & Healing
Click the link above for good resources