At ERCS
El Rancho Charter School is dedicated to supporting student and staff mental health needs. This site serves as a means to share school-wide strategies in place to support mental health and provide resources, suggestions, and tips to help throughout the middle school journey.
Better Together!
This marks my seventh year serving the students at El Rancho Charter students. I am a Licensed Educational Psychologist (LEP #4251). Prior to becoming a School Psychologist, I worked as a School Counselor in San Diego and Orange counties. I attended Point Loma Nazarene University for my undergrad as well as one of my Masters. I have two Master's degrees both in education with an emphasis in counseling and psychology.
I am entering my sixth year at El Rancho Charter. Previously I went to Azusa Pacific University where I completed my master's in School Psychology and credentialed in Licensed Professional Clinical Counseling. Before my time at APU I was a baseball player at Cal State Fullerton where I graduated with my bachelors in Communications Public Relations in 2013.
Presented on October 9th and 10th, during your student's history class.
ERCS School Psychologists are excited to present this curriculum to 7th-grade students. The presentation includes video dramatizations, students in a round table discussion, and testimonials from subject matter experts. The presentation will demonstrate the appropriate way to respond to a friend who may be struggling with depression or suicide and reinforce the ACT message (Acknowledge, Care, Tell).
Why this is important, from our very own Mrs. Nibarger!
"The jump from elementary school to middle school can be quite an adjustment and some students might find themselves overwhelmed, anxious or depressed from the change. While these feelings are normal, they are not something we want our students to experience. What is awesome about the SOS program is that it lets students know that their feelings are nothing out of the ordinary, and the program equips students and their friends on how to get help here at El Rancho or at home. We want Middle School to be some of the best years of our student's lives and the SOS program helps students know where to go and what to do to make that happen! " - Mrs. Nibarger, ERCS History teacher
Parent Portal: https://sossignsofsuicide.org/parent
The parent portal is designed to provide information about the Mindwise program suicide prevention efforts and helpful tools for supporting your student’s mental health.
An opt-out form was sent home on September 25th please return by October 6th only if you do not want your student to participate.
Students identified and referred by school staff that need additional support in the areas of social and emotional learning will be invited to participate in a six to an eight-week group. Parent permission to participate is required.
Curriculum will be developed based on needs, potential topics could be coping strategies for anxiety and depression, strategies to sustain attention and organization. Groups will be offered during unstructured time within the school day.
Students referred by the Assistant Principal will be assigned a staff member to check in and out with daily. Throughout the day the student will request feedback from their teachers regarding academia and behavior. This information will be reviewed with assigned staff member during end of day check out.
The Coyote Den is a student lounge open during lunch, Monday through Friday. It is staffed by El Rancho staff and is a peaceful space designed to help students relax and be mindful to reduce stress.
