December 2021 School Counselor Newsletter
Dear St. John Families,
I hope you and your family had a safe and happy Thanksgiving! As we head into this new trimester, I’m excited to begin my second round of Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) groups.
SEL groups are a key intervention I offer at St. John to support students in kindergarten through fifth grade who need extra support with a particular social or emotional skill (e.g., emotional regulation, coping skills, friendship, etc.). Groups are formed with 3-5 same-grade peers and meet each week for 30 minutes during the school day for eight consecutive weeks.
If you would like your child to be considered for a group, please fill out this online form. The deadline to sign up for the upcoming round of groups is Monday, January 10th and groups will begin the following week.
Please note: While I cannot guarantee a space for every student who is referred to my groups, I make every effort to get each student into a group rotation at some point during the school year. In the coming weeks, I will work with teachers to determine who will be in the upcoming round of groups, prioritizing students who need immediate support and those who were not able to participate in the first trimester.
As always, if there’s anything I can do to support your child or family, don’t hesitate to contact me at cshaw@st-johnschool.org.
Wishing your family all my best,
Ms. Shaw
December Resources
- With the hustle and bustle that the holiday season often brings, it’s so important to create opportunities for connection with our children. This is an excellent article on the benefits of scheduling special time as well as some tips for making it happen.
- Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health disorders among children and teens. If you’re unsure how to respond to an anxious child, check out these phrases that are helpful to use with an anxious child and try to avoid these. Note, if anxiety is severely interfering with your child’s day-to-day life, it’s important to get help. Feel free to email me for resources or speak with your child’s pediatrician.
- Looking for a film for family movie night? Check out this list of 20 Movies About Resilience for Children to turn your movie night into an opportunity for rich dialogue about grit and the power of determination!