CLASSROOM GUIDANCE ACTIVITIES:
Classroom guidance lessons and/or units are
offered throughout the school year. This year a new
violence prevention curriculum, called "Second
Step", will be taught in grades one through three
at Central School and Eliot Elementary. I will be
teaching in all first and third grade classrooms
for the first trimester. Second Step will be taught
in all grade two classrooms and multi-grades during
the second trimester. The Second Step program helps
increase children's safety and well-being by
teaching them skills that reduce their aggression
and teach them social competence. The program
consists of three sepaarate units: Empathy
Training, Anger Management, and Impulse Control and
Problem Solving. Empathy training teaches children
how to: identify their own and others' feelings,
take others' perspectives, and respond empathically
to others. The anger management unit teaches
children to recognize angry feelings and to use
behavioral techniques to calm down and think.
Impulse control and problem solving training
teaches children to apply a problem-solving
strategy to social situations and practice
behavioral social skills. I'm looking forward to
starting this program at Central School and would
appreciate any feedback that parents may have.
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GROUP GUIDANCE:
During the year I conduct several 6-8 week group
counseling sessions. Some of the topics include;
friendship, divorce, self-esteem, grief/loss and
conflict resolution. Students can be recommended
for these groups by the teachers or parents. a
letter/permission slip will go home to notify you
that your child has been recommended for
participation in a group. An announcement will be
sent home in Central Selections prior to the start
date of each group. During this time I will be
looking for parent and teacher referrals for
groups.
INDIVIDUAL GUIDANCE:
I see many students who just need to talk about
a particular situation, such as difficulty with
friends, anxiety about schoolwork, loss of a
relative or pet, moving, or worries about parents.
Some students see me because they have difficulty
controlling their behavior and we need to work out
a special program. Some students just need to talk
once, some for a few times, and others need to be
seen on a weekly basis. These sessions are not
"therapy". If I see the need for more intense
counseling I will recommend it. Students can be
recommended for individual guidance by the teachers
or parents.
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MENTORING
The following is a description of last year's
program ('02-'03) I'm not sure at this point if the
program will continue this year.
This year at Central School a mentoring program
will be offered to students in grades one through
three. The Community Wellness Coalition in Kittery
is funding the MSAD 35 program. Trained students
from Marshwood High School will come to Central
School to mentor some of our students. Lisa
Marshall is the mentoring coordinator/trainer at
the high school and I am serving as the Central
School coordinator.
The program will be consistent but the times
that the students from the high school come is able
to be flexible. We're still in the process of
deciding when these times will be, but most likely
they will be for the last half hour to hour of the
school day and /or during snack or recess time.
When the mentors meet with their students they can
help them with school work, play games and /or read
with them. When the mentors come during recess time
they will be trained to organize group playground
games. During the mentor sessions a trained adult
or myself will be circulating and available for any
support that the mentors and/or mentees may
need.
I'm very excited about the program! Referrals
for students who could benefit from a mentor will
be made by myself, parents, and teachers. If your
child is selected to be in the program a letter and
permission slip will go home for parents and/or
guardians to sign. I am actively searching for
referrals at this point so please call me at (207)
384-2333 if you would like your child to
participate in this program.
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PARENT NOTIFICATION:
Parent involvement is one of the most valuable
factors for the success of the guidance program.
You know your child better than anyone else and it
is my hope that we can work together to help your
child have a successful school experience. It is my
goal to have open lines of communication between
parents and the guidance department. If your child
needs to see me on a regular basis I will contact
you to obtain your permission.
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