Concord Counseling Updates

  Below are some tips from the America Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry which may be helpful in light of recent events. Please let the counselors know of any students or parents needing assistance. This may be helpful with your own children as well. Once again, parents and teachers are faced with the challenge of discussing a tragic incident of community violence with children. Although these may be difficult conversations, they are also important. There are no "right" or "wrong" ways to talk with children about such traumatic events. However, here are some suggestions that may be helpful: Create an open and supportive environment where children know they can ask questions. At the same time, it's best not to force children to talk about things unless and until they're ready. Give children honest answers and information. Children will usually know, or eventually find out, if you're "making things up." It

Our counseling focus for this month is practicing random acts of kindness in our school community.  We have viewed a short kindness clip to see how acts of kindness can cause a ripple effect.  As we processed the acts of kindness in the video clip one student made the comment, "You get back what you give out."  Our students are recognized on Flyervision each morning for practicing random acts of kindness. We then post their picture on our "Grand Slam Wall" to help recognize and encourage this skill throughout our school. Thank you for setting such a wonderful example for our children.  Our recent Adopt A Family was a great success of expressing acts of kindness for our community. We are also practicing our I Statements in class.  I statements help us formulate our thoughts to express ourselves in a clear manner.  We same the person's name, state what we like or do not like, tell how we feel and suggest a solution to the situation.  As we role play I stat

   I am introducing Kelso's Choices to our second and third grade students this week.  Kelso is a program that helps empower children with conflict management skills.  I will continue to introduce Kelso throughout the year with our 2-5graders. Our  K-1 children will continue to learn I-Care Language as the basis of how to treat and speak to others.  My goal is to educate our students to be able to communicate and speak well for themselves and for others and to know there are many choices to the small or big problem that they may encounter in a given day. 

Saying "No" to drugs is easier when you have a plan.  We start early trying to equip our students to be able to get out of a sticky situation.  Here are eight strategies we teach the older students to be able to say, "NO!"                                                                                                   1.  Educate others on the subject. 2.  Change the subject. 3.  Stand your ground.  Tell what you believe. 4.  Use humor to distract. 5.  Share a personal story. 6.  Share a promise you have made to yourself or someone else. 7.  Remind others of the rules. 8.  Walk or run away!

Thank you to our P.T.G. for hosting this assembly during our Fall Festival Celebration next Wednesday!

This week our Kindergarten and first grade students are learning safety rules... Street Safety Rules 1. Look both ways before crossing the street. 2. Don’t chase balls into the street. 3. Stay on the sidewalk when waiting for the bus. Personal Safety Rules 4. Never take medicine on your own. Ask an adult first. 5. Don’t play with strange animals. 6. Wear a helmet when you’re riding your bike and a helmet and pads when you rollerblade. Safety and Strangers Rules 7. Don’t talk to strangers on the street. 8. Never answer the phone on your own or give out any information. 9. Never answer the door or let strangers into your house. 10. Tell and Yell. Always tell an adult you trust if a stranger bothers you—and if one does yell as loud as you can. Is It Okay? How to Stay Safe © Sunburst Visual Media, a division of Global Video, LLC

Red Ribbon Week Concord Elementary Celebrates... Monday, October 22 nd Thru   Friday, October 26 th Let’s show our support for living drug free!!! Monday – Strike Out Drugs (Wear your Cardinal gear!) Tuesday – Crazy About Being Drug Free (Wear crazy socks!) Wednesday – Team Up Against Drugs (Wear your favorite team jersey!) Thursday – Put Drugs to Bed (Wear your PJs!) Friday –Proud to be Drug Free (Show your Concord pride and wear school colors or gear!) Thank you PTG for organizing these events!

         Here is a student made creation regarding our theme for this counseling rotation!  Our children k-5 are deepening their awareness regarding different disabilities or challenges that people face in life.  Our main emphasis it that everyone wants and needs to be treated with respect.   We have discussed several different challenges such as:  deaf people, blindness, people needing assistance walking, talking, varies degrees of asthma, diabetes...           Our hope is for the kids to treat others the way they would want to be treated.               We enjojed a book written by former President Jimmy Carter and illustrated by Amy Carter.  The story is about a boy who happens to be crippled.  A few morals the students shared from the book were insightful...                                 *don't judge a book by it's cover                               *don't underestimate a person's ability to achieve greatness                               *challenges can

Our Study Quilt! Thank you for helping your child establish good study habits!

Welcome Back!  I started our counseling lessons this week.  I am rotating on an ABC week schedule again this year. A week = all kindergarten and first grade classes B week = all second and third grade classes C week = all fourth and fifth grade classes I send a reminder to our teachers the week before my visit, so they expect my lesson. Our counseling theme for this rotation k-5 will be practicing listening and concentration skills through listening activities, drawings and body movement.   We are also visualizing our study space at home.  In our study space we are including items and family support we will need to study effectively.  We are also takling about times of the day to study to the best of our ability. Good habits for school are established in the first weeks and months of the school year.  Thank you for your guidance at home to make your child's learning experience the best it can possibly be. It does take a village to raise our children.  We are off the a

This week our students made cards for Jacob and wore his favorite color today to show support to him and his family.  We are sending energy your way Jacob!

While reading some literature this week I was reminded how important sleep is for our children.  Think twice when your child asks to change their bed time... Recommended hours of sleep each night for children: infants 14-15 hours toddlers 12-14 hours preschool 11-13 hours elementary/middle 10-11 hours!! high school 9-10 hours For our elementary children, that means going to bed at 8:00p.m., if they get up at 6:00-7:00 a.m.  Protect your child's sleep!  A good night's sleep is necessary for them to be a ready learner and participant in friendships, arts and sports.  Sleep helps us recharge physically and emotionally. 

Lindbergh Middle and High School students shared  etiquette (netiquette) beh avior  and safe habits when using the Internet.  Our fifth grade Concord students listened up to their peers as they shared...

Reminding our students about good study habits... Get plenty of rest Eat a good breakfast Listens to directions Think about your answers Think positive thoughts Do your best  ...to have a successful day!

To follow up our unit on being able to identify bully behavior we have discussed and practiced ways to handle bully behavior in a proactive way: Invite person being targeted to safety Distract or change the subject  Report actions to an adult Stand up for others without acting like a bully yourself We want our children to know how to be safe at home, at school and in their community.

　 A grief retreat for couples who have experienced the death of a child. When Saturday, Feb. 18, 2012 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Continental breakfast, lunch and snacks provided. Where The Marianist Retreat & Conference Center 4000 Highway 109 Eureka, MO 63025 What This one-day retreat is offered at no charge and provides an opportunity to meet the unique needs of a couple grieving the death of their child age 29 or younger. Why Grief counselors will provide education about the differences in how men and women grieve, while allowing couples to explore their own grief processes. Activities will encourage communication and partnership, provide opportunities for sharing their child’s story and foster a sense of hope. This retreat will also create a sense of community where couples who have experienced the death of a child can find strength and support from one another. Due to the nature of this retreat, space is limited and registration is required. Please call early to reserve yo

Our P.T.G. organized an awesome Ability Awareness Day for our third and fourth grade students! The fourth graders went to see three different speakers that came to share their stories.   Nancy Martin spoke to the children about her physical disability, Cerebral Palsy.   Jim Dugan shared his experiences with the children surrounding the loss of his legs, a physical disability.   The children got into wheel chairs and were able to have a better understanding of this type of mobility.   The third speaker was Ginger Johnson; she shared information regarding learning disabilities and Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder.   The third graders went to see three different speakers in the afternoon.   Kara Simmons and Esther Murray spoke about hearing impairments with the children and using sign language.   Nancy Henry and Lucy McCalpin spoke with the children about individuals with visual impairments and the use of braille.   The third speaker was Dianne Peters and her C.H.A.M.P. Assista

The next few counseling lessons (k-5) are focused on understanding the cycle of bully behavior, the roles of bully behavior, the means for bully behavior to occur, and ways to successfully shut this kind of behavior down. As the students get older, we are exploring more opportunities for this behavior to occur: k-2 may encounter: verbal, physical and emotional bully behavior 3-5 may encounter: verbal, physical, emotional, cyber and gender bully behavior All students are gaining the knowledge that 70% of students fall within the witness group, while 15% are offenders and 15% are targets. My goal is for all our students to be able to recognize when this kind of behavior is occurring and respond in a manner to make the situation better for everyone.  Another goal for this unit is for students to learn empathy and understand what it is like to be in someone else's situation.  The ultimate goal is to recognize the bully behavior, practice empathy and then act to help yourself o