Concord Counseling Updates

　 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