Connecting with the Counselors
A Communication from Robinson Elementary's Counseling Team
April 2, 2022
Happy April! We hope your family had a restful and meaningful Spring Break. As we previously mentioned, following spring break, our school year always seems to wrap up very fast.
We will teach counseling lessons to all Robinson students next week on Tuesday and Wednesday. As 3rd, 4th and 5th graders get ready to take the MAP test this month, a focus of their lessons will be how to tame any test taking anxiety and to build upon our coping skills. Our kindergarteners, 1st and 2nd graders will also learn more about coping skills and they will add to their toolbox as well.
Thank you for welcoming us into your parent-teacher conferences last month. We feel honored to be a part of your student's life at Robinson each day and we appreciate the candid, and sometimes, difficult conversations we had with you, who know them best.
If you missed March's communication, you can access it from this link:
Have a marvelous rest of April and look for our May message on the 7th. The May message is our last update for the 2021-22 school year. As always, if you need to connect with one of us you can find our contact information at the end of this message.
SAVE THE DATE: Next Robinson Food Pantry: Thursday, April 21st
If your family needs some assistance with groceries this month, please come and get what you need at our FREE Robinson Food Pantry.
Our free pantry will be open from 6-7:30pm.
If you need further information or have a need but can't make it at that time, please call or email Julie, Indria or Tonya. All contact information can be found at the end of this communication. Thanks!
Books to Celebrate Autism Acceptance and Awareness
APRIL HAPPINESS Calendar 2022
This month, stay open and embrace ALL of yourself.
Talking to kids about the war in Ukraine
Talking to kids about the war in Ukraine
Psychologists offer strategies for discussing the conflict in age-appropriate ways with children and teens
Grab & Go After School Meals
Operation Food Search will provide free grab and go meals to children Monday-Friday at select SLCL locations during the school year. Stop by after school and pick up a shelf stable meal to take home. Meals will be available free of charge for children ages 5-18.
The Grab & Go After School Meals program is offered at the following branches:
- Florissant Valley Branch, Monday-Friday from 3:30-4:30 p.m.
- Indian Trail Branch, Monday-Friday from 3:30-4:30 p.m.
- Jamestown Bluffs Branch, Monday–Friday from 4:00-5:00 p.m.
- Lewis & Clark Branch, Monday–Friday from 3:30-4:30 p.m.
- Natural Bridge Branch, Monday–Friday from 3:30-4:30 p.m.
- Prairie Commons Branch, Monday–Friday from 3:30-4:30 p.m.
- Rock Road Branch, Monday–Friday from 3:30-4:30 p.m.
- Weber Road Branch, Monday–Friday from 2:30-4:00 p.m.
Operation Food Search is an equal opportunity provider.
We love these FREE RESOURCES from Sesame Street in Communities
From Sesame Street in Communities (SSIC):
As providers caring for young children, you play such an important role in that growth, and we’re here to help. This month, we’re sharing resources to support you in helping children build and practice healthy habits – for mind and body.
Mood Monster Bundle: Check out the new bundle!
Grow Your Colors: interactive game
Move it out: printable activity squares
A Delicious Day, Read aloud this storybook
How to Help Your Child Handle a Fight with Friends
From Very Well Family.com:
Kids fight with their friends. It's a normal part of friendship, and one they have to learn how to navigate. Whether between besties or casual friends, tears, tantrums, sadness, stubbornness, isolation, indignation, and hurt feelings are possible consequences of these conflicts. Some kids are naturally more skilled at managing, moving past, and avoiding these disagreements, while others seem to be magnets for more frequent and intense friend battles.
That said, most children, from toddlers to teens, may benefit from some help navigating these issues at one time or another. This is when parents can offer support and assist their children in developing effective relationship skills. However, it can be hard for parents to know when to step in, what support to offer, and when to stay out of their child's fight. Learn more about how to teach your kids to manage disagreements with their friends.
Read the full helpful article
ALL THE ZONES ARE OKAY!
From Leah Kuypers, MA Ed., OTR/L
Do you ever catch yourself " telling someone, “Don’t worry…” or “Don’t be sad…” only to remind myself “It’s too late, the other person is already worried or sad?"
"Rather than offering support in the form of telling others not to feel this way or that, we can help people manage the feelings they are experiencing in an adaptive and prosocial way." Read this to help you reframe your thinking about the zones.
Full article: https://www.socialthinking.com/Articles?name=all-the-zones-are-ok
SIGN UP FOR THIS AMAZING RESOURCE TODAY!
We learned about a free, virtual 8-week grief support group that is offered at Ranken Jordan Pediatric Bridge Hospital 3 times throughout the year (fall, spring, summer) as part of their community program.
The next session begins in June and they still have a spots open in each of the groups.
They have 3 separate grief support groups; one for adults, one for teens, and one for kids (6-12 y/o). It is inclusive to anyone grieving a death regardless of when or how it happened.
Here is the link to the kid/teen sign up: https://rankenjordan.org/form-view/67
Here is the link to the adult sign up: https://rankenjordan.org/form-view/66
Please feel free to help spread the word about this resource with your friends and reach out Katie Noll with any questions you may have. You can reach her at 314-323-2256 (cell) or 314-872-6481 (office).
Upcoming Virtual Events for Kids at the St. Louis County Public Library
Friday, April 1
4:00 p.m.
Saturday, April 2
2:00 p.m
Friday, April 8
10:00 a.m.
Tuesday, April 12
10:00 a.m.
Monday, April 18
6:30 p.m.
Let’s Draw Cartoons!: Silly Superheroes
Wednesday, April 20
6:00 p.m.
REPEAT INFORMATION FOR 5th GRADE PARENTS:
Nipher Visited Robinson 5th Graders!
During their time with us they shared some fun facts about 6th grade as seen in the picture above. In addition to what was presented, 5th graders asked some very good questions about things like how many teachers most students will have-- 7! As well as what happens if you have trouble with a locker. Lockers are TBD due to no locker use this year. One benefit of no lockers? A much smaller amount of tardies!
If you have questions for Mrs. Wallace or Mr. Alwood, please reach out directly:
lauren.wallace@kirkwoodschools.org and nathan.alwood@kirkwoodschools.org
Contact Information for 2021-22 School Year
ROBINSON COUNSELING TEAM
Indria Harris
School Counselor, preK-2nd grade
Indria.harris@kirkwoodschools.org
314-213-6100, ext. 4061
School Counselor, 3rd-5th grade
julie.cohen@kirkwoodschools.org
314-213-6100, ext. 4470
Tonya Ampey-Elong
Social Worker, KSD
tonya.ampey@kirkwoodschools.org
314-213-6100, ext. 4042
*At Robinson on Mondays and Wednesdays
Ana Shields-Capilla
Educational Support Counselor
ana.shields@kirkwoodschools.org
314-213-6100, ext. 4065
*At Robinson all day Monday and Tuesday and Wednesday's until noon