Counselor Connection
October
Third Grade Reading Guarantee
The ability to read is the foundation of learning. Research shows that children who are not reading at a third-grade level by the end of grade 3 are likely to have trouble learning in all classroom subjects in higher grades.
Third graders at Bryan Elementary will take the Third Grade Reading Guarantee test October 19 & 20. For additional information, please visit the Ohio Department of Education Third Grade Reading Guarantee Parent Resources.
Red Ribbon Week
How to Help your Child Overcome the Fear of Failure
The start of a new school year can bring up very different emotions in our children. Children may have a lot of questions, "but what if" questions like…
But what if I can’t make any friends?
But what if I fail a test?
But what if I don’t do well in class?
But what if I let my teacher down?
A fear of failure can prevent your child from trying their best, investing their time and effort, and taking on new risks or experiences. We can teach them to see failure as an opportunity for growth instead of seeing it as a limitation to what they are capable of.
We can learn to help them work through their fear of failure by embracing the worst-case scenario: “Okay, what if you do fail a test this year? What will you do differently next time?”
Ultimately, what we want our children to learn is that we will all experience failures in our lives. The true test, however, is whether or not we choose to keep going. In case you are going through this with your own child, I want to provide you with this week’s guide, 6 Ways to Help Your Child Overcome the Fear of Failure, to help you have this conversation.
Alexander, Big Life Journal
Blend in or Stand Out!
Were you a confident child/teen back in the day? When I think back to my earlier years, I wish I had been more confident and comfortable in my own skin. In all seriousness…it wasn't until adulthood that I learned to truly stand tall in who I was without worrying so much about the opinions of others. I want my boys to find their strength and confidence while they're still young, so their teen years are easier, and they don't have to work so hard to find themselves as adults.
I also want your child to feel proud and confident in who they are. That's why we created this confidence-building poster/activity page for you that will help your child understand what it means to be strong in who they are. In this printable, we want to show children that it's okay to stand out, especially if it means speaking up for themselves and being who they want to be.
Alexander, Founder of Big Life Journal
Are You Using Destigmatizing Language About Suicide?
Language matters in compassionate care, especially in behavioral health care, and that doesn’t mean just what you say in front of a patient. What you say behind closed doors with co-workers can be the seed for stigma and perpetuate discrimination against a person based on a physical or mental health disorder. The topic of suicide, and the sometimes-stigmatizing language around it, must be handled with compassion. The language you use can be an important factor in whether or not a person decides to seek care. Click HERE to download a new Words Matter poster from the American Hospital Association’s Physician Alliance. Click HERE for more suicide prevention resources from the Alliance.
Safer Ohio School Tip Line
988 Suicide and Crisis Helpline
Bear Bags
Mental Health America
Our mental health is in constant flux and ebbs and flows on a daily basis. Many things can impact this including our physical health. The connection between our physical body and our mental health is important and may be something worth exploring when thinking about staying mentally healthy. Learn more about whole health and what you can do to improve your overall wellness by visiting Mental Health America.
For additional information on Mental Health America:
STOP!T APP
STOPit provides students with an easy app to safely and anonymously report anything of concern to school officials. STOPit empowers students to stand up for themselves and others while giving our school the insight we need to keep students safe. Students can report bullying/cyberbully, inappropriate student/teacher relationship, violence threat, hazing, weapons possession, drugs/alcohol, and substance abuse.
The BE Code to enter for the STOPit App is: BES004002
National Online Safety
The internet has transformed the ability to access content. Many apps that children use are dependent on user-generated content which can encourage freedom of expression, imagination and creativity. However, due to the sheer volume uploaded every day, it can be difficult for platforms to regulate and moderate everything, which means that disturbing or distressing images, videos or audio clips can slip through the net. That’s why we’ve created this guide to provide parents and caregivers with some useful tips on keeping children safe online. Visit the National Online Safety website for an additional resources on how to keep your children safe.
Community Resources
Many families may have concerns that extend beyond the educational needs of their children. If you need help finding resources in our community such as food, financial assistance, health care, and mental health services, please let us help you.
Williams County Resource Guide
Williams County Health Department
Northwest Ohio Community Action Coalition
JFS Financial AssistanceMental Health Resources
Williams County Resource Guide
Williams County Referral Resource Guide
Ohio Mental Health Resource Guide
National Alliance on Mental Illness
National Council for Behavioral Health
Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction
Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation
Four County Suicide Prevention Coalition
Suicide Prevention Life Line: 800-273-8255
Crisis Line: 1-800-468-4357
Call 988 for suicide and crisis lifeline
Substance Abuse Prevention Resources
Ohio COVID-19 Resources
The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine released a new set of online tools to help teens, kids, and parents deal with the mental and emotional impacts of COVID-19. For more information on how Ohio is dealing with COVID-19, visit Ohio's response to COVID-19 or call 1-833-4-ASK-ODH. Visit Ohio Department of Mental Health for behavioral health-specific resources, and click HERE for a list of pop-up COVID-19 Testing Sites. For mental health resources, visit the Center for Disease Control or Mental Health America COVID-19 Resources.
Important Contact Information:
Behavioral health related questions: covid19BH@mha.ohio.gov
COVID-19-related OTP questions: OTP_COVID19@mha.ohio.gov
Housing questions: COVID19Housing@mha.ohio.gov
Telehealth questions: COVID19BHTelehealth@mha.ohio.gov
COVID Careline 1-800-720-9616.
October
October 14: Teacher Workday
October 24-28: Red Ribbon Week
October 27: Picture Day