Parents Place will offer Helping Kids Manage Anger, Mindfulness, Paving the Road to School Success and more this summer. Please call or visit the website to find out more.

We hope you had a restful break and are ready to finish the school year strong!

Presenter: Dr. Patric Mattek, PKM Clinical Solutions, LLC, Owner/Psychologist

Dr. Patric Mattek, a clinical psychologist, will discuss the nature and neurobiology of the Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and our brain’s executive functions. The impact of potential deficits in executive functioning will be discussed, as will the construct of ADHD. Youth with deficits in executive functioning can face significant challenges in school, socially, and at home. Dr. Mattek will discuss potential interventions and strategies for promoting success across those domains.

When

Tuesday, April 5, 2022 9:00 - 11:30 am

Where

Sheraton Milwaukee Brookfield &

Online Presentation via Zoom

Register

https://forms.gle/Fi8fg1hDvSuuNBsB8

If you are looking for some activities for your family and kids, take a look at the programs available at the Waukesha Public Library! See the flyer below for details.

Research shows that incorporating mindfulness into your daily life can boost your overall wellness. Here are some other benefits of mindfulness:

• Improves working memory.
• Increased focus.
• Better moods.
• Stress reduction.
• Less rumination.
• Stronger relationships.

For more information, check out https://www.masterclass.com/articles/benefits-of-mindfulness#6-benefits-of-mindfulness

Summit View Student Services has created a virtual calming for students to access whenever they need a quick break throughout the day. Students can listen to stories read by various staff, listen to calming music, watch yoga videos or other movement videos, or virtually color.

Click the picture to the right to explore.

Modeling respect and making it a non-negotiable family rule is a great way to promote good character. Respecting differences and handling big emotions with respect are important life skills.

Have your heard about Mentalhealthconnection.life?

Mentalhealthconnection.life is a Waukesha County Initiative that provides mental health support, education and resources for people in Waukesha County. You can also find more information on the Waukesha County Suicide Prevention Initiative (SPI), including meeting information.

Not in Waukesha County? No, problem! There are some great resources for all!

Show your children how much you care for them by placing a heart with a compliment on their door or somewhere they see it daily. Add one every day throughout the month or until the 14th.

January guidance counseling lessons center around teaching and reinforcing calming strategies. It's important to recognize children are still learning to understand and manage big emotions. Take a look at this Child Mind Institute for ideas to support your students and build upon their coping tool boxes.

Another skill students are learning to use to cope with difficulties is having a growth mindset. See the article below from University of Wisconsin-Madison about ways you can foster a growth mindset when students run into challenges. Linked below the article is the video clip noted at the bottom of the article in the "For Fun" section.

Introducing Our Partnership with Care Solace

The Waukesha holiday parade tragedy is understandably weighing heavily on all of us and affecting the mental health of our community. We care about your well-being and partnered with Care Solace, a mental health care coordination service, to help you and your family connect to quality care. This is a free resource provided by the School District of Waukesha in addition to the services available through our Employee Assistance Program.

If you are looking for help with mental health or substance use, Care Solace will quickly and confidentially find available providers matched to your needs at no cost to you.

What does Care Solace have to offer? The right help at the right time.

• Complete Support: A multilingual team is available 24/7 to help you understand options, call providers on your behalf, and schedule an appointment.

• Personalized Care: Connect to providers matched to your needs and find in-person, teletherapy, and residential options.

• Care Regardless of Insurance: Connect to care with any coverage including Medicaid, Medicare, and sliding scale options for those without insurance.

• Easy Access to Care: Use Care Match, a self-serve website, to find a provider on your own.

Students, staff, and families may access Care Solace services in three ways:

• Call (888) 515-0595 at any time. Support is available in 200+ languages. A dedicated Care Companion™ will help you every step of the way to research options, secure appointments, and follow up to make sure it is a good fit.

• For an anonymous search, answer a few questions to get matched with an extensive list of care providers at caresolace.com/sdw.

• Talk to your school’s student services and they can assist with connecting you.

Please note, this service is an optional resource available by choice and is not mandatory to use. Care Solace is not an emergency response service or mental health services provider. In the event of a life-threatening emergency, please call 9-1-1 or the National Suicide Hotline at 1-800-273-8255.

If you are interested in counseling-related services for your child, yourself, or another family member, please contact Care Solace for valuable assistance. This is a complimentary resource provided by the School District of Waukesha.

Sometimes our kids come to us as parents with conflicts and need help navigating the situation. See the following UW-Madison article and video for some tips on how to navigate problem-solving. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D744ZLnZcJU

Check out this link for ideas to keep you and your family entertained this winter! https://artfulparent.com/winter-activities-for-kids/

This free resource created by UW Madison for parents and caregivers of 1st-5th graders offers ways to build children's social and emotional learning. Read more below.

Committee for Children has some great resources including talking points. Hot Chocolate Talks are linked below.

https://www.cfchildren.org/resources/child-abuse-prevention/

Waukesha Public Library champions the power of reading and learning to enrich, empower and engage all in our community. The library is your resource for books, audio visual materials, e-resources, wifi, circulating Hotspots, zoo passes, and programs for all your educational and entertainment needs.

It is super exciting to welcome all of you to the 2021-22 school year.

What a wild ride 2021 has been so far and we celebrate each one of you who has made the choice to attend our amazing school and experience the best educators in the state!

We would like to introduce our school's student services department newsletter "Notes From The Nest" which is your comprehensive source for all things related to community resources, mental health, and social-emotional learning.

Each month we will update this newsletter and encourage families to review, remember & reflect on the content.

Student services specialists are energized to support our SV school community as we continue to experience new challenges and celebrations this year.

And so the adventure begins!

Amanda DeSua

School Counselor

Kelly Bratz

School Social Worker

Stephanie Merrill

School Psychologist

Josh Reikowski

School Psychologist Practicum Student

"This month the School Counseling Social & Emotional Learning (SEL) lesson addressed bully prevention techniques. These include when to get an adult, use of I-messages and assertiveness skills. Students worked to identify behaviors that constitute bully behavior, how to handle these situations and when to seek assistance. The school counselor provides an activity done in class to further learning. Ask your student about this activity and the things they’ve learned from it."

Check out the Monthly Counseling Lesson Plan for more information. (See Below)

Check out Parent's Act Now! through Children's Wisconsin for resources and a deeper understanding of bullying and how to protect your children. (See Below)

It's only October, but if you celebrate Christmas, it is right around the corner!

If you would like to provide some Christmas joy for families in need, or if you could use assistance with providing Christmas joy to your own family, check out Christmas Clearing Council. Applications for Christmas assistance are due by November 15. Applications are completed online again this year. Contact Kelly Bratz if you have any questions. https://www.christmasclearingcouncil.org/

Parents United is a coalition of 26 school districts in collaboration with educators, community resources and related service providers. Their mission is to present timely and relevant information in a neutral forum for parents and professionals who work with children. The lectures and presentations offered each school year provide links, knowledge and networking to the community for the ultimate benefit of our students. Click here for more information on their upcoming programs. October’s program is MAKING IT HAPPEN! SELF-ADVOCACY, TRANSITION, WELLNESS AND EQUITY.

Healing Hearts provides peer-to-peer grief support programs for children, teens, young adults and families who are grieving the loss of loved ones due to death, divorce, abandonment, separation, military deployment, incarceration, deportation and other life-altering events. They meet in a confidential setting where trained volunteers guide and support the bereaved. The goals of the program are to build resilience, strengthen families and foster a sense of hope.

All programs are provided at no cost to the participants.

To register, go to www.healingheartsofwaukeshaco.org or call them at 262-751-0874.

This "new normal" may seem "different", or "difficult", or "unique." There are many stressors that students and families are facing both at home and school. Try this strategy! Counting Down to Restore Calm in the Classroom: This simple mindfulness activity can help reset students’ brains (and yours!) when things get chaotic during the school day or at home.

(Article: https://www.edutopia.org/video/counting-down-restore-calm-classroom)