Guidance and Counseling Newsletter
May 2021
“Foster Care as a Support to Families, Not A Substitute for Parents”
May is National Foster Care Month, a time to recognize that we can each play a part in enhancing the lives of children and youth in foster care. Starting in 1988, U.S. Presidents issued annual proclamations in recognition of National Foster Care Month to show appreciation and gratitude to foster parents across the nation.
The purpose of National Foster Care Month continues to evolve based on the needs of the time. Current activities focus on increasing the visibility of the needs of children and youth in foster care and highlighting how the child welfare system can prioritize foster care as a service to families and promote reunification.
The Children's Bureau, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is the federal agency that seeks to provide for the safety, permanency, and well-being of children through leadership, support for necessary services, and productive partnerships with states, tribes, and communities. Foster care is a part of the constellation of services provided to children and families. The intent of foster care is to provide a safe environment for children and youth who temporarily cannot live with their families.
Today, the Children's Bureau, together with its partners, supports National Foster Care Month through a website developed with Child Welfare Information Gateway, its information service. For more information and resources on programs and practices that promote permanency for children and youth, as well as information on special Foster Care Month initiatives, please visit the National Foster Care Month website.
Mental Health Awareness Month
Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month
Mindful Practices
Hello wonderful Judson staff,
Social Emotional Learning is a pillar in the foundation upon which a rigorous academic curriculum is built. SEL helps create and sustain a safe environment (physically, emotionally, mentally) for an inquisitive community of learners to thrive and for their curiosities to flourish. It is an approach for relating to ourselves and others that requires “practicing what we preach”; modeling the qualities that we are trying to instill in our students: self-awareness, self-regulation, social awareness, responsible decision making. It begins with us, the adults in the room. We must embody and demonstrate these qualities in our words, in our tone, and in our actions. SEL takes an honest effort and a willingness to commit to our own growth as we foster the growth of our students. It does not demand perfection, or that we get it right every time. So let’s give ourselves permission to be just as we are and to do our best today for ourselves and others
Our first annual Student Voice Summit: Aiming for Action and Agency, is happening on Friday, May 14th from 12-3pm CST. The Summit will feature youth voices from across the United States and will be led entirely by K-12 students, featuring young speakers, performers, panelists, and interviews from students of all ages. Check out the Student Youth Summit Flyer for details.
Educator Sign Up HERE.
The theme for the month is “Cooperation and Communication”. Working together, our collective efforts accomplish more than any one of us alone could ever dream.
For general questions please email support@mindfulpractices.us.
Leadership Support Tip
SEL on Demand Calendar:
Live Offerings this month
Live Offering SEL Engagement Calendar can be found HERE (these are public links and can be shared with families).
We host our Tune-In Tuesday office hours from 8:15-8:45 am CT. It’s an opportunity for staff to connect with us and get SEL Implementation questions answered live. Click HERE to join via Zoom.
Class Catalyst
*Tool Update: Go to the Menu while in Class Catalyst to find the Weekly SEL On Demand Calendar and Monthly Live Offerings Calendars.
Also! Teachers can now sync their Google Classroom directly from their Class Catalyst Settings page! Whenever rosters need to be updated, teachers can click the “Sync w/ Google Classroom” button to update their student list.
For tech-related questions regarding Class Catalyst, please contact Vienna at support@classcatalyst.com or join us for Office hours: Thursdays, 3:00-4:00 pm CT. Click HERE to join via Google Meet. No appointment necessary!
Educator Self-Care Tip - Make an Appointment
“Self-care means giving the world the best of you instead of what is left of you.” -Katie Reed
Trips to the dentist, routine doctor's visits, and annual eye exams are important. They provide major support for our quality of life and our long term health and well-being. We are responsible for our own health; having a trusted and trained medical professional on your team is a BIG plus. They are able to advocate for you, they can level with you, and they can offer counsel during times when clarity is needed. Don’t wait for something to break before taking the time to make sure the whole system is operating properly.
With gratitude,
Michael and the Mindful Practices Team
Additional Resources
Are you experiencing loss of housing or need assistance with McKinney Vento/Foster Care or are you a new Military Family in JISD and need assistance contact Ms. Greenwood by
email sgreenwood@judsonisd.org or by phone (210) 945-5362.
If you are a teen parent and have questions or think you might benefit from services through the School Age Parent Program, contact Ms. Palmer by email apalmer@judsonisd.org or by phone (512) 553-8023.
If you are experiencing difficulty in providing basic necessities for your family and need additional assistance, please contact the following:
Linda Wilber by email lwilber@judsonisd.org or by phone (210)945-5335,
Katie Newgren by email knewgren@judsonisd.org or by phone (210) 945-5322, or
Reynae Herrera by email rherrera447@judsonisd.org or by phone (210) 945-5364.
If you have attendance questions or need any other assistance please contact Monica Garcia by email mgarcia083@judsonisd.org or by phone (210) 945-5215