GRE Counseling News
Mrs. Mennsfield
GRE Counseling Office
Office Hours: Monday-Friday
9-11am and 1-3pm
Email: MennsfieldE@lisd.net
Website: https://www.sites.google.com/a/staff.lisd.net/garden-ridge-elementary-counseling-corner/
Phone: 972-350-5734
Greetings from Bosco
End of the School Year Activities and Resources
Our school year is quickly drawing to a close. Although things have not gone as we had planned, I feel blessed that I got to be your GRE Counselor through it all. Below are some dates/times for activities to wrap up the school year as well as a lesson on transitions. Please feel free to reach out to me if there is anything I can do to help!
- Monday, May 11- School supply pick up from 9:30-1:30. Please stay in your car and drive through the back pick-up loop. GRE staff will be there to load your kiddos belongings into the car for you.
- Tuesday, May 19- 5th Grade Promotion Parade at 9:15. This will be a chance for parents to drive their 5th grade Gators around the back loop of the school to cheers and celebrations from the GRE staff for completing their elementary career. Students need to stay in the car for safety, but you may create signs to decorate your car if you choose. We hope to see all of our 5th grade Gators!!
- Thursday, May 21- Last day of school!
Guidance lesson for end of the school year on transitions: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1HI8AnHyhkc_ptUQ5WY-ptVqWq3NIdXnaRSlCqvR4v2w/edit?usp=sharing
Request form for Counseling Assistance
***Please remember, in the event of an emergency, always call 911.***
Counseling Request Link:https://forms.gle/LASTVxkXsqbusH6f9
Help Me, Help You!
As we continue in this "at home learning" adventure, please complete this survey to let me know what you would like to have as online guidance lesson topics or any areas of assistance where I can help. Thank you! https://forms.gle/HiuiPysMGXJb6kGTA
Weekly Guidance Lessons for GRE Families
- Transitions: End of the Year Lesson Link: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1HI8AnHyhkc_ptUQ5WY-ptVqWq3NIdXnaRSlCqvR4v2w/edit?usp=sharing
- Exploring Future Careers Lessons Link: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1E4RbLc9Mc5ienZl6X8d43AD65uq-mgssGFtcR0PIbss/edit?usp=sharing
- "Don't Squeal Unless It's a Big Deal" Lesson Link: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1SvNFHiuA6tbQCdw_jj4VRiGpuX7CcE6pa8z8xjY8G-w/edit?usp=sharing
- Mental Health and Wellness Lesson Link: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1O3sGM4Xo569zkbmXZh6zknd2KaxL8hff_cnWkhJuh_c/edit?usp=sharing
- "The PROcrastinator" Lesson Link: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/12DV-RAlhAnYSJ0RRryWtwpmh3BIbeTwmLz8xr13smYA/edit?usp=sharing
- "Even Superheroes Have Bad Days" Lesson Link: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1CtKr467evdn_K8SC_kXvAfYB_SUoPSC-f-XaBH5dwWA/edit?usp=sharing
Social-Emotional Wellness Smore with Daily Activities
Links to Smores by LISD Behavior Interventionists
- Here's a link to a great Smore about taking turns: https://www.smore.com/e0w6n
- Here's a link to a Smore about the importance of teaching the word "no": https://www.smore.com/ak6b1
- Link to Smore about emotional regulation: https://www.smore.com/g7yhc
- Link to Smore about how to create schedules and reinforcement: https://www.smore.com/a1hun
- Link to Smore about teaching problem solving skills: https://www.smore.com/ec68p
- Link to Smore about keeping skills up over summer break: https://www.smore.com/kuvr6
Quick Reference Tips
Family Conflict Questions
Social Emotional Learning While Watching TV
Here are some quick questions you can ask your kiddos about the characters in their favorite tv shows or movies to help build their social-emotional awareness and skills.
Tips for Managing Behavior
Helpful Resources During School Closures
Free Meals!
School Break Resources
Internet Assistance
Resources for Parents and Students about Coronavirus
Continuing our Acts of Kindness Outside of School
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Sing a happy song! Go curbside caroling with your family; create a music video and share far and wide; sing from your window like the Italians, or simply sing along with the radio.
List all the things that make you happy.
Hold gratitude circles at dinnertime.
Call or FaceTime friends, Grandparents, or relatives just to say hello.
Make up a poem with a positive message.
Write positive messages on Post-It Notes and place on mirrors in your house.
Make Peace Rocks. Paint rocks with kind words and place them around town to delight your neighbors.
"Chalk your Walk"- use sidewalk chalk to write positive messages on your driveway or sidewalk for neighbors and workers to see as they pass by.
"Go on a Bear Hunt"- many neighborhoods are participating in this fun activity! Put a stuffed animal or teddy bear in a visible spot at your house (example: In a window or on the front door). As kids drive or walk by with their family, they can look to see how many animals they can find.
Make a poster to display to your neighbors and community workers sharing positivity and happy thoughts.
Order a pizza, cookies, or food and have it delivered to your local grocery store, police station, fire department, or other group working during this difficult time to serve the public.
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Practicing Self-Regulation of Emotions at Home
-Choose a spot with plenty of room, but in a visible location
-Print out or make your own copy of the Calm Down Spot sign
-Find some comfy seating options- like a beanbag, carpet square, or folded blanket
-Prepare a Calm Down Kit with squishy (stress ball), stretchy (something elastic), and twisty (like a Tangle toy) sensory tools. You can add fidgets your child prefers as well, but no electronics. If you're ok with it, you can add paper to draw/ journal on and writing utensils as well as Play-Doh for squishing and sculpting.
-Use a timer! You can use a timer on the microwave, on your phone, or purchase a small timer. Our GRE Calm Down Spots each have a 2 minute sand timer for the kids to use.
In place of our GRE Sensory Trail, make time in your daily schedule for movement breaks! Put on a dance video, do yoga, ride bikes, walk the dog, or do exercises! Getting out in the sunshine (while following safety precautions) is a great way to process through strong feelings while helping our bodies to stay healthy!
If you'd like to re-create a Sensory Trail at home, posted below is a picture of the exercises on our GRE Trail. On YouTube, you can find a variety of examples of Sensory Trails or get creative and turn an empty space in your home, yard, or garage into one! I purchased gym floor tape from Amazon to create our Trail at GRE, but painter's tape or masking tape would work just as well. Write out descriptions of what the kiddos should do at each spot and model by going through the exercises together! Also