The October Counselor Courier
Your monthly message from the elementary school counselors
This Month's Focus
Classroom Guidance Lessons:
Self-Regulation and Coping Skills/Conflict Resolution
Hippo Way Trait:
Responsibility
Dear Families,
It's hard to believe, but Fall has... fallen? This October is sure to bring its special set of challenges and triumphs as we all continue juggling life within a pandemic, but the counseling staff is dedicated to helping you navigate through!
In this month's newsletter, we want to provide you with several resources to build coping skills and support self-regulation, the focus of our classroom guidance lessons. Students have been learning the importance of breathing and mindfulness to help them regulate their emotions, and we will continue to build on those practices. We are also focusing on conflict resolution skills, being an upstander instead of a bystander, and celebrating Unity Day on October 21st. This is an anti-bullying initiative that encourages us all to stand together so no one stands alone.
It is also Hispanic Heritage Month! All campuses are celebrating and recognizing the contributions and influence of Hispanic Americans to the history, culture, and achievements of the United Sates. Here is a great list of books you can read with your children to celebrate.
We are, as ever, so grateful to partner with you in your child's education. Please don't ever hesitate to reach out- we are here to help!
Sincerely,
Your Elementary School Counseling Team
Cope-Cake Activity: Coping Tools
Cope-Cake Activity: Cupcake Pieces
Cope-Cake Activity: My Cope Cake
Cope-Cake Activity: Cupcake Example
Cope-Cake Activity: Coping Skills Dice
Cope-Cake Activity: Cupcake Matching
mindful moments with ms. baker
hippo way spotlight
- The Pigeon Wants a Puppy by Mo Willems
- The Lorax by Dr. Seuss
- The Berenstain Bears and the Messy Room by Stan and Jan Berenstain
- What if Everybody Did That? by Ellen Javernick
- Marvin Redpost Alone in His Teacher's House by Louis Sachar
- Ellray Jakes Walks the Plank by Sally Warner
- The Courage of Sarah Noble by Alice Dalgliesh
- Seedfolks by Paul Fleischman
- The Paperboy by Dav Pilkey
- Rules by Cynthia Lord
- See You in the Cosmos by Jack Cheng
have a laugh!
your elementary counselors
Shannon Baker, NJES
Denise Hartline, HNES
Valerie Kozak, CCES
Jennifer Jennings, HES
Lacy Lovelace, VHES
Eloy Paredes, RES
student services team
Rebecca Heidt- HES, KES, HNES, NJES
Gabby Nanney- VHES, RES, CCES
Resources
In the event of a medical or mental health emergency, please do not email your school counselor.
The following is a list of resources available to you in an emergency:
Williamson County Mobile Outreach Team (MOT) @ 512-864-8277
Bluebonnet Trails Community Services @ 1-800-841-1255
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline @ 1-800-273-8255
911 or the nearest hospital emergency room if you can get there safely
For help accessing local community resources, please reference the following directory providers and local organizations:
NEW - FREE MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING FOR TEXANS: Texas Health and Human Services has launched a 24/7 statewide mental health support line to help Texans experiencing anxiety, stress or emotional challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This new resource offers COVID-19-related mental health support for all Texans. People can call the Statewide COVID-19 Mental Health Support Line 24 hours a day, 7 days a week toll-free at 833-986-1919.
*for more information visit Texas Health and Human Services website
For the most up to date HISD Covid-19 Information, click here.
For HISD Counseling Information for Parents & District Staff, click here