Camas Ridge Counseling Corner
December 7-11, 2020
Holiday & Seasonal Celebration~Disrupted Traditions
Many families are struggling to make ends meet and family gatherings are limited or not possible. Many families are worried that the pandemic will ruin their family traditions and seasonal celebrations for their children. I want to validate this collective grief we are all going through.
That being said, this is also a remarkable opportunity to re-focus and examine the values we want to express to and model for our children. Our children’s values and beliefs are imparted by their caregivers; if all we focus on is the receiving of gifts, we miss out on the opportunity for connection, giving, and gratitude.
When you ask your child(ren) what their favorite part of the holidays are (other than gifts), I can imagine them responding with: snuggling up and watching movies . . . decorating . . . baking cookies. . . reading books . . . making crafts. . . spending time together.”
1. Give Your Child the Gift of Your Undivided Attention
Our children want our time—our undivided attention and connection. Long-term happiness comes from connection, meaning, and purpose, not from things. When your child feels valued, seen, heard, and accepted for who they are, you are giving them the greatest gift of all.
2. Cultivate Holiday Rituals that Foster Connection
What special things can you do with your children that brings out the magic of love and connection? Here are just a few ideas:
- Go for a walk in your neighborhood to look at the lights
- Play holiday music and have a dance party in the kitchen
- Snuggle up with hot chocolate and watch movies in your pajamas
- Make homemade cards for family or friends
- Write each family member a letter or card to tell them what makes them special and what you’re grateful for
Some ideas include:
- Help a family who has been really impacted by 2020
- Donate food to your local food bank
- Donate toys to organizations who gift children whose families cannot afford presents
- Bake cookies or crafts for seniors who are alone on the holidays
- Surprise a neighbor with homemade cookies or Christmas cards
Gratitude is one of the greatest gifts we can give our children and ourselves.
Ideas for cultivating gratitude:
- Talk about what you’re grateful for before you eat a meal together and before bed
- Start a gratitude journal with your child/children
- Start a gratitude jar (your children write down something they’re grateful for each night of the week and then pop it into the jar). It is really fun to pick a night as a family to read through all of the gratitude thoughts.
School Lunch Meals over Winter Break
Below is a quick update of what student meals are planned through Winter Break.
Friday, Dec 18: daily meal bag and a meal box to cover 7 days (breakfast, lunch, and supper meals).
- This will include a loaf of bread, sandwich fixings (such as meat, cheese, hummus, etc), vegetables, frozen entree for suppers, breakfast bread (such as banana or blueberry bread), and other items.
- Meal boxes will be delivered on routes and distributed at our 10 serving sites during normal hours (10:45-2pm).
- pick up from 11-5:30 pm at ECCO/ED CENTER ONLY (200 N. Monroe, Eugene; NE corner of building)
- No deliveries, only pickup from this one site
A reminder for FAQs:
- No sign up is necessary
- Meals are for students only (this is not a "family meal box")
- Vegetarian and Made without Gluten options are available
Additional 4j and Community Resources
Parent Groups
The elementary counselors would like to invite you to 2 parent groups/events:
1) Timely Topic Tuesdays
- run by elementary counselors on varying topic specific to times.
- Second Tuesday of month 6:00-7:00pm: Next event Tuesday, January 12 6:00-7:00
- at Timely Topic Tuesdays (zoom link) (Meeting ID: 914 4889 6490; Passcode: 496274)
2) Behavior Management Parenting Group
- run by UO Child and Family Center
- Wednesday evenings 6:30-7:30pm
- Zoom link: Parent Group Night (zoom link) (Meeting ID: 912 0842 5682; Passcode: Parents)
See this flyer for more information on these and additional Parent Nights and support opportunities in the community: Parent Groups and Events Flyer
Counseling Center Services and Offerings
Lunch Bunch
- K/1: Tu/Fri12:15-12:45
- 2/3: M/Th 12:30-1:00
- 4/5: Tu/Th 12:45-1:15
Students can join by accessing my zoom link through my page in Clever
Mindful Meetings
Mindful Meetings: Open to any student who would like to join us while we focus on learning about our brains and strategies to tame and control our brains and emotions. Come every time or whenever you can.
- K/1: Wed. 10:00-10:25
- 2/3: Wed. 11:15-11:45
- 4/5: Wed. 12:35-1:05
Students can join by accessing my zoom link through my page in Clever
Virtual Counseling Space
Explore my virtual classroom: Camas Virtual Counseling Space
And visit our Camas Ridge Counseling Corner website
Contact & Scheduling Information
https://www.meetingbird.com/l/JaimeHock/counselorchat
Office hours (by appointment or drop-in):
- Mondays 1:30-2:30
- Monday evenings 5:00-6:00 (by appointment)
- Fridays 1:30-2:30
Email: hock_j@4j.lane.edu
Website: https://sites.google.com/4j.lane.edu/camas-ridge-counseling-program/home
Location: Camas Ridge Community School, 1150 E 29th Ave, Eugene, OR 97403, USA
Phone: (541)760-6199
Prior Newsletters:
- Nov. 30-Dec. 4~Mindfulness App
- Nov. 23-Nov. 25~Being With
- November 16-20, 2020~Grief
- November 9-13, 2020
- November 2-6, 2020
- October 28, 2020
- October 22, 2020
- October 15, 2020
- Fall 2020 (return to school)
- Summer 2020 (summer resources & anti-racism)
- May 2020 (collaborative problem solving)
- April 2020 (brain breaks & calm corners)