CJHS Counselor Corner Newsletter
11.11.2021
Virtual Tutor Connection
The Virtual Tutor Connection is available once again to help any K-12 students. This year, tutoring will be offered in person and virtually!
If you need some extra help with school, please fill out this form so we can find you a tutor that is knowledgeable in the area(s) you need help with.
Why Sleep is so important
When You Are Sleep Deprived
your cortisol rises, which makes the stress response of the blood sugar roller coaster and
all it’s harmful effects like weight gain, insulin resistance, high blood pressure, and depression kick in.
• Plus, lack of sleep increases a hunger hormone called ghrelin. Ghrelin compels you to seek out nourishment.
• It also acts on your brain’s pleasure receptors which is what prompts you to reach for your
second, or third, or tenth chocolate chip cookie. Your pleasure receptors know how great they taste, and they want to replay that rewarding
Factors That Affect Our Sleep Negatively
• Eating late at night
• Consuming caffeine (for some)
• Brain-stimulating activities before bed
• Surfing the net and scrolling through social media before bed
• Watching the news or anything stimulating before bed
The Power Down Hour
• Calculate what time you need to go to bed to get seven hours of sleep.
• One hour before you go to sleep, you want to start powering down your electronics, your
television, your smart phone, your computers.
• In that hour, you want to create a routine of things that you do before bed to ready your
system physically and mentally, for sleep (read, take a bath, listen to calming music, draw).
Many apps track sleep quality, duration and a variety of other important sleep variables. I recommend Autowake and AutoSleep (both Apple products).
Check out the book Why We Sleep.
Study Skills
Your learning style can't tell you what classes you'll get good grades in. And it sure doesn't reflect your ability to learn. But there are lots of ways you can tap into your preferred learning style to help you when you're studying or working in class. You may already have a good idea of what techniques work best for you.
When you study for a big test or learn how to play a new game, you may want to try a new method related to your style or experiment with methods from a different style.
Start by keeping track of the methods you like, so you can use them again, and keep exploring different learning methods, and see what works best for you!
Beneficial Reads
Mental Health Resources
Virtual Support Groups
To help Michiganders through the mental health challenges of COVID-19, behavioral health professionals at the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services created the Stay Well Crisis Counseling Program, funded by a federal grant. Through this program, virtual support groups are being offered for the following populations:
- Be Kind To Your Mind - A support group for everyone
- People Who Are Grieving
- Michigan Teens (14-17 years old)
- Older Adults in Michigan
- Healthcare Workers and First Responders
- Michigan Families (Parents)
- Michigan Educators
You can find more information pertaining to these virtual support groups here.
Drop In Meditation
With the pandemic, Michigan Collaborative for Mindfulness in Education (MC4ME) and other statewide organizations are offering you the opportunity to practice mindfulness meditation through Zoom in the mornings and lunch hour. Join us during the half hour time slot to refresh yourself and feel free to stay as long as you feel comfortable or available.
You can access the schedule for drop in meditation here.
FREE WELLNESS PRACTICES FROM DOWN DOG!
Stressful times like the COVID-19 outbreak are precisely when people need wellness practices the most, and we want to do our part to help out.
In response to rising cases and school closures taking place, we have made all of our apps completely free until January 1st, 2022 for all students and teachers (K-12 and college) so that they can have access to wellness at home through the end of the semester.
If you have a .edu email address, you will automatically get free access to our apps when you sign up. Otherwise, if you are a student or teacher who would like free access to our apps, please fill out the short form here to add your email domain to our list of school emails.
Once you submit your form, we promise to get you access within 48 hours! And after your school domain has been added to our list, anyone from your school will be able to easily sign up!
Community Events
CJHS Drama Production "The Little Mermaid Jr." this weekend!
Coat Drive at CHS
Those in need of coats can pick up on November 29th and 30th.
No need to register to attend. First come, first serve.
Santa's Workshop at CJHS!
Brought to you by the National Technical Honor Society (NTHS) students
Where: CJHS
When: Fri Dec 3, 5p-8p
What: Create custom etched mugs or handpainted canvas bags, DIY Ornaments, and a Student Craft show to find those one-of-a-kind pieces
Who: Everyone! This is an all ages event
Why: NTHS fundraiser! We are raising money for our student fees and senior cords. Plus - it gives us an excuse to wear our reindeer ears in public.
Bring the whole family - but please register so we can prepare!
Don't want to be in our socially distanced event but still want to make stuff? We have a take home option!
REGISTER Today!
Oakland County Resources
If you or someone you may know is in need of assistance due to COVID-19, please see the Oakland County resources page here.
Resources include:
- Food assistance
- Senior services
- Health services (including Nurse on call)
- Mental Health services
- LGBTQ+ services
- Household & Utility services
- Legal services
- Safety services
- Workers & Business
- Multilingual Assistance
CHS Drama Club Presents.....
The Elves and the Shoemaker by Karen Boettcher-Tate, In cooperation with Pioneer Drama Service Lockheart Cobblestone, the shoemaker, has a kind heart but little money in his pocket. Moved by the plight of an old beggar woman, he gives her his last pair of shoes. Poor Lockhart has leather enough to make only one more pair of shoes and sets it out to work on the next morning. Then, the fun begins! Out pop five weird, endearing little elves: Mortz, Schwartz, Hazel, Gracie, and Studebaker, who whip up the most fantastic and magical shoes the town of Clankbottom has ever seen. Here's an upbeat, fast-paced retelling of an old favorite, filled with delightfully wacky characters and clever dialogue. This upbeat, whimsical romp of a fantasy also holds a gentle message about the nature of kindness. Special Guest Performance from the CHS MIME Troupe!--
Tickets are $8
There are several options to view this performance:
Option #1:
When: Wednesday, Dec 1st and Thursday, Dec 2nd at the CHS Large Group Instruction Room
Time: 6:30 pm
Doors open at 6 pm
Performances on School property require the audience to wear masks.
Option: #2:
When: Saturday, Dec 4th, Sunday, Dec 5th at the Clarkston Village Players Depot Theatre, 4861 White Lake Road
Times: Sat: 10am, 12:30pm, and 3pm
Sun: 11:30am and 2pm
Performances at Clarkston Village Players, masks are requested but not required.
This show is appropriate for all ages! Both venues are limited seating so we strongly suggest your buy your tickets ahead of time by visiting: https://clarkstonhigh.csstix.com/
CJHS Counseling Department Staff
Mrs. Eva Marie Rottach, Counseling Secretary
Phone: 248.623.5690
Fax: 248.623.5679
Mrs. Sarah Hester, Counselor A-G
Phone: 248.623.5689
Mrs. Shannon Donnellon, Counselor H-O
smdonnellon@clarkston.k12.mi.us
Phone: 248.623.5692
Ms. Allison Cumper, Counselor P-Z
Phone: 248.623.5691
Mrs. Lynn Larsen, Social Worker
Phone: 248.623.5686
Mrs. Natalie Stevens, Social Worker
Phone: 248.620.7803
Mrs. Renee Alexander, Psychologist
raalexander@clarkston.k12.mi.us
Phone: 248.623.5688
Mrs. Kathryn Fleming, Speech-Language Pathologist
Mrs. Susan Joseph, Department Chair for Support Services, Teacher
Phone: 248.623.5687