School Counselor Connection
February 2020
Tier I -Classroom Guidance from Second Step: Kindergarten, First, Second, Third, Fourth, and Fifth Grade
Over the course of this school year kindergarten through fifth grade students at Surrarrer and Whitney will be learning about Empathy & Compassion, Skills for Learning, Emotion Management, and Problem Solving using the Second Step curriculum. During the month of February kindergarten through fifth grade students will be learning identifying feelings and an introduction of emotion management. To further the discussion at home, please open the home links below regarding the corresponding lessons. To make the most of the Home Links, please check with your child to make sure they have received the lesson. Please contact me if you have further questions. My phone number is (440) 268-5971. My email is eschibley@scsmustangs.org.
The elementary school counseling department is excited to begin another year of classroom lessons using the Second Step Program. The information below indicates the monthly themes and monthly objectives for the school year.
FEBRUARY
EMOTION MANAGEMENT
I can notice when I am having a strong emotion and begin to calm down.
Home Links
Kindergarten
http://www.secondstep.org/Portals/0/K/Lesson_Materials/Home_Links/KL12_Home_Link.pdf
1st Grade
No Home Links this Month
2nd Grade
http://www.secondstep.org/Portals/0/g2/Lesson_Materials/Home_Links/g2L11_Home_Link.pdf
3rd Grade
http://www.secondstep.org/Portals/0/g3/Lesson_Materials/Home_Links/g3L11_Home_Link.pdf
4th Grade
http://www.secondstep.org/Portals/0/G4/Lesson_Materials/Home_Links/G4L10_Home_Link.pdf
5th Grade
http://www.secondstep.org/Portals/0/G5/Lesson_Materials/Home_Links/G5L9_Home_Link.pdf
Second Step Activation Codes
If you would like to learn more about the Second Step program, please join by visiting www.secondstep.org and then using the appropriate activation key below.
SSP5 FAMI LY75 if your child is in 5th grade
SSP4 FAMI LY74 if your child is in 4th grade
SSP3 FAMI LY73 if your child is in 3rd grade
SSP2 FAMI LY72 if your child is in 2nd grade
SSP1 FAMI LY71 if your child is in first grade
SSPK FAMI LY70 if your child is in kindergarten
Small Group Instruction
During the school year the elementary counseling department will be using a social and emotional strengths screener in the fourth and fifth grades. The Devereux Student Strengths Assessment (DESSA) will be used to supplement the classroom guidance lessons.
Find out more about the DESSA here.
DESSA Small Group News
Dear Parents,
The following is from the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL). Social and emotional learning (SEL) enhances students’ capacity to integrate skills, attitudes, and behaviors to deal effectively and ethically with daily tasks and challenges. Recently, your child took part in a DESSA group that learned about relationship skills. The Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) defines relationship skills as the ability to establish and maintain healthy and rewarding relationships with diverse individuals and groups. The ability to communicate clearly, listen well, cooperate with others, resist inappropriate social pressure, negotiate conflict constructively, and seek and offer help when needed. Below are some ways that you may want to reinforce the skill recently taught in the group. If you have any questions, please contact me at (440) 268-5971.
Communication-practice active listening, using reflective language, and turn taking in a conversation.
Social engagement-volunteer together, model civic responsibility, foster community spirit
Relationship-building-spend uninterrupted time with your child each day, let them know you are interested in their schooling, activities, etc., limit screen time, allow for age appropriate expression of feelings.
Teamwork-play board games, play team supports together, cook together, do homework together.
Video: Learn more.
Love and Logic
Are You Talking Too Much ?
To read the rest of the article click the link. https://www.mynewsletterbuilder.com/email/newsletter/1413477476
Say Something Week-March 2-6, 2020
Dear Parents or Caregivers,
During the week of March 2 through March 6, your child will be taking part in Say Something Week throughout the Strongsville City School District. We will be discussing how to recognize warning signs, signals of danger and bullying behavior. Students will learn how important it is to remember if they see something, they should say something, and they will stop something.
As a parent/caregiver, we know it can be hard to know how your child is feeling. Today, many children turn to online channels to express themselves, their thoughts and hopes, and their anxieties and personal feelings. Some even go as far as hinting at hurting themselves or someone else. Their friends and peers are the eyes and ears of the school and community, and they may see and hear these communications, but may not always understand or know what to do with that information.
Say Something teaches all of this.
We encourage you to talk to your child about Say Something and share what they are learning.
Not only will this conversation help you to recognize any signs in your own child’s expressions,
but it demonstrates to them that you also take this subject seriously and can be one of the trusted adults your child turns to if they suspect someone may need help.
We know that schools are meant to be safe places. Say Something will help equip our young
people to do their part to keep our school community safe. For more information on Say Something, please visit: http://www.sandyhookpromise.org/saysomething.
Furthermore, Strongsville City Schools is fully committed to curbing student bullying and school violence, and providing a positive learning environment for all students that enhances personal safety and promotes respect, dignity, and equality among students. We believe our schools play an important role in helping faculty, staff and parents prepare students to be respectful and responsible citizens. As part of our commitment, the district is initiating a new, integrated program, developed by former school officials, that provides:
Online and telephone reporting tools for students, parents and staff.
Student training regarding the need to speak up about safety and bullying issues.
Staff training in recognizing and responding to incidents of bullying and violence.
Administrative systems to manage incidents and document district and school responses to reported concerns of bullying or violence.
You can find the Stay Safe, Speak information by visiting the Strongsville City School home webpage.
Sincerely,
Denise Candow, Kristen Gerber, and Eric Schibley
Strongsville City Schools Elementary Counselors
Say Something Theme Days
Monday: Wear Blue for Bullying Prevention Awareness
Tuesday: Wear Sunglasses/Glasses (See Something-Don’t Look Away)
Wednesday: Wear Clothing with Words on It-Speak Up for Those Who Can’t (Say Something)
Thursday: Wear Red-(Stop Something and be an “Upstander”)
Friday: Wear Strongsville or School Apparel for We Stand United against Bullying
Meet Mr. Schibley
Mr. Schibley's Contact Information
Email: eschibley@scsmustangs.org
Website: www.strongnet.org
Phone: (440)268-5971