Counsellor's Corner
January 2024
A Bright Start to 2024!
Reflecting on the past year, I am filled with joy and gratitude for the growth and kindness I've witnessed in our young learners. Our kiddos have shown incredible curiosity, enthusiasm, and resiliency and I am eager to see what the upcoming months bring.
The start of a new year is a perfect time for both reflection and anticipation. It's an opportunity to celebrate the achievements and milestones of the past, while looking forward to the possibilities that lie ahead. In the spirit of new beginnings, let's encourage our children and youth to embrace challenges with a positive mindset, knowing that each obstacle is an opportunity for growth and learning.
As school counsellor, I will continue to be here to support our students as they grow, learn and navigate their unique journeys. Whether they're working through emotional, family, academic or social challenges, or simply need a listening ear, my door is always open.
As we dive into the adventures that await us in 2023, I am excited to witness the continued growth, joy, and discovery that our students bring to our school community. Wishing you and your families a year filled with laughter, learning, and lasting memories.
Important Dates at FSE
January 1-5 - Christmas Break
January 10 - Early Dismissal
January 10 - Grade Six Lunch Group
January 10 - Gathering of First Nations, Métis and Inuit Families
January 11 - Jump Rope for Heart Kick-Off Assembly
January 17 - Grade Six Lunch Group
January 23 - EIPS First Nations, Métis and Inuit Family Gathering
January 24 - Grade Six Lunch Group
January 25 - School Council & Parent Society AGM
January 26 - Hot Lunch - Papa John's
January 29-31 - Scholastic Book Fair
January 30 - Ukrainian Language and Culture Program Information Night
January 31 - Professional Learning Day - No School for Students
January 31 - Student/Parent/Guardian/Teacher Conferences
Gathering of First Nations, Metis and Inuit Families
The EIPS First Nations, Métis and Inuit Education team is thrilled to invite you all to our Indigenous Education family gathering on Wednesday, January 10 from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. It will be a Métis Kitchen Party! Glen Allan Elementary, located at 106 Georgian Way in Sherwood Park, has generously offered their gym space for our gathering. Please join us for a meal to begin the evening and then spend time together listening to Métis fiddle champions Alex Kusturok and Brianna Lizotte as well as learning some basic Métis dance steps. It will be a wonderful family dance party to lighten up the long winter evenings! To help with our planning and guarantee there'll be enough food for everyone in attendance, RSVP through the online form as soon as possible to secure your spot.
RSVP Online
Literacy Lane
Lil Bit Videos
Having Conversations About Books
Do you want to have conversations with your child or teen about books, but don't know where to start? Check this video for some discussion starters!
Math Manor
Take Breaks
If you’re helping your child with math homework, it’s important to prioritize healthy brain breaks to keep their mind sharp and their motivation high. At regular intervals, take a quick five minute break together to play outside, have a dance party, grab a snack or whatever else your heart desires! Make sure to plan for breaks ahead of time to keep your child from getting overwhelmed.
Find Fun Math Games
During playtime or screen time, choose a fun math game that will help your child build new skills in a relaxed environment, whether independently or as a family.
Try these:
- work on the daily Mathler problem together
- solve math puzzles like sudoku or tangrams
- host a Prodigy Math tournament for your child and their friends
- 10 Free Math Resources to Help Parents Understand their Children's Lessons
Community Support Spotlight
Family and Community Support Services (FCSS)
The FCSS philosophy is based on a belief that self-help contributes to a sense of integrity, self-worth and independence. Programs developed are intended to help individuals in their community to adopt healthy lifestyles, thereby improving the quality of life and building the capacity to prevent and/or deal with crisis situations should they arise.
FCSS provides our community with access to counselling and community supports, a number of groups, programs and workshops, and information about housing, transportation and financial supports.
To learn more, please contact 780-992-6267.
Parent & Caregiver Resources
AHS Caregiver Series
Alberta Health Services offers free online programming for parents and caregivers who support children and youth, as well as sessions for adults looking to support their own wellness. These virtual sessions are live and interactive with an aim to increase awareness and reduce the stigma around addiction and mental health, to provide participants with evidence-based information, and to offer strategies that promote health and resilience.
January's topics include Sleep and Your Family's Mental Health and Body Image and Eating Disorders.
Click here for more information and to register.
January Book Recommendation
Raising Good Humans: A Mindful Guide to Breaking the Cycle of Reactive Parenting and Raising Kind, Confident Kids by Hunter Clarke-Fields
Whether you’re running late for school, trying to get your child to eat their vegetables, or dealing with an epic meltdown in the checkout line at a grocery store - being a parent is hard work! And, as parents, many of us react in times of stress without thinking - often by yelling. But what if, instead of always reacting on autopilot, you could respond thoughtfully in those moments, keep your cool, and get from A to B on time and in one piece?
With this book, you’ll find powerful mindfulness skills for calming your own stress response when difficult emotions arise. You’ll also discover strategies for cultivating respectful communication, effective conflict resolution, and reflective listening. In the process, you’ll learn to examine your own unhelpful patterns and ingrained reactions that reflect the generational habits shaped by your parents, so you can break the cycle and respond to your children in more skillful ways.
When children experience a parent reacting with kindness and patience, they learn to act with kindness as well—thereby altering generational patterns for a kinder, more compassionate future. With this essential guide, you’ll see how changing your own “autopilot reactions” can create a lasting positive impact, not just for your kids, but for generations to come. An essential, must-read for all parents - now more than ever.
Community Calendars & Events
City of Fort Saskatchewan
Fort Saskatchewan Public Library
Mental Health Supports
- AHS Virtual Mental Health Resources
- Community Resources - 211
- Crisis Text Line - Text CONNECT to 741741
- Family Violence – Find Supports – 780-310-1818
- Income Support – 1-866-644-5135
- Kids Help Phone – 1-800-668-6868 or Text CONNECT to 686868
- Mental Health Helpline - 1-877-303-2642
- Talk Suicide Canada - Call 1-833-456-4566 or Text 45645