Gateway School Counseling
December 2021 Family Newsletter
Welcome!
About Us
Lunch Bunches
Lunch bunches are a part of our program where we eat lunch with a group of students. The purpose of these group lunches is to help build and practice positive social skills and enhance friendships in an enjoyable but real-life situation. We build these skills by playing games together, having structured conversations, and processing questions and scenarios about our relationships with others.
If you have any questions or think your child may benefit from our lunch bunch program, please reach out to either Ali McGovern or Kelsey Buglewicz-Miller. You can find our contact information below!
This Month at Gateway
Bullying Prevention Mural
Focusing in the Classroom
Focusing on the Future
Help at Home
Creating Memories During Breaks
Winter Recess can be an opportunity to enjoy quality family time. If you are looking for ideas to do as a family during break, we have created a list of ideas below!
1. Color a coloring page completely
2. Cut paper snowflakes
3. Build a fort and do a family activity inside! (Movie, reading, craft)
4. Build a snowman (real or a craft)
5. Donate old toys & books to a local charity or daycare
6. Make a gingerbread house
7. Do a puzzle
8. Write a thank you letter for a favorite gift or to a person you are grateful for
9. Go on a flashlight scavenger hunt
10. Make a magazine collage
11. Stay in pajamas all day
12. Play games
13. Go on an outdoor scavenger hunt
14. Drink hot chocolate or another favorite treat
15. Look at photos from the year
16. Do a year-end interview
Special Education Day & International Day of Persons with Disabilities
Feel free to watch the following videos with your students to educate them on the things that make these students just like them and how they are different.
Autism:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mh75_u0uR8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RbwRrVw-CRo
Down Syndrome:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CCCUIsct8Bw
ADHD:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGVAiTozTBA
Dyslexia:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11r7CFlK2sc
Treating Others with Kindness:
(uses sensitive language) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5uVoyyNJKys
These are some stories that you can read or listen to with your students:
Just Ask https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4sGcaA6bFk
The Invisible Boy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNHc2XCultQ
Uniquely Wired: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=br-Y-ntf6Ss
Emmanuel's Dream: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBhTOSyXi2o
Wonder: Book and movie adaptation
Holiday Resources
Winter Clothing Support
Panera Bread Program
General Resources
Nebraska Family Helpline
1-888-866-8660
Safe 2 Help
531-299-SAFE (7233)
Your Life Your Voice
Call: 1-800-448-3000
Text: "VOICE" to 20121
Chat: yourlifeyourvoice.org
Email: YLYV@boystown.org
Download the "My Life My Voice" app!
Contact Us
Ms. Ali McGovern
Email: alison.mcgovern@ops.org
Phone: (531)299-9529
Mrs. Kelsey Buglewicz-Miller
Email: kelsey.buglewiczmiller@ops.org
Phone: (531)299-6939