The Counseling Chronicles
A quarterly update from the SRMS Counseling Department!
WHAT ARE THE COUNSELING CHRONICLES?
Reminders
Basic Information:
School Start Time: 8:00am
School End Time: 2:50pm
Need to pick up your child early?
Please submit your intended pick-up time into School Dismissal Manager to make the school aware. Once you arrive at SRMS, you may pull up to the front doors by the flagpole and call the main office. They will locate your child and send them out to you. Please allow extra time for your child to stop at their locker.
Will your child be late?
Please submit your intended drop-off time to the School Dismissal Manager to make the school aware. Please make sure your child check in with the attendance office upon arrival in order to be properly excused.
Will your child be absent?
When your child is home sick, they should rest. If they are up to working, they can check Google Classroom and do what they can. Please do not forget to report absences in School Dismissal Manager (SDM).
Chromebook Advice:
Please make sure your child has their Chromebook charged for each school day. Students are not allowed to place stickers on their Chromebooks, a fine will be charged if this occurs.
STAY UP TO DATE:
Teachers will post assignments on Google Classroom. Your child has Google Classroom access, feel free to sit with them and have them show you what they are working on.
PowerSchool is where grades are posted. If work is missing, you will see a zero. When the work has been made up, the zero will change to the new grade.
6th Grade Update
Welcome 6th Grade Families!
Now that we have successfully completed the second week of school, I wanted to take a moment to wish you a warm welcome to Scotts Ridge Middle School! I am sure that for most of you, the last few weeks have been a roller coaster. My hope is that your families are settling into a new routine for the school year and are starting to feel at home at SRMS. I had the pleasure of meeting many of you at some of our springtime transition activities or at orientation prior to the start of school this year. For those I have not yet met personally, I would love to take a moment to introduce myself and share a little bit about myself. My name is Liz Reynolds, and as the School Counselor for this incoming class, I have the privilege of supporting your children as they travel their journey through middle school. It is quite a remarkable time in their lives hallmarked by change, growth, challenges and successes. The 6th graders who walk through our doors are vastly different from the young adults who leave us at the end of 8th grade. As a matter of fact, apart from the first year of life, there is no other time during the human lifespan that we undergo the rapid amount of change in all areas: cognitive, physical, emotional, and physiological. I am honored to be with them every step of the way. We will spend a lot of time this year getting students acclimated to their new environment, developing good habits and routines, managing their time, and navigating their changing social landscape as they explore and figure out who they are and strive to be in their social world.
It is my pleasure & honor to begin my nineteenth year as a School Counselor. Over the years, I have found working with families and students to be a rewarding and fulfilling experience. I consider myself fortunate to be engaged in a career that I have passion for and allows me to connect in a meaningful way with adolescents. It is my goal to help every child feel appreciated and honored for the unique individuals that they are and understand that what they do and say in the world matters...their voice and actions matter a great deal! I strive to echo these very same ideals in my own parenting to my three growing children aged 12, 15 and 18. I appreciate some of the trials and tribulations of the adolescent years both through the lens of an empathetic parent and as a professional.
It's not uncommon for a parent to leave me a voicemail or send an email saying "I'm not sure if I should bother you with this…" or “I wasn’t sure where to start…” I want to assure you that I not only would like your input, I need it! After all, no one knows your child as well as you do and that knowledge can be invaluable for planning the work I do with them. I love being able to collaborate with families and parents to help each and every child strive for their goals. School Counselors can offer a variety of services such as short-term individual counseling, check-ins, skill-based workshops, student advocacy, developmental guidance, family consultation, collaboration with teachers, case management, and restorative practices. Please do not hesitate to call or email me if there is anything I can do to assist your child. And if there is a question or concern that I can’t help with, I am happy to point you in the direction of someone who can. I hope that it’s a great start to the school year for your family, and I look forward to an exciting three years ahead!
Warmly,
Liz Reynolds
Liz Reynolds & Family
Liz Reynolds 6th Grade School Counselor & comfort Dog Onyx
SRMS Counselors celebrating the new Mrs. Boatman
7th Grade Updates
Hello Families!
Welcome back! I hope everyone enjoyed the summer and was able to reset and relax! We've been back for about 2 weeks and I think these students are adjusting to 7th grade really well!
I had sent this link out last year but I think it’s still relevant. 7th grade brings challenges for students as they settle into their new teams and classes... Sometimes they hit friendship bumps along the way. Here are some great tips that may help your student navigate difficult situations with peers and to encourage healthy relationships.
Looking forward to a great year!
Nicki Smith
8th Grade Updates
It is hard for me to believe that we have reached 8th grade together. I hope you had a restful and relaxing summer. I am excited to work with you all again this year and to continue to support you as you navigate these important years of development. In the coming months, I will be going over alternative high school options with our kids. There are many great, free options in the area for students who are interested in agriculture, technical trades, global studies, and many many more. Eighth grade is certainly a busy one. A lot may have changed over the summer so do not hesitate to call or email me with any updates about your child or family.
I look forward to seeing you in groups, individually, in the classroom, and through the halls. Parent, please do not hesitate to reach out, we are certainly a team!
As you know, I did get married this summer, here are some pictures from the big day!
Warmly,
Stephanie Boatman
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Parent Workshops!
Our counseling department host semesterly parent workshops. Keep a look out for a survey on which topics we should cover next!
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Mental Health Resources
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Helpful Articles and Resources
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The Counseling Department
Stephanie Tavares - 8th Grade School Counselor
Email: stavares@ridgefieldps.net
Website: srms.ridgefield.org
Location: 750 North Salem Road, Ridgefield, CT, USA
Phone: (203) 894-5725 3407
Nicki Smith- 7th Grade School Counselor
Email: dsmith@ridgefieldps.net
Website: srms.ridgefield.org
Location: 750 North Salem Road, Ridgefield, CT, USA
Phone: (203) 894-5725 3410
Liz Reynolds- 6th Grade School Counselor
Email: ereynolds@ridgefieldps.net
Website: srms.ridgefield.org
Location: 750 North Salem Road, Ridgefield, CT, USA
Phone: (203) 894-5725 3409
Sara Minotti- School Psychologist
Email: sminotti@ridgefieldps.net
Website: srms.ridgefield.org
Location: 750 North Salem Road, Ridgefield, CT, USA
Phone: (203) 894-5725 3416
Kim Van Allsburg- School Psychologist
Email: kvanallsburg@ridgefieldps.net
Website: srms.ridgefield.org
Location: 750 North Salem Road, Ridgefield, CT, USA
Phone: (203) 894-5725 3408
Alexandra Avila- Teen Talk Counselor
Email: aavila@ridgefieldps.net
Website: srms.ridgefield.org
Location: 750 North Salem Road, Ridgefield, CT, USA
Phone: (203) 894-5725 3451