Mrs. Gnader's Class Counseling
November 2022
Welcome
My name is Courtenay Gnader and I am the School Psychologist at Loveland Elementary. One part of my role is providing class counseling lessons once per month in classrooms. Please use this newsletter to stay connected with what we are doing in class counseling each month.
In addition, if you are in need of resources for food (Friday food backpacks), clothing, housing, social-emotional/mental health, or holiday assistance please contact me and I can help assist you in a confidential manner.
Please feel free to contact me with any questions, comments, or concerns.
gnader.courtenay@westside66.net
(402) 408-8868
Kindergarten - Bullying Prevention
This month we introduced the topic of bullying prevention. Our lesson this month focused on recognizing when a behavior is bullying. Bullying is mean or hurtful behavior that keeps happening, and the person it is happening to has not been able to make it stop. Bullying is not safe, respectful, or kind and it is against our school rules. Recognizing bullying is the first step in getting it to stop. The second step students focused on, was how to report bullying to an adult. Students must report bullying and when they do adults will help them. Reporting is not the same as tattling and it is everyone's job to keep ourselves and others safe by reporting bullying. Students ended the lesson by practicing reporting bullying to an adult. Below is a home link you can use to talk with your student about the lesson.
First Grade - Bullying Prevention
This month we introduced the topic of bullying prevention. Our lesson this month focused on recognizing when a behavior is bullying. Bullying is mean or hurtful behavior that keeps happening, and the person it is happening to has not been able to make it stop. Bullying is not safe, respectful, or kind and it is against our school rules. Recognizing bullying is the first step in getting it to stop. We also focused on reporting bullying to a caring adult. Preventing and addressing bullying is the responsibility of the adults at school. Reporting to an adult can help students stop bullying when it happens to them or someone else. Students must report bullying and when they do, adults will help. The lesson also made clear that reporting bullying is not the same as tattling and it is their job to help keep themselves and others safe by reporting bullying. Students ended the lesson by practicing how to report bullying to a caring adult. Below is a home link that can help you talk with your student about the lesson.
Second Grade - Bullying Prevention
This month we introduced the topic of bullying prevention. Our lesson this month focused on recognizing when a behavior is bullying. Bullying is mean or hurtful behavior that keeps happening, and the person it is happening to has not been able to make it stop. Bullying is not safe, respectful, or kind and it is against our school rules. Recognizing bullying is the first step in getting it to stop. We also focused on how to report bullying to a caring adult. Preventing and addressing bullying is the responsibility of the adults at school. Reporting to an adult can help students stop bullying when it happens to them or someone else. Students must report bullying and when they do, adults will help. The lesson also made clear that reporting bullying is not the same as tattling and it is their job to help keep themselves and others safe by reporting bullying. Students ended the lesson by practicing how to report bullying to a caring adult. Below is a home link that can help you talk with your student about the lesson.
Third Grade - Bullying Prevention
This month we introduced the topic of bullying prevention. Our lesson this month focused on recognizing when a behavior is bullying. Bullying is mean or hurtful behavior that keeps happening, and the person it is happening to has not been able to make it stop. Bullying is not safe, respectful, or kind and it is against our school rules. Recognizing bullying is the first step in getting it to stop. We also discussed how to report bullying to a caring adult. Preventing and addressing bullying is the responsibility of the adults at school. Reporting to an adult can help students stop bullying when it happens to them or someone else. Students must report bullying and when they do, adults will help. The lesson also made clear that reporting bullying is not the same as tattling and it is their job to help keep themselves and others safe by reporting bullying. Students ended the lesson by practicing how to report bullying to a caring adult. Below is a home link that can help you talk with your student about the lesson.
Fourth Grade - Bullying Prevention
This month we have begun our Bullying Prevention Unit. This month's lesson was about recognizing, reporting, and refusing bullying. Bullying is mean or hurtful behavior that keeps happening. It is unfair and one-sided. Adult intervention is often required to end bullying effectively so students must report bullying to an adult. Refusing bullying means to use words or actions to stop bullying. Being assertive is one way to refuse or stop bullying. Students practiced recognizing whether presented scenarios were bullying. They also roleplayed reporting bullying to an adult and how to refuse bullying. We also discussed the role of bystanders to bullying. One reason students bully is for the effect it has on bystanders. Research shows changing how bystanders react can be one of the most powerful ways to reduce or stop bullying. Our lesson focused on the many ways bystanders can help stop bullying. Students learned about the value in thinking about how a bullied student is feeling and what they can do to support fellow students and stop bullying. Below is a home link you can use to talk with your student about the lesson.
Introduction to Second Step - Bullying PreventionFifth Grade - Bullying Prevention
This month we have begun our Bullying Prevention Unit. This month's lesson was about recognizing, reporting, and refusing bullying. Bullying is mean or hurtful behavior that keeps happening. It is unfair and one-sided. Adult intervention is often required to end bullying effectively so students must report bullying to an adult. Refusing bullying means to use words or actions to stop bullying. Being assertive is one way to refuse or stop bullying. Students practiced recognizing whether presented scenarios were bullying. They also roleplayed reporting bullying to an adult and how to refuse bullying. We also focused on the role bystanders play in bullying. One reason students bully is for the effect it has on bystanders. Research shows changing how bystanders react can be one of the most powerful ways to reduce or stop bullying. Our lesson focused on the many ways bystanders can help stop bullying. Students learned about the value in thinking about how a bullied student is feeling and what they can do to support fellow students and stop bullying. Below is an introduction letter to the program as well as a home unit you can use to discuss the topic at home.
6th Grade - Worries/Anxiety
Students are expressing more worry and anxiety than they have before. This month we examined what is anxiety and what types of behaviors increase our worries. When we ignore, feed, or avoid our worries they grow stronger and harder for us to deal with. We took time to discuss and share positive coping strategies. Your student learned that just like everyone has “physical health,” we all also have “mental health.” There are things we can do and ways we can cope/think that support a mentally well body image and emotional well being, such as:
* keeping a routine sleep schedule
* eating healthy foods
* using helpful self-talk
* surrounding yourself with friends who are kind
* taking a break
* doing things you enjoy
* exercising
* talking to someone you trust, etc.
Share with your child what physical activities and helpful routines help you unload stress. Sometimes kids think they are doing such a bad job at “coping” with stress because they think everyone else is just magically handling life without intentional effort. Help them see that intentionally taking care of your mental health is helpful for everyone.
Now, here are some phone numbers for YOU to save so they are handy should the need arise in the future:
Call the Westside Support Hotline at 402-390-2109 if you need help for yourself or your child regarding behavior, mental help support, or how you can access help, please call. Your information will be kept private and used to connect you directly with help from Westside officials and our partners.
Call the Safe2Help Hotline at 402-390-2118 if you have concerns about safety, bullying, depression, suicide, substance abuse, relationship issues, or anything else that could threaten someone’s physical or emotional well-being. This hotline connects callers with trained Boys Town National Hotline counselors who are available 24/7, 365 days a year. Callers are not required to give their names.
And, as we have taught your students, please remember, if you or someone else is facing a life threatening situation, always call 911.