Counseling & Community Connections
November 16th, 2023
Updates & Resources from the Counseling/Community & Inclusion Department
Online Parent Workshops đź’»
This year, Lindenwold Schools will be providing free, online parent workshops in partnership with First Children’s services via Google Meet. One week before each session, a Google Meet link will be sent via email for you to join the meeting online. Below is a schedule and description of the first two planned workshops.
November 30th- Mental Health 101 for Parents
Mental health impacts children and adolescents in our schools and communities everyday. A
mental health disorder can be a range of conditions that has an impact on an individuals mood,
thinking and behavior. There are several common diagnoses such as Attention Deficit
Hyperactivity Disorder, Anxiety, Depression and Oppositional Defiant Disorder, among others
that affect our students and their ability to learn. By understanding some of the challenges many of our students are managing, we can better serve our children.
In this workshop we will:
- Learn about common mental health diagnoses seen in school aged children
- Develop a tool box of effective skills to implement
- Identify factual information around mental health diagnoses and dispute myths and reduce stigma
December 14th- Ways to Encourage, Motivate and Support your Children
Many of students and families face daily adversities that may easily knock them down. We
know that everyone has different levels of resiliency internally, as well as through external
support. By building resilience in our youth we are preparing the to cope with negative life
events both in school and in personal life.
In this workshop we will:
- Learn more about resilience and grit
- Develop ways we can motivate the hard to encourage child
New Jersey Statewide Student Support Services (NJ4S) đź§
The New Jersey Department of Children and Families has launched a statewide, innovative hub-and-spoke model of services and resources to support youth mental wellness. Lindenwold Public Schools will be working with NJ4S to provide a range of services to our students and families.
NJ4S is providing many opportunities for support, learning, and celebration. Below, you will find some upcoming events
Care Solace đź’ś
Care Solace is the mental health coordination service for Lindenwold Public Schools. Finding mental health and substance use treatment providers can be a daunting task. Care Solace helps you find the right help at the right time. They are here to support you with equitable access to care regardless of coverage, including private insurance, Medicaid, and sliding scale options for those without insurance. Their experienced Care Companion™ team is available to you at all times — including nights, weekends, and holidays — in 200+ languages to walk you through the mental health system.
It’s college application season! 🎓
Tis the season to ask for letters of recommendation! That’s right, it’s college application season! Many of our seniors have been diligently working on their college applications and are getting ready for life after Lindenwold. We even have a few trips coming up for our Juniors and Seniors to explore college fairs and campuses!
Upcoming Important Dates:
November 13th - HBCU College Fair, JFK Community Center, Willingboro NJ
November 29th - Trip to Rutgers University- Camden
December 6th - Stockton University
December 14th- Camden County College and Virtual Financial Aid Night
January 11th - FAFSA Workshop at LHS
Whether you are the parent of a senior or that’s far in the future, it’s helpful to know what to expect. Here are a few tips to help you and your senior survive college application season:
1. Timelines: Understand the application deadlines for various colleges and ensure your child starts the process early. Deadlines can vary from school to school.
2. Financial Aid: Learn about the financial aid and scholarship options available and complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or other required forms.
3. College Selection: Support your child in researching and selecting colleges that align with their academic and personal goals.
4. Testing: Be aware of standardized testing requirements (e.g., SAT, ACT) and help your child prepare if necessary.
5. Application Components: Familiarize yourself with the various components of college applications, including essays, letters of recommendation, and transcripts.
6. Essays: Encourage your child to work on their application essays and personal statements, providing guidance but not writing them for them.
7. Letters of Recommendation: Help your child choose teachers or mentors for letters of recommendation and ensure they follow the required process.
8. Interviews: If interviews are required, prepare your child for them and help them practice.
9. College Visits: Consider visiting colleges with your child to get a feel for the campus and its culture.
10. Emotional Support: Recognize that this can be a stressful time for your child, and provide emotional support and encouragement.
11. Costs and Financial Planning: Be realistic about the costs of college and help your child make informed decisions about their budget and financial responsibilities.
12. Allow Independence: While being supportive, remember that the application process is an opportunity for your child to take ownership of their future, so encourage their independence.
13. Celebrate Achievements: Celebrate your child's achievements and efforts throughout the process, regardless of the outcomes.
14. College Counselors: Utilize the expertise of school counselors or independent college counselors if available.
Remember that the college application season can be a significant milestone for both parents and students, and effective communication and support are key to a successful experience.
Lifelines Suicide Prevention Program
As you may know, suicide is one of the top three causes of death for young people ages ten through twenty-four. Because Lindenwold Public Schools take the safety and well-being of our students very seriously, we are planning on providing our students with some basic information about youth suicide and, more importantly, teaching them what to do if they are worried about themselves or a friend.
We are a school community, and as such, we care about the welfare of all our members. We know we couldn’t teach our students that it’s okay to ask for help if everyone in the community—administrators, faculty, staff, and parents/guardians—didn’t know what to do if a student approached them as a trusted adult to talk about this sensitive topic.
Lifelines Prevention, the program we have selected, exceeds these criteria. Because research has demonstrated that programs presented only once have little lasting impact, the Lifelines Prevention curriculum is designed to be delivered in four forty- to forty-five-minute modules that reinforce messages about help-seeking.
The interactive curriculum teaches basic information about potential warning signs for suicide, but its emphasis is on what to do if a student is worried about either themselves or a friend.
Topics Include
Noticing when a friend is in trouble
Helping friends
Where can students go to get help
And Lifelines Prevention doesn’t stop in the classroom. It includes resources for our administrators to help us assess our ability to ensure student safety in a variety of situations. The program also includes training for our resource and support staff, the members of our crisis intervention team, and our faculty.
If you have any questions or concerns about the Lifeline Suicide Prevention Program, feel free to contact Leana Sykes, Director of Pupil Personnell Services at lsykes@lindenwold.k12.nj.us
Harrassment, Intimidation, & Bullying
In accordance with NJ Law, Lindenwold Public Schools have an anti-bullying policy, which can be found on the district’s website and is linked below. It’s important for parents/guardians to note that not all problems that occur between students are considered bullying under New Jersey’s definition. An incident of bullying usually needs to be motivated by a particular characteristic of the student being bullied (for example- targeting someone’s race, appearance, gender etc.)
However, we are committed to investigating and addressing all incidents of alleged HIB. We encourage parents/guardians to report an alleged incident of HIB to your child’s building principal or to submit a report via the 338 form available on the district’s website. Parents, community members, and students are permitted to make any report of this nature anonymously.
Parent Outreach & Community Involvement 🤝
The first district-wide family engagement event of the 2023-2024 school year, Hispanic Heritage Night, was held on Thursday, October 19th at Lindenwold High School. The event featured face painting, giveaways from the Free Book Project, authentic food from local staples La Esperanza and El Salvadoreno, and live music from Nivel Alto, which is fronted by LHS 2020 graduate Bryan Lopez. The event was hosted by the district's Parent Outreach Committee with input from the district's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) teams. There are two other district-wide family engagement events planned for this school with the next one being a Black History Month celebration in February.
In the meantime, the Parent Outreach Committee is beginning to solicit interest from parents/guardians who would consider joining a parent/teacher organization. Interest meetings will be scheduled early in the new year. If you would like more information, please email the Community & Inclusion Coordinator, Amber Callow, at agresik-callow@lindenwold.k12.nj.us