Connecting with the Counselors
A Communication from Robinson Elementary's Counseling Team
January 9, 2022
We hope you had a wonderful holiday break and are enjoying this VERY cold week of 2022!
We have had a busy 3 days back at Robinson. We love seeing all of your student's back at Robinson and ready to learn in 2022. Next week we will begin a new schedule which will enable us to teach counseling lessons to all Robinson classrooms in 2 days. Many times we get pulled away from our scheduled day to help with a student in crisis or with mediation or restorative work when things happen amongst students during the day. When that happens, we miss classroom lessons. This "protected time" being provided each month is very exciting for our team. We hope you hear about your student's time with the counselors at home next week!
Our lessons will start with revisiting what it looks like and sounds like to be at school each day-- much like our "reboot" in November. See the picture below of our Robinson School Expectations. All students will have time to reflect on how they feel they are doing and celebrate where they have grown, as well as notice any areas which they can improve.
We will also continue to talk about our "ONE WORD" that we chose for this school year. Our counseling team chose BELONG. When we think about our school, we want ALL students to feel as if they belong and are safe here each day. If we don't feel safe, we can't learn.
Our staff Equity Committee (REC) is working to incorporate what we are already doing to align with a No Place 4 Hate (NP4H) program. One of the most exciting parts of becoming a NP4H school is that our kids will help lead us in this work. All 2nd, 3rd, and 4th graders will be offered an opportunity to join the leadership committee of NP4H. The commitment is a two year one, so our current 5th graders are, unfortunately, not eligible to be on the committee. More information about the NP4H committee will be coming home in backpack mail next week for 2nd-5th graders.
Wednesday night we will continue our student book study meeting (on zoom) with students in 3rd-5th grades. As you may recall, we are reading Stamped (For Kids), by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi. The kids attending have shown such incredible insight and maturity. Thank you to the parent-led Robinson Equity Group (REG) for putting this opportunity together and including us. We look forward to reading with other students and if you are interested in having your student be a part of a future book study group, please reach out to one of us.
REMINDER: Our Connecting with the Counselors is now a monthly update. If there is important information to share, Dr. OH has agreed to include it in her weekly family newsletter.
If you missed December's communication, you can access it from this link:
Have a fantastic week and look for our February update around the 6th!
SAVE THE DATE: Next Robinson Food Pantry: Thursday, January 20th
Our free pantry will be open from 6-7:30pm.
If you need further information or have a need but can't make it at that time, please call or email Julie, Indria or Tonya. All contact information can be found at the end of this communication. Thanks!
Helpful free webinars about including executive functions, social anxiety, and stress
Enjoy these information-packed free webinars:
- Working/learning in groups
- Face-to-face communication
- Social anxiety
- Executive functions
- Children’s stress
- Self-regulation
JANUARY HAPPINESS Calendar 2022
This month, find your motivation and purpose.
SECOND STEP Information for Families
More Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Observances and Opportunities for Families around Kirkwood and St. Louis
Martin Luther King, Jr Day Activities at the Missouri History Museum
Celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with the Missouri History Museum throughout the weekend. Families are invited to join virtual storytelling and youth activism workshops on Monday. On Sunday afternoon all are invited to a virtual all-levels yoga class. Also, on Saturday and Sunday, families can pick up craft kits and book giveaways at the Museum.
Learn more: https://mohistory.org/mlk-celebrationUMSL MLK Virtual Day of Service 2022
Virtual service projects to make changes in St. Louis, in place of their usual large-scale, city-wide service projects. Pick from one of six service projects listed here:
Virtual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Freedom Celebration: Joy as an Act of Resistance
Helping Young Children Who Are Socially Anxious
My Child is Talking About Gender and I am Unsure About What to Say
An Age-by-Age Guide to Talking to Your Kids About Gender
We have had some questions in regard to gender identity. If that is true for you, here is some guidance from TodaysParent.com. No matter your kid's age, it's not too early (or late!) to talk to them about gender. Here's how to start the discussion, and keep it going as they grow.
https://www.todaysparent.com/family/parenting/how-to-talk-to-kids-about-gender-age-by-age-guide/
How to Help Your Kids Get Along
Contact Information for 2021-22 School Year
ROBINSON COUNSELING TEAM
Indria Harris
School Counselor, preK-2nd grade
Indria.harris@kirkwoodschools.org
314-213-6100, ext. 4061
School Counselor, 3rd-5th grade
julie.cohen@kirkwoodschools.org
314-213-6100, ext. 4470
Tonya Ampey-Elong
Social Worker, KSD
tonya.ampey@kirkwoodschools.org
314-213-6100, ext. 4042
*At Robinson on Mondays and Wednesdays
Ana Shields-Capilla
Educational Support Counselor
ana.shields@kirkwoodschools.org
314-213-6100, ext. 4065
*At Robinson all day Monday and Tuesday and Wednesday's until noon