RVE School Counselor Corner
September 2019
Hello and Welcome Back!!
As the school counselors at Riverview Elementary School, we help ALL students with social/emotional development, self-management, social skills, maintaining friendships, and we also provide support during various transitions in a student's life (e.g. family change, moving, grief, etc.). This is done through the implementation of direct and indirect student services, including Individual Counseling, Small Group Counseling, and Classroom Lessons.
Individual Counseling
Individual counseling is available to students to address your child's needs, concerns and other barriers to learning (e.g. anxiety, difficulty with peers, family change, etc.). These sessions are conducted one-on-one with the school counselor, typically once per week. These sessions are short-term in nature and are utilized to address any immediate needs and subsequently monitor student progress. Should a student need on-going therapy, a referral can be made to an outside mental health provider. Individual referrals for students can be made through the request of a student, parent, or teacher.
Small Group Counseling
Small group counseling is offered to students throughout the school year and is based on student need. Group sessions will typically last eight weeks and take place for 25-30 minutes during your child's school day. Students are invited to join a group based on parent or teacher referral. Note that small group permission slips will be made available during Fall Conferences. It is our hope that these small groups can provide students additional support socially/emotionally, allowing them to succeed academically. A few of our small groups include:
- "Circle of Friends" Friendship Group
- "Space Camp" Social Skills Group
- "Worry Busters" Anxiety Group
- "Brave Hearts" Military Family Group
- "Banana Splits" Family Change Group
- "Lost and Found" Grief Support Group
Classroom Lessons
There is a strong relationship between academic success and social-emotional learning. As such, our comprehensive school counseling program incorporates classroom lessons on five core social-emotional competencies - Cooperation, Assertiveness, Responsibility, Empathy, Self-control (CARES). We meet with each classroom individually in all grades (K-5) on a monthly basis. During each lesson, we discuss the competency using various activities and books. We strive to make these sessions as interactive as possible to allow students to stay engaged and empower them to become motivated learners, active team members, creative problem solvers, and kind and responsible citizens.
WHAT HAPPENED THIS MONTH AT RIVERVIEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Meet the School Counselor Lessons
We use the month of September as an opportunity to teach students (and remind staff) what a School Counselor does. Visibility is very important not just during the first few weeks of school but year-round. We make sure that students know who we are, what we do here, and how they can access us. During our classroom lessons, we use a variety of methods to reach and engage our students. From dressing like Superheroes to using a "surfing" theme, we are constantly changing things up to provide a fun, positive, and engaging environment. Research has demonstrated that engaging students in the learning process increases their attention and focus, motivates them to practice higher-level critical thinking skills, and promotes meaningful learning experiences.
Meet the Counseling Team!
Mrs. Alladin
Hello! My name is Jessica Alladin, and I am excited to be starting my third year at Riverview Elementary! I graduated from Minnesota State University Mankato with a Master's in Professional School Counseling (K-12). Previously, I completed my undergraduate degree in Psychology at the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. I live in Le Center with my husband, and I have a step-son, Calvin, who is an aspiring entrepreneur. In my free time, I enjoy sewing, baking, going on outdoor adventures (biking, paddle boarding, or snowboarding), and spending time with my family.
Mrs. Alladin will be doing classroom lessons with Kindergarten, 1st Grade, 2nd Grade, 5th Grade, and Multiage 1st and 2nd Grade Students.
Email: jalladin@farmington.k12.mn.us
Website: farmington.k12.mn.us
Location: Riverview Elementary School, 208th Street West, Farmington, MN, USA
Phone: (651)460-1647
Mrs. Felipe
Hello! My name is Nicole Felipe, and I am excited to be starting my second year at Riverview Elementary! I graduated from the University of Wisconsin - River Falls with a Master's in Education. Previously, I completed my undergraduate degree at Winona State University. I live in Woodbury with my husband and two kiddos - my son Emilio (age 7) is in 1st Grade this year, and my daughter Adelina (age 5) will be starting Kindergarten. In my free time, I enjoy any outdoor activity, gardening, reading, and spending time with my family and our two big dogs.
Mrs. Felipe will be doing classroom lessons with Kindergarten, 3rd Grade, 4th Grade, Multiage 3rd and 4th Grade, and Multiage 5th Grade Students.
Email: nfelipe@farmington.k12.mn.us
Website: farmington.k12.mn.us
Location: Riverview Elementary School, 208th Street West, Farmington, MN, USA
Phone: (651)460-1603
If you need to reach either of us and we are not available, please call the school office at (651)460-1600, and they will have someone get back to you.
Farmington's K-12 School Counseling philosophy is to "inspire academic, personal, and future success in every student."
As School Counselors we:
- Organize and implement character education programs (CARES)
- Facilitate support groups (friendship, family changes, anxiety, military family, grief and loss)
- Provide short-term solution focused one-on-one support
- Co-Chair academic/behavioral intervention teams processes (I-Team)
- Facilitate communication between staff and families
- Offer crisis prevention and intervention support
- Refer students and families to outside agencies as needed
- Are members of the district-wide crisis support team
Nine Tips to Overcome School Anxiety
1. Goodbye Routine
2. Be Consistent
3. Keep Things Light
4. Talk to Someone
5. Have Child Bring One Small Item From Home
6. Teach Problem Solving
7. Be Prepared for Setbacks
8. Don't Give Up
9. Teach Calming Strategies
Teaching your child calming strategies is a great way for them to take an active role in overcoming school anxiety. Some coping strategy examples are:
- Deep Breathing Exercise - inhale through nose. Hold for 5 seconds. Exhale through mouth.
- Do 25 of Something Active - jumping jacks, shooting hoops, jump rope.
- Focus on positive thoughts
- Bring a note from home to read at recess or hang in your locker
- Countdown from 10 backwards
Reducing Anxiety Resources
Books
What to Do When You Worry Too Much - A Kid's Guide to Overcoming Anxiety by Dawn Huebner
Freeing Your Child From Anxiety by Tamar Chansky
Wilma Jean and the Worry Machine by Julia Cook
Wemberly Worried by Kevin Henkes
Don't Panic Annicka by Juliet Clare Bell