Counselor Connection
August
Welcome Back!
Greetings, Bryan Elementary students and parents, and welcome back!
As your school counselors, our mission is to prepare students with the academic, social-emotional, and career readiness skills necessary for success. We are looking forward to our sixth year at Bryan Elementary and to serving the students, parents, teachers, and Bryan community.
Rachael Schroeder: PK-5 School Counselor
Sara Huard: 3-5 School Counselor
Same Face, New Name!
Catcher's Corner
Catcher had a busy summer! He spent time walking in the park and attending many Bryan Golden Bears sporting events. Although Catcher had a fantastic summer, he missed seeing his friends at Bryan Elementary and is super excited to see those smiling faces back at school.
He looks forward to supporting students' social and emotional needs again this year and to providing a positive outlet to students each and every day.
You can find updates and photos of Catcher on his Facebook Page@ bcs-Catcher
6 Tips for a Successful Return to School
As we enter another “Back to School” season, take a look at these six tips for preparing your children mentally, emotionally, and physically.
1. Get Social Again
If you haven’t already, get creative with ways your children can get reacquainted with friends. Set up virtual lunch dates, find interactive online games to play, or choose an engaging book they can read together. Or if you feel comfortable, set up a meet-up at a park where children can have a socially-distanced playdate.
2. Get Back on Schedule
Getting back to a full day schedule will be challenging, so start establishing a routine now. Set regular bedtimes; wake up at consistent times and get dressed; stick with a daily schedule with tasks to accomplish each day. Getting into this habit will be especially helpful if you will be supporting virtual learning in the fall.
Encourage hand washing multiple times a day, as your children sing a song that is at least 20 seconds long. Have your children practice engaging with you while keeping space (show them what six feet actually looks like). Talk about limited contact with others and practice when out in public. If masks will be required in your children’s school, make sure they practice safe mask use and get used to wearing it.
No news isn’t always good news with kids. Frequently ask your children how they’re feeling and try to gauge how they’re handling the idea of going back to school. Feelings don’t need fixing; try to focus on listening and empathizing. If they are feeling anxious, try offering some coping strategies they can tap into, such as deep breathing exercises, squeezing something like a stress ball, or thinking about the words to their favorite song; send them to school with a picture of their family or pet they can look at when they feel lonely.
Listening in a classroom can be much more difficult for some than the small learning environment they have become accustomed to. Teach active listening skills through games like “Simon Says,” “20 Questions,” or “Telephone.”
Maybe not completely, but try to cut down on its use while remote learning instruction isn’t happening. Whether children will be back to in-person school or will continue virtual learning, take the opportunity now to reestablish balanced screen time. For students who will be remote learning, it will be good to squeeze in a break from those devices.
Starting a new school year can be stressful at the best of times, let alone during a global pandemic. Remind your children that teachers and students from across the country have all been out of their school buildings for five months now – we’re all in this together!
Child Enrichment Educational Savings Program
The Ohio Afterschool Child Enrichment (ACE) Educational Savings Account program provides qualifying families with a $1,000 credit per child. These funds can be used to pay for a variety of educational activities designed to help accelerate learning for children impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The program is being offered through a contract between Merit International, Inc. and the Ohio Department of Education. To learn more, visit: https://www.aceohio.org/ or click on the link below.
Digital Citzenship
They need to learn how to keep themselves and their personal information safe. Void of emotion, they need to also learn how to be respectful to others online. This includes netiquette and how to deal with bullying, whether they're the target or a bystander.
Grades 3-5 will be learning more about the importance of digital citizenship this year through classroom guidance lessons.
Anxiety and Depression in Children
Mental Health Screening
Online screening is one of the quickest and easiest ways to determine whether you are experiencing symptoms of a mental health condition. Mental health conditions, such as depression or anxiety, are real, common, and treatable. Mental Health America provides a variety of resources for understanding and living with mental health concerns. Click on the link below to take a mental health screener.
Safer Ohio School Tip Line
988 Suicide and Crisis Helpline
Bear Bags
Mental Health America
Our mental health is in constant flux and ebbs and flows on a daily basis. Many things can impact this including our physical health. The connection between our physical body and our mental health is important and may be something worth exploring when thinking about staying mentally healthy. Learn more about whole health and what you can do to improve your overall wellness by visiting Mental Health America.
For additional information on Mental Health America:
National Online Safety
The internet has transformed the ability to access content. Many apps that children use are dependent on user-generated content which can encourage freedom of expression, imagination and creativity. However, due to the sheer volume uploaded every day, it can be difficult for platforms to regulate and moderate everything, which means that disturbing or distressing images, videos or audio clips can slip through the net. That’s why we’ve created this guide to provide parents and caregivers with some useful tips on keeping children safe online. Visit the National Online Safety website for an additional resources on how to keep your children safe.
Community Resources
Many families may have concerns that extend beyond the educational needs of their children. If you need help finding resources in our community such as food, financial assistance, health care, and mental health services, please let us help you.
Williams County Resource Guide
Williams County Health Department
Northwest Ohio Community Action Coalition
JFS Financial AssistanceMental Health Resources
Williams County Resource Guide
Williams County Referral Resource Guide
Ohio Mental Health Resource Guide
National Alliance on Mental Illness
National Council for Behavioral Health
Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction
Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation
Four County Suicide Prevention Coalition
Suicide Prevention Life Line: 800-273-8255
Crisis Line: 1-800-468-4357
Call 988 for suicide and crisis lifeline
Substance Abuse Prevention Resources
September
September 4: Labor Day
September 11: Fair Day
September 12: Staff Inservice Day