Counselor's Corner Newsletter
January 2016
January 2016 At-A-Glance
1/5 School Resumes from Winter Break
1/12 Mr. Lemur writing assembly, grades K-2
1/13 School Site Council Meeting, 3:15pm
Board Meeting at Crocker, 6pm
1/15 Nature Van for 1st Grade in the MPR
1/18 Martin Luther King Jr. Day, NO SCHOOL
1/19 2nd Grade Field Trip to The Exploratorium
1/22 8:45am Associated Parent Group meeting, 8:45am
Water Conservation Assembly
1/25-1/29 Parent/Teacher Conference Week, EARLY DISMISSAL ALL WEEK
- K-2 students, 8:30-1:15
- 3-5 students, 8:30-1:30
Raising Resilient Girls
Girls Leadership’s Executive Director and Co-Founder Simone Marean speaks to parents and teachers across the country about the challenges girls face today, the reasons why we see girls struggling, and what we can do to help them. In her acclaimed 1-hour talk (followed by a 30 minute Q&A), Simone shares how to help girls practice assertive self-expression, emotional intelligence and healthy relationships, preparing them for a life of personal and social leadership. Her engaging presentation covers the development of girl dynamics beginning in preschool through high school.
As written up in Parents Magazine, Simone’s talk concentrates on practical advice that can be executed in a real-life setting, such as:
- Talking about your own not-so-happy feelings;
- Sharing your mistakes;
- Helping your daughter to solve her own problems;
- The Good Girl Phenomenon and conflict as an opportunity for positive change
Price: Free
About Simone:
Simone has taught Girls Leadership programs and presented on girls across the country and internationally, including the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls, the American School in Dubai, the Today Show and KQED’s Forum. She has a Masters degree in Educational Theatre from NYU and taught at many New York City schools including The Young Women’s Leadership School, and The Brearley School. Simone grew up on the north shore of Boston and graduated from Bryn Mawr College Magna Cum Laude. She currently sits on the board of directors of the Julia Morgan School for Girls in Oakland, not far from where she lives in Berkeley, CA.
Thursday, Jan 28, 2016, 07:00 PM
Los Altos United Methodist Church - Children's Center Preschool 655 Magdalena Avenue Los Altos, CA 94024
What's On My Bookshelf?
Making a Splash
Most people assume that you’re born with a certain amount of intelligence, and that there’s no way to become smarter. But science shows that this is wrong. We now know that intelligence can be developed.
When discussing how to raise our kids, the growth mindset was the most important thing we wished to instill. I thought that this was an important story to share with the world.
Perhaps your children sometimes go “I can’t do that!” or “I give up!”. Well, if they say this often enough, they might start to believe it, thus limiting their ability to learn.
I want to show your children that they can learn to do anything. This way of thinking is called a “Growth Mindset.” I’m applying the latest research from developmental
psychology in a children’s book called “Making a Splash.” Which tells a story about two siblings, Lisa and Johnny, and how they differ in their attitudes towards learning.
The book contains a powerful message about the growth mindset, that will stay with your children. The fundamental message is that it’s not about how smart you are. It’s about how smart you can become. So, when your children are confronted with tough decisions, I hope the book’s message will encourage your children to view it as an opportunity to grow, and not be afraid to fail.
Local Resources
As the school counselor, my role involves providing referrals to families that are seeking support for their child's social, emotional and behavioral concerns. All of these resources are listed on my website here. I have highlighted a few of the local community resources below.
The Children's Health Council in Palo Alto provides a wide array of services for children and their families.
Parent Education Classes
http://www.chconline.org/help-for-parents/parent-education
Parent Learning Center
Search by topic for articles (ADHD, worry, Autism, Behavior, Depression, Learning and School, etc.).
http://www.chconline.org/help-for-parents/parent-learning-center
Parents Place in San Mateo offers a wide variety of services for the whole family- parent education workshops (the highly sensitive child, setting limits, positive discipline, etc.) child counseling, individual counseling and family counseling.
http://parentsplaceonline.org/location/peninsula/
200 Channing Ave., Palo Alto, CA 94301 • 650-688-3040
2001 Winward Way, Suite 200, San Mateo, CA 94404 • 650-931-1840
Children, youth and family support in San Carlos
610 Elm Street, Suite 212 • San Carlos, CA 94070
Phone (650) 591-9623
info@star-vista.org
Social/Emotional Development
Books That Heal Kids
40 Developmental Assets
Helpful HCSD Links
Children's Workshop (after school care)
Choice Lunch (school lunch program)
Konstella (events, volunteer sign-up, classroom news)