News from Student Services
Nature Hill SMORE Addition
News from Student Services
Brenda Barker, School Counselor barkerb@oasd.org
Peihua Reinke, School Counselor reinkep@oasd.org
Nicole Mara, School Social Worker maran@oasd.org
Heather Olwig, School Psychologist olwigh@oasd.org
CLASSROOM GUIDANCE
Your Choice 7th and 8th Grade
In early February, members of the Your Choice team will be coming to classrooms to educate 7th and 8th graders on the dangers of vaping, alcohol and other substances. Your Choice is a local alcohol and drug prevention agency that has been providing education in the district since 2012. For more information, please visit http://yourchoiceprevention.org/
Parents and guardians, check out the most recent blog on the Your Choice website "How can I talk to my teen about the consequences of vaping when my teen can hop on the Internet and find an article that debunks what I say?" In this post, they tackle competing information on vaping.
http://yourchoiceprevention.org/blog
In our 5th and 6th grade classes this month we are learning about how to be better communicators and decision makers. Please ask your student about what they are learning in classroom guidance and re-enforce the skills at home when appropriate. If you have any questions or need more resources, please do not hesitate to contact us!
Communication ~ 5th Grade
We are learning to define communication, identify the elements of communication, both verbal and non-verbal, differentiate assertive, aggressive, and passive speaking styles. Most importantly, we are learning how to be active listeners and making sure we get our messages across clearly to avoid misunderstanding.
Decision-Making ~ 6th Grade
We are learning to define consequences, distinguish decisions with minor consequences and those with major consequences, learn the steps of the decision-making model (STOP-THINK-ACT-REFLECT), and understand the importance of stopping to think about possible consequences before making major decisions and finally, learning how to evaluate possible consequences of major decisions through role-playing different scenarios.
COURAGE RETREAT 7th GRADE
On January 10th, an organization called Youth Frontiers joined our 7th graders for a Courage Retreat. Former Nature Hill students from the high school participated with our current students to provide peer mentoring throughout the day.
Some key objectives for the retreat included having students identify personal fears and realizing that others have them too, committing to an act of courage to make our school a better place, and breaking down social barriers by getting to know others better. Throughout the retreat students built new connections with peers, developed more empathy and self-awareness. It was a powerful day at Nature Hill!
According to Youth Frontiers, "a young person's character shapes their destiny and impacts their community. Research shows that students with high social-emotional learning and character skills perform better academically and take responsibility for the culture of their school. Character traits are built and enhanced by experiences throughout our lifetimes."
One of our goals at Nature Hill is to help our students grow socially and emotionally while they develop the positive character traits that will help them be successful in the world.
For more information about Youth Frontiers visit their website https://www.youthfrontiers.org/
High School Scheduling Timeline Recap
HIGH SCHOOL SCHEDULING TIMELINE
Monday December 2nd
Oconomowoc High School's Academic and Career Planning Guide became available online. This guide allows students and guardians to look at course choices and their descriptions, graduation requirements, and much more. Check it out if you haven't already! https://www.livebinders.com/b/2411298#anchor
If you need help navigating the Academic and Career Planning Guide click here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0rIW5oPAtk&feature=youtu.be
Thursday December 12th
First visit to Language Arts classrooms by high school counselors to describe the scheduling process
Monday January 13th
Freshman Parent Presentation Night in the Oconomowoc High School Fieldhouse at 6:30
Wednesday January 22nd (1:30 - 4:00pm in NHI Library)
"Drop In" office hours for families at each Intermediate school - this will allow families to ask questions about course requests for their student
Tuesday January 28th
Second visit from high school counselors (during Language Arts class) to input class selections into computer
Anxious Child(ren)?
On their website, Copingskills4kids discusses the "coping brain". All humans have these different functions of their brain that the website lays out. For example, the reptilian brain, the emotional brain, and the thinking brain. Student services staff have been working with students to discuss these different characteristics of the brain and teach students skills to help push through the reptilian and emotional brain. Though these two facets of our brain are important and keep us safe, at times they cause us to overreact and do without thinking. Finding strategies and ways to work through difficulty ultimately help our children regulate and find solutions to their problems.
If you would like to learn more about the information provided above or would like to find ways to discuss this at home with your children please reach out to one of the student services staff or check out this website, http://copingskills4kids.net/The_Coping_Brain.html
Local Resources
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1lAL60c163Ku7d3xbwVChmTDix7qXQN6KFwjSHi9WvwI/edit?usp=sharing
Absences Add Up!
Counseling Groups at Nature Hill
Throughout the school year, Student Services staff offers the opportunity to participate in small groups. Group counseling offers students a great deal. It provides a safe place for kids to try new behaviors, share their thoughts with others, get to know others more closely, get help from students their own age, and learn that others have feelings like their own. In addition, students build the ‘soft skills’ employers are looking for: communication, listening, and decision-making. Small groups also build self-confidence and self-awareness.
Groups meet 6-8 times, once a week during the school day. We do our best to make sure the same class is not missed more than twice.
Fall/Winter Small Group Offerings:
Grief/Loss (Continues through January)
This group will help to connect you with other students who have experienced the death of a family member or friend. The group will talk about the struggles and how to cope. Ms. Barker and Ms. Mara will be facilitating this group.
Family Matters (Continues through January)
This group will offer support for students experiencing similar family struggles such as divorce or separation. Mrs. Reinke and Ms. Barker will be facilitating this group.
Open Lunch Group
This group is available to any student that would like to have an interactive social experience during lunch. It meets every Wednesday, and provides a quiet, smaller setting for students to eat while they engage in fun group activities with others.
Ms. Barker and Mrs. Strassburg facilitate this ongoing group.
If you would like to discuss the group options for your student, please contact Brenda Barker barkerb@oasd.org, Peihua Reinke reinkep@oasd.org, or Nicole Mara maran@oasd.org.