Counseling Connection News
March and April 2024
Hello Hawthorn Families,
Counseling Lessons
March
Third through Fifth graders are focusing on personal safety through a program called "I'm In Charge" by The Kansas City Assistance League. It's important to continue practicing personal safety on a regular basis at home to be sure that kids really understand how to handle tough situations when they arise.
Through the Second Step curriculum resource, kindergarten through fifth grade students will learn Ways to Stay Safe as well as the difference between safe and unsafe touches. They will learn to Recognize, Refuse, and Report dangerous situations. They will also learn that their bodies belong to themselves. This means that even if a touch is safe (ex: high fives or hugs) we don't have to allow anyone to touch us if we don't want to. They will learn that no one should see any part of the body that their bathing suit should cover.
Students will bring home handouts to facilitate further discussion about these topics with you at home.
Safety Tips At Home
- Make sure your child knows who their safe adults are and knows the phone numbers to call in case of emergency.
- Establish a code word that only your child and their safe adults know.
- Remind your child to NEVER go anywhere with anyone without permission (ex: don’t get into a car with a stranger or anyone without your permission).
- Remind your child not to take candy or gifts from strangers.
- Discuss what to do if your child is at home alone. Discuss and practice what to do if someone comes to the door (students should never open exterior doors without their safe adult).
- Monitor your child’s internet usage. A lot of sites are not elementary age appropriate. Students have to be 13 years or older to use sites like Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, & many more.
- Checking the age limit for social media sites and create a list of appropriate sites your child can use.
Ways To Stay Safe -2nd Step
- Your body belongs to you.
- Unsafe touches (kicks, punches, pinches, etc.) are never okay.
- Paying attention to uncomfortable feelings in your body can help you recognize unwanted touches.
- You can refuse any unwanted touch, even if it is safe.
Never-Never Rules -2nd Step
Private Body Parts Rule -2nd Step
No one should ever:
- Touch yours
- Ask to see yours
- Make you look at his or hers, or anyone else's' and never touch anyone else's
April -5th Grade Only
Fifth graders will learn each step of ACT. ACT stands for Acknowledge-Care-Tell (see the poster below for reference). This model provides steps so that students can help each other when dealing with big emotions. In 6th grade, students will learn the model more in depth.
In this lesson, students will identify 3 trusted adults from home or school that they believe they have a relationship with and can count on when needed. On the day that I visit your student's classroom, I will share a handout so that you may continue the discussion at home.
Confidence and Self-Esteem Books
With MAP testing on the horizon, your 3rd-5th grade student may experience a some anxiety in the near future. You are always welcome to reach out to me if your student would like to share how their feeling. You might find the resources below helpful in facilitating conversations at home.
I’m Gonna Like Me – Jamie Lee Curtis
I Like Myself – Karen Beaumont
You Are Special – Max Lucado
Believing in Me: A Child's Guide to Self-Confidence and Self-Esteem – Poppy O’Neill
I Am Enough – Grace Byers
The Girl Who Makes a Million Mistakes - Brenda Li
Big - Vashti Harrison
Bullying Monitoring Goal
Bullying & Hawthorn's Student Lead Comprehensive School Counseling Program Goal
We are focused on this goal determined by the Panorama Social Emotional Learning Survey. The survey is administered in the Fall and Spring of each school year. We will monitor our progress toward the goal below through a monthly counseling survey administered to third through fifth graders.
2023-24 Student Lead Counseling Goal
The 31% of 3rd-5th grade Hawthorn students who reported being bullied in the 2023 Spring Panorama Student Survey will decrease by 6% (or more) to 25% or fewer students.
*We will monitor and discuss this each month by aiming for less than 1% of 3rd-5th graders continuing to report being left out at lunch and/or recess each month of our school year via monthly survey monitoring.
Students are taught that bullying is what happens when: A person or group with more power is purposefully and repeatedly mean to a person who can't defend themselves or has less power.
- Less than 1% of 3rd-5th grade students reported being bullied in September's building survey.
Small Group and Individual Counseling
Small group and individual counseling services support social, emotional, and academic skill growth.
Small group and individual school based counseling services are not intended to take the place of therapy or outside counseling. They are short term (4-8 weeks) and solution focused in nature and facilitated by myself or our social worker, Allison Dawson.
Outside of regularly scheduled sessions, kindergarten through second grade students can request a visit with me me by asking parents or teachers to contact me, or by bringing me a note or sheet of paper with their name and their teachers name on it. Students in 3rd-5th grade can reach me directly by sending a visit request in Schoology.
Professional Studies Student Visitor
Hawthorn's counseling program will be hosting a shadowing experience for Ella Bradley through Park Hill High School's Professional Studies Program from March 4th through the 15th.Ella is a senior and is the daughter and granddaughter of Hawthorn staff members. She enjoys being a Hawthorn Husky whenever she can! She has spent time shadowing in our Essential Skills classrooms and wants to know more about school counseling. Students may notice Ella shadowing when I visit classrooms for counseling lessons.
In order to protect student privacy, Ella will only join individual and small group office sessions that are less personal in nature. If you have questions about student shadowing procedures, please feel free to reach me directly.
Hawthorn's Therapy Dog
Resources and Events
Building, District, & Community Resources
Hawthorn Resources
District & Community Resources
- Community Therapy, Psychiatry, and Behavioral Health
- District Student and Family Supports
- PTA Clothing Center
Women's History Month Resources
Arab American Heritage Month Resources
In case of life threatening emergency, please call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
- If you need a Safe Place, go to any QuikTrip, Police Department, or Fire Department and tell them you’re in need of a "Safe Place" and they will help. Or call 816-741-8700.
- If you are in need of other community resources or assistance, visit 211kc.org or dial 211 (United Way).
- Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 988
- CrisisTextLine.org: text 741741 (24-hour access)
- CommCare Access Crisis Intervention: 888-279-8188 (24-hour access)
One Free Therapy Session
Camber Children's Mental Health is offering one free child therapy session for those impacted by the tragedy after the Chief's parade. Contact Camber at freecambersession@cambermh.org .
Children's Mercy's Resources for Helping Your Child Process What Happened After The Parade
Children's Mercy shares resources and supports for helping your child. You can view their suggestions here.
Kansas City Trauma Recovery Network Therapy Services
Kansas City Trauma Recovery Network Therapy Services is offering pro bono services for those affected by the tragedy. Visit https://www.kctraumarecoverynetwork.com/ and click "Request Services in the upper left. KC Trauma Recovery Network will be in touch with you to discuss your needs.
Sexual Harassment and Violence Prevention Seminar
Tweens and teenagers face a lot of pressure as they spend more and more time with their peers not as closely supervised by adults. Parents, guardians, and family members of Park Hill students who attend this webinar will learn about the presentations offered to all high school students in Park Hill given by the Metropolitan Organization to Counter Sexual Assault (MOCSA) that pertain to sexual harassment, sexual assault, and what consent means. Brandy Williams, Director of Education for MOCSA, will give an overview of these presentations, plus provide tips for parents and guardians about how to talk about these issues with their tweens and teenagers. In addition, Brandy will give suggestions about how to support victims of sexual harassment and/or sexual violence.
The webisode will be held on Tuesday, February 27, 6:00 PM. Register to attend the webinar by clicking here. You can view upcoming and past webisodes by visiting the Student & Family Support page (scroll down to Mental Health and Healthy Living Resources, then expand the Family Webinar Series section).
Screenagers Film Screening
Park Hill is partnering with Park Hill Community Alliance for Youth (CAFY) and the Platte County Health Department to host a screening of the film entitled Screenagers Under the Influence: Addressing Vaping, Drugs, and Alcohol in the Digital Age. The title is linked to more information and the trailer.
The film equips parents and older youth (ages 13+) with information they need to handle increased access to unsafe substances through digital means. After the film screening, there will be a discussion for the adults and for the youth in attendance about the film and what they can do to apply the information in their own lives.
This is a free event that will include food, raffle prices, and childcare. Families must pre-register to attend the event, especially if they are needing childcare. They can do so here.
The event will begin at 5:30 with a light meal, then the screening begins at 6:00. It will be held at Park Hill South High School. I have attached a .pdf and digital version of the flier. We are also sending to you a small number of hard copies of the flier for you to distribute how you see fit. You might consider sharing with families who may particularly benefit from this event or just make them available in your front office.
Other Concerns
If you have questions regarding your student, the information shared in this Counseling Connection Newsletter, or need help finding a mental health professional in the Kansas City area, please reach me at either of the contact options listed at the bottom of this page. You may also reach out to our social worker, Allison Dawson at the number below.
Bianca Miller, School Counselor
She/Her/Hers
Hawthorn Elementary School
8200 N. Chariton Avenue
Kansas City, Mo 64152
Counseling Mission:
In collaboration with students, parents, staff, and the community, Hawthorn Elementary School’s comprehensive school counseling program engages all students equitably in achieving the social emotional, academic, and career development skills they will need for success in a diverse and global society.
Email: mayfieldmillerb@parkhill.k12.mo.us
Phone: 816-359-6455