Rachel Carson Student Services
Quarterly Newsletter: Quarter 3
Hello Panthers!
We have made it halfway through the school year! We are officially in the second semester, which is the start of the 3rd quarter. This is a time for a fresh start, and for students to start thinking about setting both personal and academic goals for themselves. Students should continue to put in a good effort in all of their subjects and ask their teachers for help if they need it.
Since we returned from winter break, students have had academic advising lessons with the counselors to select their courses for the next school year. We will continue academic advising during the month of February and will be meeting with students individually to help them select their courses in their StudentVUE account. Students should be reading all the Carson Student Central posts (in Schoology) and seeing or emailing their school counselors if they have any questions or concerns about their courses for next year.
By now, students should have received their updated schedules for the second semester, which is typically a change in their semester elective course. We hope that students will enjoy their selected second-semester electives and develop new interests.
TEST ANXIETY TIPS
Soon, students across the country will begin end-of-year testing. Below are some tips to help students manage test anxiety.
We have all been in situations where we were under evaluation. In these situations, a moderate amount of stress is quite normal. A little nervousness or "butterflies" can be good. It may spring us into action and motivate us to reach higher levels of success. However, for some individuals, this normal anxiety is much more intense and can be so strong as to greatly affect concentration and performance.
Test anxiety is a type of performance anxiety. This is a feeling that one may have when in a situation where performance really counts or the pressure is on to do well. More directly, test anxiety involves severe distress before, during, and/or after the exam which limits the ability to do your best work. Individuals may "blank" or "freeze" during tests. The anxiety can be so severe that individuals feel as though they may pass out or throw up. Test anxiety is often caused by a fear of failure, poor test history, or lack of test preparation.
Fortunately, test anxiety can be managed. Students who have test anxiety are eager to perform well but need a little assistance. Parents and educators working together with youth when they sense a problem with test anxiety can ease the strain and help them cope with test time in order to reach success. Here are some strategies to relieve the stress:
- Help your child be as prepared as possible. Promote good study habits. Have your child study in smaller increments of time and over a few days in advance of the test. Helpful study techniques include regular reviews of the material, looking up unknown words, using flashcards, taking practice tests, and using multimedia video clips. Creating a system of rewards and reasonable expectations for studying can be effective.
- Develop effective test-taking strategies. These include reading each question carefully, answering the test questions you know first and then going back to more difficult ones, using a process of elimination for tough multiple-choice items, and using an outline for essay items.
- Teach your child to keep a positive attitude and be confident in his or her abilities. Children will be less anxious if they focus on positive thoughts and stay relaxed. For example, help your child replace negative thoughts, such as "I will never pass the test" to "I have prepared for the test. I will do my best. I have a good chance of passing." Remind your child that no matter what happens with any test, he or she is a wonderful, worthwhile individual who is deeply loved.
- Promote healthy practices. Ensure that your child gets enough sleep, eats healthfully, exercises regularly, and has some personal time. This helps to relieve stress, boost energy level, and maintain focus.
- Consider encouraging your child to use expressive writing to reduce negative thoughts. With this technique, youth spend a short amount of time prior to a test writing down their thoughts and feelings about the test. This may allow youth to off-load their worries onto the page as a means of freeing up brainpower for the test.
- Teach relaxation exercises. Have your child practice taking slow, deep breaths while picturing a calm place, and consciously relaxing his or her muscles, one at a time. Encourage your child to use this skill if feeling anxiety before or during the test.
- Have your child take a short break when necessary.
- Encourage your child to seek out help with test anxiety when needed. You as the parent, a teacher, or a support person in the school such as the school counselor, school psychologist, or school social worker can serve as a useful resource in providing assistance.
Source: FCPS HEALTHY MINDS BLOG
Student Services Highlights
SUMMER SCHOOL
For any student interested in taking a summer school online class, the registration has officially begun. Once students sign up for their selected course, the counselors will receive a county email and have 24 hours to approve. The link for the summer registration is as follows:
Parent Resources
Free Parent Webinars
What should I do before my child grows up? Future Planning for Elementary and Middle School Students with Disabilities
Join Career and Transition Services (CTS) to learn about planning for life in and after high school!
It’s never too early or too late to start preparing for your future. We want to help you start planning for a successful transition from school to life as a young adult.
Ensuring the postsecondary success of our students with disabilities is dependent on what is known as transition planning. Please join CTS and other support service personnel for a month of webinars focused on planning for the future.
Each week, webinar sessions will cover a range of topics: CTS programming and services for students with disabilities, short and long-term postsecondary supports, employment and postsecondary education considerations, Supported Decision Making, and student self-determination as an evidence-based predictor of post-school success.
This event also includes two evenings of student/parent panels where members describe their firsthand experiences as they navigated Fairfax County Public Schools and planning for their child’s future.
Wednesdays in February, 2022: 2/16, & 2/23 6:30-8:30 p.m.
February 16
6:30 – 7:30 Session 1
College and Postsecondary Education Options: Understand the college planning process and learn how to find colleges/programs with the right support and services for your child or student.
7:30 – 8:30 Session 2
My Journey - Part I: An FCPS Graduate Student and Parent Panel: Opportunity to hear from students and parents who navigated special education programs and services in FCPS.
The panel for Part I will consist of individuals with disabilities who are pursuing competitive employment and higher education opportunities after exiting FCPS.
February 23
6:30 – 7:15 Session 1
Middle School Support: This session will provide an overview of planning for your future within the IEP and a discussion about why it’s important to start that planning early.
7:15 – 8:30 Session 2
My Journey - Part II: An FCPS Graduate Student and Parent Panel: Opportunity to hear from students and parents who navigated the transition process in FCPS.
The panel for Part II will consist of individuals with disabilities who are pursuing supported employment, group supported employment, or day support opportunities, and working with the Community Services Board (CSB) for on-going support after exiting FCPS.
Preparing for the Unexpected: Challenges of the Military Family
Did you know military-connected students experience different “seasons” as they navigate their school years?
Using tools from her book, “Seasons of My Military Student,” Stacy Allsbrook-Huisman will offer relevant tips and strategies for managing new challenges.
Highlights include:
- What makes a school "military-friendly"?
- How can parents help schools understand the challenges of their military-connected students?
- The history of "military-friendly" in the United States and origin of the Purple Star Schools.
- What does being a Purple Star School really mean to military families?
- Moving this summer? Get started on the Seasons of Leaving
Join Stacy Allsbrook-Huisman for our third of a 4-part series supporting military-connected families.
February 25, 2022 10 - 11:30 a.m.
If you have any questions or concerns throughout the school year, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. Email is the best way to reach contact us, but if you would like to schedule a meeting with us, please let us know and we will try our best to accommodate your needs during school office hours (7am-2:30pm). Please allow 24 hours for a response to your email or phone message.