The Connection Corner
Your "Whole Child Hub"
Building Empathy In Your Child
Empathy is a key skill that helps children connect with others, build positive relationships, and navigate social situations. Parents can help foster empathy by:
- Modeling kindness: Show your child how to treat others with respect and compassion.
- Talking about emotions: Ask questions like, "How do you think your friend felt when that happened?"
- Discussing stories: Explore how characters in books or movies might feel in different situations.
Reading books together is another great way to nurture empathy. Some excellent options include:
- "Have You Filled a Bucket Today?" by Carol McCloud
- "Last Stop on Market Street" by Matt de la Peña
- "Those Shoes" by Maribeth Boelts
- "The Invisible Boy" by Trudy Ludwig
You can also encourage small acts of kindness, like helping a neighbor or donating toys, to reinforce empathy in meaningful ways.
Supporting Your Child Emotionally During The Winter Break
Between changes in routines, schedules, and family dynamics, this time of year can feel overwhelming for some kids.
Here are some strategies to help support your child emotionally during the winter break:
1. Stick to Routines When Possible
A long break from school can shake up schedules. Maintaining consistency with meals, bedtime, and other daily rituals can provide a sense of security and stability. Predictability helps children feel grounded, even when life feels busier.
2. Prepare Your Child for Changes
If you’re traveling, hosting guests, or attending events, talk with your child about what to expect. Walk them through plans for the day, such as how long you’ll be at a relative’s house or what they’ll need to bring. Kids feel less anxious when they know what’s coming.
3. Validate Their Emotions
Breaks from school and the winter holidays bring out a wide range of emotions—excitement, frustration, disappointment, or sadness. Let your child know that all feelings are okay. Use phrases like, “It’s normal to feel this way during a busy time,” or “I’m here if you want to talk.”
4. Create Space for Down Time
Between activities, parties, and errands, it’s easy for kids to become overstimulated. Make time for quiet moments at home to recharge. A simple activity like reading together or taking a walk can help children (and adults!) reset during hectic days.
Remember, every family and child experiences this time differently. The best thing you can do is to reassure your child that your love and support are constant—no matter what unfolds.
Screen Time Struggles Over Break
With extra free time during the winter break, it’s easy for kids to gravitate toward screens. While it’s okay to relax and enjoy some screen time, balance is key.
Set clear expectations about how much time can be spent on devices each day, and encourage other activities like reading, playing outside, or doing crafts together. Use tools like timers or screen-free zones (like the dinner table) to create structure. Modeling healthy habits yourself, like unplugging during family time, can also make a big impact. The goal isn’t to eliminate screens but to create a balance that works for your family.
Erin's Law "Be Seen and Heard" Assemblies
Our Preschool-5th grade students recently participated in the annual Be Seen and Heard assemblies in compliance with the Erin’s Law mandate. These assemblies focused on teaching students how to recognize the difference between safe and unsafe touch, identify trusted adults, and emphasized the importance of personal safety.
PBIS Assembly at Hawthorn School of Dual Language
SOARing students were celebrated this past month at the Hawthorn School of Dual Language PBIS Assembly. Students who exhibited SOAR expectations were nominated by their teacher to be recognized in front of the school. Then, several nominated students were chosen to "pie" a teacher or principal in the face! It was a fun celebration for all students!
Snowflake Night a Huge Success!
ReferralGPS: Connecting Families to Mental Health Resources
- Searchable Database: Offers a database of treatment options for easy access.
- Care Navigation: Provides services to support families in triage, appointment scheduling, and follow-up care.
- Inclusive Insurance Coverage: The service is compatible with all types of private and public insurance, including PPO, HMO, Medicaid, and it caters to uninsured or underinsured families.
- No-Cost Access: Available free of charge for use by district students, staff, and families.
- Confidentiality Assured: Rest assured that all information entered into the ReferralGPS tool is kept completely confidential and securely stored.
Social Workers
Our students benefit from access to school social work services. Our social workers provide ongoing support in several ways. They collaborate regularly with grade-level teams to promote a positive school climate for all students, and help support staff in using instructional practices that support social-emotional learning across all subjects. Our social workers may also lead class lessons or work in small groups with students to provide more targeted support.
District Social Workers:
Meghan Frazier - Lincoln School - frazierm@hawthorn73.org
Rhonda Malina - Hawthorn School for Young Learners - malinar@hawthorn73.org
Shelby Behrens - Elementary North/Aspen - behrenss@hawthorn73.org
Anna Bach - Aspen -bacha@hawthorn73.org
Ashley Zarinana - Dual Language - zarinanaa@hawthorn73.org
Lana Carnazzola - Townline - carnazzolal@hawthorn73.org
Kathleen Falotico - Townline - faloticok@hawthorn73.org
Paul Mazzetta - Elementary North - mazzettap@hawthorn73.org
Connie Travis - Elementary North - travisc@hawthorn73.org
Nesrin Unlu - Elementary South - unlun@hawthorn73.org
Brittany Langton - Elementary South - langtonb@hawthorn73.org
Lauren Brownstein - Middle School South - brownsteinl@hawthorn73.org
Amunn Jaffery - Middle School South - jafferya@hawthorn73.org
Jaime Medbery - Middle School South - medberyj@hawthorn73.org
Brian Van - Middle School North - vanb@hawthorn73.org
Kelli Cordes - Middle School North - cordesk@hawthorn73.org
Scarlett Davalos - Middle School North - davaloss@hawthorn73.org
Connect with ME!
Megan Goldman
Social, Emotional, Behavioral Coordinator
847-990-4269
Follow me on X (formerly known as Twitter) @D73SOARS
Check out my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCj-L3MVWzHT7xxgWytCWmYA