OMS School Counseling Newsletter

In their most recent book Drs. Sam Goldstein and Robert Brooks examine how multiple generations of parents and caregivers raised children to become successful adults. Tenacity in Children: Nurturing the Seven Instincts of Lifetime Success identifies seven instincts or inborn attributes that include the rudimentary forms of intuitive optimism, intrinsic motivation, compassionate empathy, simultaneous intelligence, genuine altruism, virtuous responsibility, and measured fairness. The book describes realistic and practical strategies to nurture these instincts, which are housed within the concept of “tenacity.” Tenacity in Children provides a solid foundation to prepare children for a resilient, meaningful, and happy future. Psychologist Maurice Elias wrote, “This book will change our schools, our approach to mental health and parenting, and how we conduct civic life.”

The Children's Room came to Ottoson Middle School on November 17th during the lunch block for Children's Grief Awareness Month. Student will had the option to participate in activities to remember loved ones who have died through crafts and activities.

For resources about how to coping with grief during the holiday season please click here.

For more information about how to support a grieving child or teen click here.

Ottoson Middle School is working with The Children's Room (TCR) to offer a FREE grief group for students!

This group provides the opportunity for students to connect with peers, find commonalities, and feel supported surrounding their experiences. Students who have ever experienced the loss of a parent, sibling, or other close family member who was a part of their day-to-day life are welcome.

Groups will meet for 8 sessions: The group will be beginning in mid January. Registration deadline is December 22, 2023

Parents/Guardians, Please contact your student's counselor if you think this group would be helpful for your student.

During the week of November 6-10, 2023 schools throughout the United States celebrated National School Psychology Week (NSPW) to highlight the important work school psychologists and other educators do to help all students thrive. This year's theme is "Let's Grow Together," inspired by the importance of both personal and shared strengths in our growth as individuals and school communities in every season of life. The theme recognizes every aspect of growth, as fundamental to effective learning environments and to school psychologists' role in supporting student well-being and learning.

At Ottoson Middle School Tara Manke, one of our school psychologists. spearheaded a gratitude project with help from the school counselors. Students were asked to write on a leaf one thing they were grateful for. Research shows gratitude isn’t just a pleasant feeling—being grateful can also support greater health, happiness, and wisdom in ourselves and our communities. Images from the project are attached

Sanborn Foundation

Financial assistance for Arlington residents living with cancer

Circle Camp is a summer camp program for female identifying kids 9-14yo who have experienced the death of a parent

Parent Support through PPAL (Parent/Professional Advocacy League) They offer workshops on a range of topics from navigating your child's IEP, to active parenting. The also have a series in Spanish.

Winter Brochures

Arlington Center for the Arts

Arlington Recreation Department

Arlington Boys and Girls Club

Fidelity House Fall Program

Massachusetts Launched a new Community Behavioral Health Centers (CBHCs) to serve as an entry point for timely, high-quality and evidence-based treatment for mental health conditions and substance use disorders, including routine appointments, urgent visits, and 24/7 community-based crisis intervention as an alternative to hospital emergency departments. CBHCs receive enhanced state funding through alternative payment models to support flexible, person-centered treatment.

Community Supports (Food, Mental Health, Housing, etc.)

Greater Massachusetts Special Needs Events

McLean Child OP Services has immediate openings for teens. Here is their October newsletter. Their Group and Bridge services are insurance based, while their Anxiety Mastery Program and DBT Program are hybrid insurance and fee for service

Cartwheel Care

Services are available to all Arlington Public Schools students and families.

Services are virtual and include short-term individual and group therapy, parent/caregiver

consultation. Following an initial session, additional services may include medication evaluation

and prescription, and longer-term outpatient referral support.

Referrals to Cartwheel Care go through your student’s school counselor

Cartwheel hosts parent workshops as well the next one is

Five keys to parenting children with ADHD

December 6th at 7:00 p.m. ET

REGISTRATION LINK HERE

Parent Support Groups are offered through Child Therapy Boston.

Their therapists understand the unique position that parents are in. Parenting kids with anxiety, dysregulation, ADHD, Mood Disorders, and challenges with school or peer relationships can be hard. Traditional advice, books, and parenting “methods” don’t always apply to the unique situations you might find yourselves in.

McLean Hospital has a number of different mental health supports. Their December newsletter can be found here.