My name is Kristin Holder and I am so excited to start another year as the counselor at APHE! This will be my fifth year at Amy Parks and my twelfth year as an elementary school counselor. In this newsletter you will find:

• A highlight video from the first day of school.
• Ways parents can support a child with back to school anxiety.
• Information about our character education curriculum, and our value of the month.
• Details about the role of a school counselor and the campus counseling report from last year.
• A Google form for contacting Mrs. Holder

It is normal for children to be a little anxious about starting a new school year, especially this year when they have been out of the school routine for longer than usual. Younger students may worry about being away from parents, while older students experience fears about not fitting in or not doing well academically. Students of all ages may be anxious about new safety measures such as wearing masks, social distancing, plexiglass dividers, and virtual learning platforms.

Most worries about returning to school should disappear after a few weeks when school becomes routine and students become familiar with new guidelines. In the meantime, there are some things you can do to support your child's mental health and help them cope with stress:

• do an emotional "check in" with your child, and listen to concerns they may have
• be sure your child is getting enough sleep (children 5-10 years old need 10-11 hours of sleep each night)
• keep a structured routine for both virtual and in person learning
• allow for enough active play time in your child's schedule

One of the most important things you can do in the midst of uncertainty, is to keep a positive mindset. Remind your child that while we are not in control of all the things happening around us, we are in control of our attitudes and our actions in any situation.

APHE uses the Core Essential Values curriculum for character education. Each month we will highlight a Core Value and use it as the focus for discussions and activities during weekly classroom meetings. Classroom meetings are teacher led, last 10-15 minutes, and are a great way for teachers to connect with students, build a positive classroom community, and practice social emotional skills.

Parents can help reinforce at home what we are teaching at school by reading the Core Essentials newsletter and talking with your child about the monthly value. Look for opportunities to "catch" your student being a good friend this month. The Core Essentials Newsletter is provided as a PDF below. We are so grateful that our local Chick-fil-A restaurant partners with us to provide our campus with the Core Essentials curriculum. Thank you Chick-fil-A!

One Tuesday each month we will have a day for students to support their favorite college by wearing a college t-shirt or jersey! We will also be highlighting one college on the announcements and learning some fun facts about the universities in Texas.

The American School Counselor Association (ASCA) has created the ASCA National Model as the framework of a comprehensive school counseling program. This planned, holistic approach to promoting and supporting achievement of all students has four major components:

• Direct Instruction: Structured classroom lessons designed to help students attain the desired competencies and to provide all students with the knowledge, attitudes, and skills appropriate for their developmental level.
• Individual Student Planning: Coordinated ongoing systemic activities designed to assist students in establishing personal goals and developing future plans.
• Responsive Services: Activities designed to meet the immediate needs and concerns of students. Services may include counseling in individual or small-group settings or crisis response. Responsive services are discussed during the campus MTSS process.
• System Support: Services provided on behalf of students through interactions with others, including referrals for additional assistance, consultation, and collaboration with parents, teachers, other educators, and community organizations.

If you are interested in additional details about the ways I serve students, the link below will take you to the APHE Campus Counseling Report. This report contains details such as how many students received individual and group counseling, how many classroom lessons were taught, and much more!

Feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns you may have about our campus or your student. I am here to help and I want your family to have the best possible experience at APHE!

Email: Kristin.holder@rockwallisd.org
Website: https://bit.ly/2ECXKgo
Phone: 972-772-4300
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amyparksheath
Twitter: @Holder223