Columbia Counselor Corner

Hi Little Eagles!!

We have had a great start to the year, its been so nice to see all your smiling faces.

In September I will be visiting each classroom as a refresher of what I do and how I can support students. I will also be completing minute meetings. This is where I meet 1 on 1 with each student for a quick hello to get to know them. I am so very excited to learn a little more about each of your little eagles that I have not had the pleasure to know, and visit with all that I have previously known!

CES will continue to use Character Strong as our district Social Emotional curriculum. Keep a look out for fun parent letters within our Smore and on social media to help you engage with your student more at home on the topic of the month.

*September we are focusing on RESPECT.*

You can reach me by email: ashley.phelps@myeagles.org or by calling 517-769-8557, feel free to leave a message and I will get back to you as soon as I am available.

See below for helpful tips as we transition into the school year!

Hello!

We have started the year off right! The students have been so great at following directions, following the rules, and showing respect to all! I love seeing all the returning students and the new students as well!

This month I have been going into classrooms to do a Meet the Counselor lesson with all the students. We go over what my job is, what I can do to help them and how I help the school.

I will also be meeting with each individual student throughout September to do my Quick Check. I ask seven short questions to just check in with them, make sure they know where I am located, and to get to know them.

We are working with Character Strong again this year and the word of the month is RESPECT. We will be doing different lessons and activities to emphasize the word as well as having our Student of the Month ceremony at the end of the month. We will be having the ceremony during the day this year. More information will be sent individually for this event. We also have family activities that parents can do with their child. Teachers will be sending these in their newsletters.

I look forward to connecting with each of your students throughout the month. We have had a terrific start to the year!

As always, please don't hesitate to reach out to me if you have any questions or concerns -krista.schatzle@myeagles.org or 592-2181.

Each month I will be posting a Mindfulness Moment for students and their families to try at home. This month the mindfulness moment is Box Breathing. Many students struggle coming back to school after being home for the summer. This can cause anxiety in students. There are many ways to cope with anxiety, but one of the best, especially in the moment of extreme anxiety is Box Breathing. Due to holding the breath, it resets the diaphragm helping to calm the nervous system. There are different variations of box breathing, but the premise is the same. Breath in for 5 counts, hold breath for 5 counts, breath out for 5 counts, and hold (with no breath) for 5 counts. Continue this for 5 times. Reassess-if the breathing has calmed down to normal, then deep breathing a few times would help before dealing with what is causing the stress. If still in distress, continue the Box Breathing for another 5 cycles. (We practice this in my Mindfulness Mornings that I do here at school on Monday and Friday mornings).

Mental Health Resource List

The following document provides a list of different mental health resources available in our surrounding area. If immediate danger is suspected please call 911. For additional guidance and support, our district counselors are available through school email.

Ashley Phelps, CES Counselor, ashley.phelps@myeagles.org

Krista Schatzle, CUES Counselor, krista.schatzle@myeagles.org

Jessica White-School Counselor, jessica.white@myeagles.org

Wendy Diefenthaler-Academic Counselor, wendy.diefenthaler@myeagles.org

Will Bower, Counselor/504 Coordinator, will.bower@myeagles.org

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Dial 2-1-1 for immediate access to over 2,000 services available to Jackson County Residents. When you call you are connected to a trained Information and Referral Specialist who can discuss your needs and give you the information and/or referrals you need to find what you are looking for. There is an online directory of available resources as well on the website listed above.

Okay2Say

Michigan.gov/okay2say/

A student safety program that allows students to confidentially report potential harm or criminal activity directed at school students, school staff and schools. Tips can be submitted 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Students can submit tips through phone, email, text message, mobile app or Okay2Say website.

Community Action Agency Jackson, Lenawee & Hillsdale Counties

1214 Greenwood Ave. Jackson, MI. 49203

400 W. South St. Adrian, MI. 49221

55 Barnard St. Hillsdale, MI. 49242

517-784-4800

517-263-7861

517-437-3346

Services: Education, Economic Self-Sufficiency, Housing, Health & Nutrition, and Community Development.

LifeWays CMH

1200 North West Ave. Jackson, MI. 49202

25 Care Drive Hillsdale, MI. 49242

517-789-1200

517-439-2641

Behavioral Health Services in areas such as severe mental issues, intellectual/developmental disability, substance use disorder, and co-occurring disorders.

Family Service & Children's Aid

330 W. Michigan Ave.

Jackson, MI. 49201

517-787-7920

Born Free: Counseling & treatment for females (ages 14+) 12-step recovery program into daily life; Intro to Alcoholics & Narcotics Anonymous and Al-Anon; Families & Schools Together: families attend an 8-week group focusing on family bonding, communication, discipline and nurturing; Other services by referral only: drug screening, counseling (group & individual), First Time Offenders Program, and Breakout Drug Free Education Program in schools (6-12th grade); Child abuse and neglect educational presentations

Lenawee County Community Mental Health

517-263-8905

Behavioral Health Services in areas such as severe mental issues, intellectual/developmental disability, substance use disorder, and co-occurring disorders.

LJ Gallagher PsyD and Associates PLLC

451 Marshall Street

Brooklyn, MI 49230

(517) 414-0697

A Healing Place, LLC

207/209 First St. Jackson, MI. 49201

1218 Greenwood Ave. Jackson, MI. 49201

517-998-4673

Services: Individual Psychotherapy, Psychological Testing, Children/Adolescent Therapy, Family Counseling, Couples Counseling and Group Therapy for Eating Disorders.

Accepted Insurances (Varies by Therapist): BCBS, BCN, Priority Health, HAP, Aetna, Cofinity, PCN/PHP, JHN, Medicare, Magellan, Meridian