WISD Guidance & Counseling

Welcome to the Willis ISD Guidance & Counseling Parent Newsletter!

We are committed to supporting the well-being of our students and their families. This newsletter will provide valuable information, resources, and tips to help you navigate mental health and wellness topics. Our goal is to create a supportive community where everyone feels empowered to prioritize mental health.

Thank you for being a crucial part of our community. Together, we can grow healthy minds and happy hearts in all our students.

Warm regards,

Kelly Locke

Director of Guidance & Counseling
Willis ISD

Previous Newsletters -

August

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October

November

January/February

March

Nature can help decrease your anxiety levels and can help lessen stress and feelings of anger. Exercise can also help this, but it's even better when you're outside.

Regular access to green spaces has been linked to lower risks of depression and improved concentration and attention. Being outside allows us to be social and come together with family, friends, or even people you don't know while on a hiking trail, for example.

Additionally, you may find that you sleep better when you are regularly outside. Daily exposure to natural light helps regulate sleep/wake cycles. By making sure that you get outside in sunlight every day, you can improve your ability to sleep at night.

Nature can also have benefits for children.

If you have a busy schedule and don't have much time to get outside, these may help you get a quick nature fix:

• 5 minutes: Stand outside with the sun on your face or take off your shoes to feel the grass in between your toes. If the weather isn't great, take a few minutes to gaze out a window at the scenery outside.
• 25 minutes: Go out for a stroll and take some deep breaths. You could even eat your lunch outside or take a phone call or meeting outdoors.

• Plan a picnic with friends or family. Find a park or green space to enjoy a meal and maybe take a frisbee or soccer ball.
• Rent a kayak or canoe on a nearby waterway.
• Find a hiking trail you've never been to.
• Dust off your bicycle and go for an easy ride around the neighborhood.
• Take your dog for a walk to a nearby park — they'll enjoy it just as much as you will.
• Grab a book and find a shady tree to sit under.
• Plant a vegetable or flower garden in your yard or on your patio.
• Take up golfing with a friend or family member.
• Meet up with a neighbor or friend to walk daily or weekly.
• Go bird watching at a nearby state park or wildlife habitat.

Source - UC Davis

Why is sleep important for health?

• supports emotional wellbeing
• promotes growth
• helps heart health
• supports weight management
• helps combat germs and keep your immune system strong
• reduces risk of injury
• increases attention span
• boosts memory and learning

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, these are the recommended number of hours of sleep based on a child's age:

• Newborns: 14-17 hours a day
• Babies: 12-16 hours a day (including naps)
• Toddlers: 11-14 hours a day (including naps)
• Preschoolers: 10-13 hours a day (including naps)
• School-aged children: 9-12 hours each night
• Teenagers: 8-10 hours each night

Source - Cultivating Health

What?

• Kids buying drugs from social media-based dealers isn't new, but there's a recent rise in kids using social-media sourced ketamine.
• As clinical ketamine use has increased, so has recreational use. Notable figures have used it like Matthew Perry , who died from a ketamine overdose.
• Often, the dealers—or "plugs"—use three platforms: first, a mainstream platform to advertise that they have drugs to sell, often using emojis. Then they'll use more private apps to share a "menu" and payment details.

Now What?

• If any substance-use education happens at your school, including ketamine among the drugs discussed will help kids know the risks and impacts.
• Much like basic internet safety around communicating with strangers, purchasing illicit substances online comes with a whole host of risks, including scams and worse—like drugs laced with fentanyl.
• Ask kids: What kinds of risky or potentially criminal content do they see online? How do they keep themselves safe on- and offline?

Source - Common Sense Education

Helping children understand personal body safety is an important step in keeping them safe and confident. Here are simple ways families can start the conversation:

🔹 Use correct names for body parts to build confidence and clarity.
🔹 Teach body boundaries — children should know they can say “no” to unwanted touch.
🔹 Explain safe vs. unsafe secrets — no secret about their body should be kept from a trusted adult.
🔹 Identify trusted adults they can go to if they ever feel uncomfortable or unsafe.
🔹 Keep communication open — regular, calm conversations help children feel safe sharing.

Click the link below to hear a message from our Director of Guidance & Counseling, who shares even more helpful tips for parents.

Together, we can empower children with knowledge, confidence, and support. 💙

The freedom of summer can lead itself to increased technology use. Below is a guide to help your students transition from summer freedom to learning ready.

1. Turn off push notifications
   
2. Convert to black and white
   
3. Bring back family meals and put away your phone during meals
4. Designate tech-free hours - get creative, get active or both!
   
5. Make your child's bedroom a no-phone zone
   
6. Replace tech time with reading time
   
7. Limit to one screen
   
8. Clean your social media accounts

Benefits of Digital Detox

1. Increased Calmness
   
2. Productivity Boost
   
3. Self-Content
   
4. Healthier Lifestyle
   
5. Better Sleep
   
6. Boosts Mood and Human Connection
   
7. Lesser Stress and Anxiety
   

Click HERE for more info & tips.

Use these planners to inspire conversations about tech use as a family.

Entertainment and tech have the potential to spark meaningful conversations. And tech planners are a great way for kids to have a shared understanding of how your family makes the most out of entertainment and tech time.

Daybreak Health offers confidential, teletherapy for students, even during school breaks. Appointments available:

Monday–Friday, after school - 8 PM

Saturday, 8 AM–8 PM

Click HERE to access.

Free Resources

• ParentGuidance.org helps parents find answers to help guide their child.

50+ On-demand Courses

• Led by licensed therapists and clinicians who provide trusted and specialised courses. Discover the power you have to shape your child's well-being.

Ask A Therapist

• Find 30+ mental health questions submitted by parents, answered by licensed therapists.