Elementary School Counselor Corner

Hello ARVA Families,

We hope everyone is enjoying this nice cooler weather! We're definitely excited that it's not been too hot outside. Can you believe November is here? We think October went by way too quickly here at ARVA. During our October SEL guidance lessons, we focused on the character trait Self-Direct and students learned about S.M.A.R.T. goals. To set a S.M.A.R.T. goal, it needs to be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and timely. In addition to learning about goals, we celebrated Red Ribbon Week. The theme this year was "Make a Difference. Be a Hero. Stay Drug Free." Students learned all about the importance of making healthy choices and being drug-free.

For November, we will concentrate on teamwork for our SEL guidance lesson. According to Capturing Kids' Hearts, teamwork is the ability to unite with others toward a common goal. It's important that we learn to listen, encourage our peers, and allow and invite others to contribute their talents and skills. Moreover, teamwork helps us improve our verbal and nonverbal communication skills while celebrating diversity. We're looking forward to you joining us and learning more about the significance of working together as a team!

Welcome to ARVA! My name is Amanda Bowman and I am the K-2 Elementary School Counselor. I am excited to be working alongside you and your student this year! This will be my 16th year in education and my 11th year as a School Counselor. I love being a school counselor and helping my students and their families. My husband is a football coach and teacher. We have 3 kids

(Addilynn-14, Lilly Kate-10, and Boston-6). We stay busy with all their extra activities, as you can imagine. We are very much so an outdoor family. We enjoy all kids of sports, being on the lake, camping and spending time together as a family.

My passion as the school counselor is to help your child grow academically, socially, and emotionally. My purpose at ARVA is to help you, your student, and teachers when there is a need. I do this through whole group, small group, and individual lessons along with meeting with parents and teachers to learn more about your student and how to better help him or her. I want your student to be successful here at ARVA. I want your student to have the tools needed to help him or her grow here at Arkansas Virtual Academy. Together, as a team, we are able to work to help you and your student grow and become a successful individual. Please join me weekly for our guidance counseling lessons. The times and dates will be located on the calendar for you to locate each week. I look forward to seeing your student and getting to know him/her this school year! Throughout this school year, if you have any questions or concerns, feel free to call or email at the information below. It is going to be a GREAT year!

abowman@arva.org

501-664-4225 Ext. 1036

Hello everyone! My name is Candace Eveland, and I’m the 3rd-5th Elementary School Counselor. I’m so excited to be a part of the ARVA family. A little about myself…I grew up in Paragould and still live in northeast Arkansas. I have a bachelor’s in biology and psychology from Arkansas State University and a master’s in school counseling from the University of Central Arkansas. I have a son named Beckett. I enjoy spending time with my family. We love going to the lake, traveling, and spending time outdoors.

Being a school counselor is very rewarding because you get to help change lives. At ARVA, my goal is to promote a school counseling program that provides students with the skills and opportunities necessary to achieve student success. The guidance program is an integral part of the school’s learning environment that is partnered with other entities to help students successfully thrive academically and behaviorally in the classroom. I invite each of you to attend my guidance lessons throughout the school year. These times and dates can be found on your calendar, so be on the lookout each month!

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me by email at ceveland@arva.org or phone at (501) 664-4225 Ext. 2353.

https://www.findhelp.org

https://secure.smore.com/8vt2y

https://arkansas211.org/ (Information about this statewide community resource is found below.)

Free Internet for Students: Project 10Million | T-Mobile (You must meet certain guidelines to qualify for free internet.)

Whether you want to give or get help, Arkansas 211 is the free, confidential, 24-hour-a day, multilingual way to connect individuals and families to critical local resources. These include food, shelter, rental assistance, childcare, and more. Arkansas 211 helps callers navigate their situation and then matches them with the best and closet resources in their community.

Dial 211 from anywhere in Arkansas, and you will reach a highly-trained information and resource specialist who will assess your needs and provide a list of referrals to available resources in your community. Arkansas 211 has a database of over 19,000 resources to help you find the right services. Referrals are usually given over the phone, or can be emailed or texted to you. In crisis situations, a warm transfer can be made directly to crisis specialists or 911. TTY and interpreter services are available.

Website: k12.com
Location: 717 West 7th Street, Little Rock, AR 72201
Phone: (501) 664-4225