NHE Counseling Corner

We had such a fun week celebrating Red Ribbon Week at NHE at the end of October! Thank you to everyone who participated in our daily dress up themes and to the students who went above and beyond and completed the optional choice board that was sent home with all students! We have enjoyed having lunch with all of you over the past few days! Our students have done a great job focusing on making healthy choices and finding healthy ways to take care of the one body they have! We are thankful for our NHE PTA for helping make Red Ribbon Week a fun week for our students and staff! Thank you to Jude Presser's (2nd grade) mom for helping us with planning our week, adding the beautiful red bows to our trees along the circle drive in front of NHE, and for ordering and organizing all of our fun give-aways our students received throughout the week!

Thank you to everyone who donated bars of soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, women's shampoo, and conditioner for the RISD Council of PTA's Clothes Closet during our two-week donation drive in October! We donated a total of 1,804 items! A big shout out to Mila Boksiner's (2nd grade) mom for delivering our donations to the Clothes Closet and thank you to our NHE PTA for rewarding our top 3 classes who brought the most donations a pizza party! Congratulations to Mrs. Patterson's class in A hall, Mrs. Arreola's class in B hall, and Mrs. Arinze's class in C hall! Thank you for everyone's kindness!

Here is an overview of our 2nd 9 weeks lesson topics we are covering in our guidance lessons with students:

Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Grades:

* Substance Abuse Prevention-

* Coping Skills-Students will learn a variety of strategies to use to help calm their brains and their bodies when they are experiencing big emotions such as anger, frustration, worry, and nervousness.

* Anti-Victimization (Personal Safety)-Students will learn age-appropriate rules for staying safe, identify safe/unsafe touch, learn ways to protect themselves, and be able to name safe adults who can help them. (Signed parent permission is required in order for students to participate in this lesson.)

* Effective Communication/Conflict Resolution-Students will learn and apply effective communication skills to handle conflict peacefully, share feelings and ideas with others, and enhance cooperation in order to maintain positive relationships. Students will also learn a variety of strategies to use to help when they are experiencing conflict with others.

4th and 5th Grades:

* Identifying and Managing Emotions-Students will learn to recognize and manage their emotions using healthy strategies. Students analyze how emotions and self-awareness influence decision making, and they identify the value of talking about feelings with parents/guardians and other trusted adults. Students also learn to discern the emotions of others and demonstrate care and respect for self and others.

* Effective Communication-Students will learn and apply effective communication skills to handle conflict peacefully, share feelings and ideas with others, and enhance cooperation in order to maintain positive relationships.

* Anti-Victimization (Personal Safety)-(Signed parent permission is required in order for students to participate in this lesson.)

• 4th Grade-Students will review safe/unsafe touches and learn strategies for what to do when they are feeling uncomfortable.
• 5th Grade-Students will be able to identify the appropriate response related to secrets, and identify between good and bad touches.

* Bonding and Relationships-This lesson will focus on peer skills, including the ability to make and maintain positive friendships - students will define peer pressure, identify effective peer refusal strategies, evaluate assertiveness in peer pressure refusal scenarios, identify the benefits of associating with peers who make positive decisions, and name ways to influence others positively.

6th Grade:

* Bullying Prevention-Students will learn to differentiate between bullying and rude or unkind behaviors. They will also learn how to be an upstander to help protect themselves and others from other's mean words and actions.

* Junior High Preview-Students will learn about the different magnet opportunities available at Westwood Junior High and West Junior High. Students will also begin learning vocabulary that will help them as they begin the process of transitioning to junior high.

* Identifying and Managing Emotions-Students learn to recognize and manage their emotions using healthy strategies. Students analyze how emotions and self-awareness influence decision making, and they identify the value of talking about feelings with parents/guardians and other trusted adults. Students also learn to discern the emotions of others and demonstrate care and respect for self and others.

* Effective Communication-Students will learn and apply effective communication skills to handle conflict peacefully, share feelings and ideas with others, and enhance cooperation in order to maintain positive relationships.

Note: Many of the lessons that will be taught in 4th, 5th, and 6th grade this year are from the Too Good for Drugs Curriculum required by RISD.

When learning about identifying and managing emotions, we focused on being able to name our body's signs that show how we are feeling, being able to name the feeling we are experiencing, and then identifying ways to handle the any big feelings we may have. We were also reminded that all feelings are ok, but it's what we do with those feelings that can either be a positive or negative thing. Check out a variety of coping skills you can use to help you with your big feelings. Which strategies are your favorite go-to strategies to use?

To learn more about the magnet programs offered at Westwood JH and West JH, click on the following link: https://web.risd.org/magnetschools/junior-high-magnet-programs/

Students who are interested in applying for a magnet program at Westwood JH (only if you do not live in our attendance area) or West JH can apply anytime between now and December 1st.

We enjoy meeting with students individually as needed! Students may be referred by a teacher, another staff member, or a parent to meet with us. Students in 3rd-6th grades are able to request to meet with a counselor by using a QR code. This gives them the opportunity to advocate for what they need during their school day.

Here are some reasons a student might meet individually with us during school hours:

* conflict with a friend

* worried, anxious, or nervous about something

* feeling overwhelmed with school or something outside of school

* want help improving behavior

* want to set goals to improve grades

* want to learn strategies to help when feeling angry

* coping with death or loss of someone or something they care about

* challenges at home or outside of school

These are just a few of the many things we talk with students about individually. We are happy to help your child when needed with any of these topics or others that may come up! Please know that we want to build trust with the students we meet with during the school day and will only share what we talk about with other adults if (1) the student gives us permission to share, (2) we are worried about the student hurting themself, (3) we are worried about the student hurting someone else, or (4) we are worried about someone hurting the student. We always make sure students know it is ok for them to share with their grownups what we talk about at any time. It is their story to share.

If students end up needing to meet multiple times about a specific topic, additional outside counseling resources will be shared. We are happy to share a list of RISD approved outside counseling resources with anyone who may be looking for additional counseling support for their child.

Click the title above to go to a fall-themed virtual calming room. You can then click on different parts of the picture to be taken to a variety of calming activities.

If your teen or young adult is struggling with emotional or mental health challenges, RISD has partnered with Grant Halliburton foundation to provide a monthly support opportunity.

Coffee Days is a free monthly support group for mothers and caregivers of children or young people with emotional or mental health challenges. Women often join the group feeling frustrated and alone in their struggles for their child's health, but leave feeling supported, encouraged, and empowered with new information and resources.

Please click on the title above to find out more! There is one final date remaining for this semester! It's not too late to participate!

Please contact us if you need any information regarding outside counseling support, food, clothing, or other basic needs you may have. We are happy to share contact information for community partners who may be able to help you!

Let us know how we can best support you and your NHE Falcon(s)! E-mails and phone calls will be responded to during school hours. We will do our best to respond within 24 hours of receiving your message.

Email: paige.pendery@risd.org and ashley.konkle@risd.org
Phone: 469-593-4332