I can't believe the new school year is about to begin! I hope you all had a wonderful summer. I am so excited to welcome back all of our Huckleberry Heroes. The beginning of every school year is often full of mixed emotions as we say goodbye to summer and get ready for the school year. I am looking forward to being all together soon!

I would like to introduce myself to our new families. My name is Gabriela Brennet and this is my second year as the School Adjustment Counselor at Huckleberry Hill. I work closely with teachers and families to support students' social emotional well-being while here at school. Every month I provide monthly Social Emotional Newsletters that include a variety of resources for both students and families. At the bottom of this newsletter you will find a link to my website, which contains additional mental health information and resources.

Lynn Lyons is an international speaker and psychotherapist based in Concord, New Hampshire who helps children and families manage anxiety disorders. In this podcast, Lynn "walks us through this list of things to think about to see how you can support your family's mental health and the anxiety around returning to school during COVID."

Podcast Link

It is very common for students to worry about the return to school. Having a conversation with your child about their worries is a great place to start! Check out the guide below to help you start this conversation. An activity you can try is having your child draw several bubbles on a piece of paper and have them write down one worry in each bubble. Then have them visualize these bubbles carrying away their worries and unhelpful thoughts.

DIY bubble wands are always fun! After making your own bubble wand, you can blow your own bubbles while imagining the wind carrying away your worries!

Bubble Wand Instructions

Lynn Lyons is an international speaker and psychotherapist based in Concord, New Hampshire who helps children and families manage anxiety disorders. In this podcast, Lynn discusses how our tendencies to not talk about anxiety actually makes it worse and what we can do about it.

Link to Podcast

Looking for more resources? Check out the Adjustment Counselor website for SEL information, resources, and more!

School Adjustment Counselor Website

Ms. Brennet is officially on Twitter. Follow my page for SEL updates, articles, and other helpful tips throughout the school year. @msbrennetHHS

The Interface referral service is a mental health and wellness referral help line. Callers from Lynnfield are matched with licensed mental health providers from their database within an approximate two week period of time and are matched by location, insurance and specialty needs of the caller.

The number to reach is 888-244-6843 and they can be reached Monday-Friday from 9-5.

https://interface.williamjames.edu/

We are including this comprehensive list as it is a great resource for mental health resources in our area.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-xLJDUNz7g-oD6e-3Rmclvw75nmSWzQJ/view

Gabriela Brennet, MA Mental Health Counseling

School Adjustment Counselor

Huckleberry Hill Elementary School

Email: brennetg@lynnfield.k12.ma.us

Phone: (781) 334-5835 x3345

Twitter: @msbrennetHHS