The Counseling Chronicles

The Counseling Chronicles are a quarterly update that we will be sending to all SRMS parents. Along with quarterly updates, we will also post resources that may be of interest to SRMS parents. Please do not hesitate to reach out, we are certainly a team!

Need to pick up your child early?

Please submit your intended pick-up time into School Dismissal Manager to make the school aware. Once you arrive at SRMS, you may pull up to the front doors by the flagpole and call the main office. They will locate your child and send them out to you. Please allow extra time for your child to stop at their locker.

Will your child be late?

Please submit your intended drop-off time to the School Dismissal Manager to make the school aware. Please make sure your child checks in with the attendance office upon arrival in order to be properly excused.

Will your child be absent?

When your child is home sick, they should rest. If they are up to working, they can check Google Classroom and do what they can. Please do not forget to report absences in School Dismissal Manager (SDM).

Chromebook Advice:

Please make sure your child has their Chromebook charged for each school day. Students are not allowed to place stickers on their Chromebooks, a fine will be charged if this occurs.

STAY UP TO DATE:

Teachers will post assignments on Google Classroom. Your child has Google Classroom access, feel free to sit with them and have them show you what they are working on.

PowerSchool is where grades are posted. If work is missing, you will see a zero. When the work has been made up, the zero will change to the new grade.

Hello 6th grade families!

I hope everyone is ready to enjoy some warmer weather after such a cold stretch! It’s hard to believe we are already halfway through 6th grade. This class has made a wonderful transition both academically and socially, and I am truly proud of the growth I’ve seen so far this year.

As we move into the last part of the year, I will continue supporting students in building strong executive functioning skills, including organization, time management, and self-advocacy. We will also focus on social-emotional growth, helping students navigate peer relationships, manage stress, and build confidence in and out of the classroom. Please feel free to reach out if you have any concerns or if your child would benefit from additional support.

Looking forward to Spring!

Warmly,

Nicki Smith

Dear 7th Grade Families,

As the days grow longer and the first signs of spring begin to appear, I hope this message finds you and your family well. It has been a busy and meaningful stretch of the school year, and I continue to be so proud of the growth I see in our 7th graders. They are navigating the ups and downs of middle school with increasing maturity—learning to manage challenges in their classrooms, on the playing fields, and in their everyday interactions. Along the way, they are strengthening their academic skills, building meaningful social connections, and developing a greater sense of self-awareness. This season is a wonderful opportunity to pause and celebrate just how far they’ve come. Encouraging your child to stay organized and keep up with assignments can help them finish strong. Time outdoors, predictable routines, and open, supportive conversations at home can go a long way in helping students feel balanced and confident during this busy time.

On a personal note, I’m excited to share that I am expecting my first baby this spring! With that, I will be out on maternity leave from mid-May through the end of the school year. While I will certainly miss being with the students each day, I know they will continue to be supported, and I will make sure there is a smooth transition in place so their needs are well cared for. You will get more information about who will be taking on the 7th grade, once we finalize those details.

As always, I am here to support your child’s social, emotional, and academic well-being. Please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns. Wishing you and your family a joyful, bright, and refreshing spring season!

Warmly,

Stephanie Boatman

Dear 8th Grade Families,

As we enter the spring season, this is an important and exciting time for our 8th graders. The final months of middle school bring growth, reflection, and preparation for the transition to high school. I’d like to share a few updates, reminders, and resources to help support your child during this busy time.

High School Transition Support
Students are well underway with their preparation for high school, including course selection and understanding graduation expectations. Over the coming weeks, there will be an emphasis on how to manage new responsibilities, build strong study habits, and navigate a larger school environment. Please encourage your child to ask questions and share any concerns they may have about this transition.

Social & Emotional Well-Being
Spring can bring a mix of excitement and stress as academic demands, extra curricular activities increase and change approaches. Encourage your child to maintain a healthy balance with sleep, physical activity, and downtime.

Academic Check-Ins
Now is a great time for students to reflect on their academic progress and set goals for the remainder of the year. If your child is struggling in any subject, I encourage you to reach out to teachers and take advantage of extra help opportunities. Building strong habits now will support a smooth transition into high school.

Spring Field Trips

We are excited to offer students enriching and fun field trip opportunities this spring:

• A trip to SoundWaters, where students will engage in hands-on environmental learning experiences focused on marine science and conservation.
• A class trip to Six Flags Amusement Park, providing a celebratory opportunity for students to enjoy time together as they approach the end of their middle school journey.

Please reach out directly to me if there is a financial need when funding these trips. We would love for every student to have the opportunity to participate.

As we move closer to the end of the school year, it is truly a privilege to witness how much these students have grown—not only academically, but as individuals. This is a meaningful and sometimes emotional time, as they prepare to leave behind the familiarity of middle school and step into a new chapter. I am proud of their resilience, their accomplishments, and the unique qualities each student brings. Thank you for sharing your children with me and for your continued support—I look forward to celebrating their achievements together in the months ahead.

All My Best,

Liz Reynolds

8th Grade School Counselor

A Note from Our SEL Dean: Understanding Restorative Practices

At our school, we are committed to helping students grow not only academically, but also socially and emotionally. One of the ways we do this is through restorative practices, an approach that focuses on building strong relationships, fostering accountability, and repairing harm when conflicts arise.

Guiding this work is a simple but powerful mantra we share with students every day: “There is nothing more important than how we treat people.” This belief is at the heart of everything we do and shapes how we approach both community-building and conflict.

While traditional discipline often focuses on rules and consequences alone, restorative practices take a more holistic approach. That said, accountability remains essential. When students make mistakes, there are still clear expectations and appropriate consequences.The difference is that consequences are used as part of a learning process, helping students reflect, take responsibility, and understand the impact of their actions on others.

Restorative practices encourage students to actively repair harm, whether through guided conversations, peer mediation, or restorative circles where all voices can be heard in a safe, respectful environment. This approach helps students move beyond simply “serving a consequence” to truly making things right.

In middle school, students are still developing critical skills like empathy, self-awareness, and responsible decision-making. Restorative approaches support this growth by teaching students how to communicate effectively, manage emotions, and resolve conflicts in constructive ways. These are lifelong skills that extend far beyond the classroom. Our goal is not just to address behavior, but to strengthen our school community. When students feel heard, valued, and connected, they are more likely to engage positively with others and take ownership of their actions.

We encourage you to talk with your child about how they handle conflict, listen to others’ perspectives, and repair relationships when challenges arise. Together, we can support our students in becoming thoughtful, compassionate members of their community.

As we enter the spring season, it can be time for excitement and anticipation from sports to concerts to graduations to plays and beyond. With that can come big emotions (pleasant and unpleasant) that can be hard to manage. “Riding the Wave” can help. This skill teaches children (and adults) that strong emotions are temporary and don’t have to control their behavior. When we learn to take a breath and allow feelings to rise and fall, we are more likely to respond with thoughtfulness rather than react impulsively. Practicing this skill helps build emotion regulation and resilience to cope with stress in a healthy and productive manner.

Ride the Wave means letting your feelings come and go without acting on them right away. Give these steps a try for greater emotion regulation:

1. Notice the feeling and name it.

2. Take a pause and focus on your breath.

3. Try to remember that emotions are like the waves of the ocean. They rise, peak, and then fall.

4. Stay with the feeling and give it time. The wave will pass and you can choose a calm way to react instead of your initial urge brought on by the feeling.

Check Parent Workshops here!

April break is the perfect opportunity to slow things down, reconnect, and support your middle schooler’s emotional well-being. Preteens are navigating big changes socially, emotionally, and academically. Even small moments of connection can make a lasting impact.

Here are simple, realistic ways to build mindfulness and strengthen your relationship over the break:

🌿 Start with Small Moments of Mindfulness

Mindfulness doesn’t have to mean long meditation sessions. It can be woven into everyday life:

• Take a short walk together and notice what you see, hear, and feel.

• Encourage your child to pause and take 3–5 deep breaths when feeling overwhelmed.

• Try a “no phones” meal and focus on being present with each other.

Tip: Model it yourself. Preteens are more likely to try mindfulness when they see you doing it too.

💬 Create Space for Real Conversations

Middle schoolers may not always open up right away but they still need connection.

• Ask open-ended questions: “What was something funny that happened this week?” or “What’s something you’re looking forward to?”

• Use car rides, walks, or casual moments instead of formal “sit-down talks.”

• Listen more than you talk. Validation goes a long way.

🎲 Do Something Together (Their Way)

Connection often happens naturally through shared experiences:

• Let your child choose an activity (game night, baking, a movie, shooting hoops).

• Join them in something they enjoy, even if it’s not your favorite.

• Keep it light and low-pressure.

Remember: It’s less about what you do and more about being together.

📵 Set Gentle Tech Boundaries

April break can easily become all screens, all day.

• Create agreed-upon screen-free times (e.g., mornings, meals, before bed).

• Encourage balance such as time outside, creative activities, and rest.

• Consider doing a family “digital detox” for a few hours or a day.

❤️ Focus on Emotional Check-Ins

Help your child build awareness of their emotions:

• Ask: “What’s something that felt stressful lately?” or “What helped you feel calm this week?”

• Normalize all feelings. Avoid jumping straight to fixing.

• Share your own feelings in age-appropriate ways.

🌼 Keep It Simple

You don’t need a perfect plan or a packed schedule. What matters most:

• Being present

• Showing interest

• Creating a sense of safety and connection

Even a few intentional moments each day can help your middle schooler feel seen, supported, and grounded.

Wishing your family a restful, connected, and mindful April break!

_________________

As part of supporting students’ social-emotional well-being both in and out of school, we encourage families to explore tools that promote safe and responsible technology use. Bark is a helpful resource designed specifically for parents of middle schoolers navigating phones, social media, and online communication.

Bark monitors activity across texts, email, and many popular apps, and notifies parents only when potential concerns arise such as cyberbullying, inappropriate content, or safety risks. This allows caregivers to stay informed while still respecting their child’s growing independence and privacy.

In addition, Bark offers features like screen time management, website and app blocking, and location sharing. These tools can support families in setting healthy digital boundaries and creating opportunities for open, ongoing conversations about online behavior.

As always, no app replaces communication. We encourage families to use tools like Bark as a starting point for discussions about digital citizenship, safety, and responsible decision-making.

Hi SRMS,

Two weeks ago, Netflix launched a documentary named “Inside the Manosphere”. In it, Louis Therox exposes several influencers about how they target teenage boys, especially those who are struggling, with messages of violence, sexism, misogyny, man supremacist, and antisemitism, among others. It is an unfiltered exhibition of the language, means, and motives these influencers use and have, so I recommend that you watch it by yourself before deciding if you want your middle schooler to watch it.

Whether you decide your student should watch it or not, it is important to have conversations at home about these topics, as experts have shown that connection is vital. Last week, Delaney Ruston, author of the Screenagers movies, compiled previous blogs and podcasts to help parents navigate this complex topic, resulting in a valuable set of resources. You can access the blog here.

Please know that my door is always open if you have any questions or concerns.

Enjoy the coming spring break!

Martha Huitron Pina, LMSW

SRMS TeenTalk Counselor

Department Leader

Email: sboatman@ridgefieldps.net
Website: srms.ridgefield.org
Location: 750 North Salem Road, Ridgefield, CT, USA
Phone: (203) 894-5725 3407

Email: dsmith@ridgefieldps.net
Website: srms.ridgefield.org
Location: 750 North Salem Road, Ridgefield, CT, USA
Phone: (203) 894-5725 3410

Email: ereynolds@ridgefieldps.net
Website: srms.ridgefield.org
Location: 750 North Salem Road, Ridgefield, CT, USA
Phone: (203) 894-5725 3409

Email: sminotti@ridgefieldps.net
Website: srms.ridgefield.org
Location: 750 North Salem Road, Ridgefield, CT, USA
Phone: (203) 894-5725 3416

Email: kvanallsburg@ridgefieldps.net
Website: srms.ridgefield.org
Location: 750 North Salem Road, Ridgefield, CT, USA
Phone: (203) 894-5725 3408