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In This Issue: Early Act Parenting Library Changing Family Sessions to begin in January Counseling Programs Calendar Websites Children and Divorce Early ActOur students collected a socks and mittens for our local social services. They sent letters to the residents in Merry Heart Nursing Home. They included envelopes, stamps and writing paper hoping that they will write back. January 5 was the start of “Franklin School Goes Green.” The cafeteria is now using silver ware in place of plastic. Please help make your children aware of helping the environment. We will be promoting “Garbage Free Lunches.” This will be encouraging student to use reusable containers for their sandwiches and other lunch items. We will have our annual Dance-A-Thon in March. In April the children will be participating in the “Purple Pinkie Project.” Watch for more details. Thank you to our students for their kindness. Parenting LibraryThanks to the PTA Grant Franklin School has a parenting Library. Listed below are some of the items available for loan. To borrow any of the items stop by the Guidance office. You can call or email ahead to be certain the item you are looking for is available. I ask that when you borrow items that you keep them no longer than a week. CD’s Avoiding Power Struggles With Kids Didn’t I tell You To Take Out The Trash? Techniques for getting kids to do chores without hassles. Four Steps to Responsibility Oh Great! What do I do now? Parenting remedies for when kids cook up the unexpected VCR Tape Hope for Underachieving Kids: Opening the Door to Success with Love and Logic Check out the information in the front lobby. We are providing literature for your information on learning and parenting. If you are looking for something in particular let me know and I will make it available.
Changing Family Changing family sign up sheets will go home this month for third and fourth grade. These group sessions are for children whose parents have separated or divorced. Please call my office if you would like additional information. Sessions will begin the week of January 23rd and continue for 10 weeks. Classroom GuidanceClassroom Guidance is designed to assist the teacher with the social and emotional learning of children. We all want young people to be knowledgeable, caring, responsible, and healthy. Young people who succeed academically and in their personal lives are socially and emotionally competent. They are self-aware. They have a positive attitude toward themselves and others. They can handle emotions, set and achieve goals, and solve problems. They can communicate effectively. They are cooperative. They make a positive contribution to their family, community and world. To achieve this the counselor visits each classroom, K-4, one time each month to teach and reinforce skills that help build social and emotional skills of our children. Counseling Programs at Franklin School= Individual counseling: This is available to any student who needs to communicate about issues relevant to them regarding interpersonal and/or academic development. = Small Group Sessions: o Changing Family Groups: This group is for students who are currently experiencing parental separation and/or divorce. The group provides information and teaches skills to assist the children cope with family changes. o Newcomers’ Club: All students new to Franklin School meet the counselor to help them orient themselves to their new school. o Friendship Groups: Sometimes children have a difficult time making or keeping friends. In this group we explore self-esteem and skills for making friends. o Study Skills Groups: This group is most popular with 3rd graders who experience a greater need for organization, planning and research. The focus is on academic improvement. o Social Skills Groups: Some children need additional coaching in making good choices in social settings. In this group we explore problem solving skills, anger management, manners and more. CalendarJanuary 8 & 15 Early Act meetings after school in the Media Center. Watch for information on upcoming “Redirecting Children’s Behavior” class. Websites www.apa.org The American Psychological Association offers a general section on their web site maintaining articles on current issues. www.casel.org Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning offers ongoing information on the importance of social and emotional learning (SEL). www.eqparenting.com Dr. Elias and Dr. Tobias offer information on current parenting issues. www.incaf.com The International Network for Children and Families is the founding organization for the parenting program “Redirecting Children’s Behavior” that I offer during the school year. The website has parenting articles that are of interest. www.tvturnoff.org Offers information on the effects of media on children. Watch for the no TV week in April.
Children and DivorceOne out of every two marriages today ends in divorce and many divorcing families include children. Parents who are getting a divorce are frequently worried about the effect the divorce will have on their children. During this difficult period, parents may be preoccupied with their own problems, but continue to be the most important people in their children’s lives. While parents may be devastated or relieved by the divorce, children are invariably frightened and confused by the threat to their security. Some parents feel so hurt or overwhelmed by the divorce that they may turn to the child for comfort or direction. Divorce can be misinterpreted by children unless parents tell them what is happening, how they are involved and not involved and what will happen to them. Children often believe they have caused the conflict between their mother and father. Many children assume the responsibility for bringing their parents back together, sometimes by sacrificing themselves. Vulnerability to both physical and mental illnesses can originate in the traumatic loss of one or both parents through divorce. With care and attention, however, a family’s strengths can be mobilized during a divorce, and children can be helped to deal constructively with resolution of parental conflict. Parents should be alert to signs of distress in their child or children. Young children may react to divorce by becoming more aggressive and uncooperative or withdrawing. Older children may feel deep sadness and loss. Their schoolwork may suffer and behavior problems are common. As teenagers and adults, children of divorce often have trouble with their own relationships and experience problems with self-esteem. Children will do best if they know that their mother and father will still be their parents and remain involved with them even though the marriage is ending and the parents won’t live together. Long custody disputes or pressure on a child to choose sides can be particularly harmful for the children. Research shows that children do best when parents can cooperate on behalf of the child. Parents’ ongoing commitment to the child’s well-being is vital. If a child shows signs of distress, the family doctor or pediatrician can refer the parents to a child and adolescent psychiatrist for evaluation and treatment. In addition, the child and adolescent psychiatrist can meet with the parents to help them learn how to make the strain of the divorce easier on the entire family. Psychotherapy for children of divorce, and the divorcing parents, can be helpful. Reprinted with permission from the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.
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