Wayside E.S. Counselor Newsletter April 2016

Wayside
E.S.
Counselor Newsletter
April 2016
Dear Parents,
This month you will find information about supporting your children with recess, coping with
change, an opportunity for children who are grieving the loss of a loved one, and information about
upcoming classes and support groups. And remember, Career Day will be Friday June 3rd, please sign
up to be a guest speaker at: http://goo.gl/forms/6u1opGdKM3
Thanks for your continued support.
Mrs. Yates,
Counselor
Recess Note
Spring is coming! That means many things.
One thing it means is everyone is eager to get outside to recess
when it’s a nice day! Children today have few opportunities to be together during unstructured
times and to problem solve on their own. Recess is a great opportunity for social skills
development and creative thinking.
However, this new found ―free-time can be a trial for kids learning to get attention and needs met
in a positive way. It might be helpful to have a conversation with your child about recess. Who do
they usually play with? What do they usually do? ―Tell me about recess today… is more open
ended and may provide you with more feedback.
With younger kids, you might consider asking, ―What do you do if your friend is playing something
that you don’t want to play? or ―What do you do if you want to play with someone?
You can work together to brainstorm a list of other ideas for a safe and fun recess! With older
students it might be helpful to clarify your family’s expectations for language usage and
sportsmanship - even when you’re not directly watching!
An excerpt from the article:
Helping kids cope with change
These days the subject of stress is often discussed, and parents worry that their children are
suffering from it. In looking for causes, it can be easy to overlook the great impact of change on
children. In fact, we adults often overlook the impacts of change on ourselves. Any kind of change
brings with it some degree of stress, and change can impact on children even when they are very
young. Parents can take steps to help their children cope with change in the short-term, and so
prepare them to meet the inevitable changes in life in the longer-term.
Examples of change:
The significant changes your child (and you) may have to face are many. They include:
·
moving house
a death in the family
starting school or
preschool
·
separation or divorce
a friend moving away
a new baby in the family
·
illness
new childcare
different financial
circumstances.
·
a parent losing a job or taking a new job
Simply growing up involves its own changes, which become far more obvious at adolescence.
The stress of change * Whatever the change–even if it is positive–means some measure of
stress. Some changes are more dramatic and difficult than others, and sometimes several changes
can happen at once. During such times of crisis, stress-levels can soar.
Building resilience * Learning early to cope with change is a skill that will benefit your child
throughout their life. Resilience is a quality we would all like our children to have–it means that they
are able to face difficult situations and then can bounce back afterwards. A child will tend to
develop resilience if they have at least one supportive adult to listen well to them and to guide
them; if they have good social skills; a good sense of themselves; the ability to focus; and a sense
of independence and autonomy.
What you can do * Building a close relationship with your child–while allowing them to develop in
their own way–provides a great foundation. When a child knows that they can turn to someone to
express how they feel–and that there is at least one adult who cares about what is going on–they
will tend to feel more secure, even when great changes are happening. Let your child know about
your own past experiences–the changes you have been through and how you managed them. Tell
them what you might have done differently that would have helped. Tell them about changes within
the wider family, and how other members of the family manage with changing circumstances.
Stories from grandparents about the adversities they've faced and how they overcame them will
provide a family history and also offer role modeling for those times of difficult change.
Do seek help if the change feels overwhelming either to you or your child. Your family and friends
can provide invaluable support. You can also ask your medical practitioner, or school counsellor, or
any other professional who can provide help.
From the article:Article written by Angela Rossmanith. Angela is a writer who specialises in parenting, relationship and social issues. She is the
author of several books, including When Will the Children Play? Finding Time for Childhood. Find the complete article at:
http://www.kidslife.com.au/Page.aspx?ID=1430
Camp Caring
Camp Caring is an overnight weekend camp for children who are grieving the
death of a loved one
Who: Montgomery County children, grades 2-5,
who are grieving a death
When: Friday, June 3, 2016 at 4 pm –
Sunday, June 5, 2016, at 2 pm
Where: The Claggett Center in Adamstown, MD
Round-trip transportation is provided to and from
The Hospice Caring Cottage in Gaithersburg, MD
What: Campers participate in a wide range of
activities including:
● Sharing Memories
● Expressive Arts
● Trust and bonding activities
● Recreation
● Swimming and outdoor activities
There is no charge to the student or family for the weekend camp. Any parent can get in touch by email or
phone: [email protected] or [email protected] or by phone 301-990-8904.
Find out more and register at:
http://www.hospicecaring.org/camp-caring.html
Not Recommended, but Available Resources:
TBD, TBA. New Support Group for Mothers Whose Children Need Support. This will be an ongoing
support group for mothers of children who struggle with such issues as emotional regulation disorders,
ADD/ADHD, Asperger’s/Autism Spectrum, PDD, Learning Disabilities, Sensory Processing Disorders and
other disorders. 5225 Connecticut Ave., NW, Washington, D.C. by Deborah Shulman, MSW, 301-9860099, http://www.deborahshulmanmsw.com/childrenadolescentsfamilies/support-group-for-mothers-whose-childrenneed-support/.
Ongoing. Respite Services of Montgomery County. Are you caring for a child with challenging
behaviors? An adult or child with developmental and/or intellectual disabilities? A frail senior? You can
enjoy a period of restorative relief and rest from your care giving duties in your home or in a variety of
venues. Collaboration of the Arc Montgomery County and the MC Dept. Health and Human Services, Julia
Abate, 301-816-9647, Ext. 1206, http://respiteservices-mc.org/.
Ongoing. *Smart IEPs: Goals and Objectives. How smart is your child’s IEP? A well-written IEP will help
ensure that your child is receiving appropriate special education services and making measurable progress.
Missy Alexander and Yvette Young DeCosta of the Parents’ Place of Maryland will discuss what makes a
“Smart” IEP. Offered by the Parents’ Place of Maryland,
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/recording/3750397143610264066.
LOCATE: Child Care. A free service available to parents who have children with special needs and are
looking for childcare. Will refer you to childcare providers and programs that are willing and able to
accommodate your child’s individual needs. Offered by Maryland Family Network, Inc. through funding from
the Maryland State Department of Education, 1-800-999-0120, [email protected]. Services in
Montgomery County
http://www6.montgomerycountymd.gov/hhstmpl.asp?url=/content/hhs/cyf/CCRRC/CRC09/LookingforCare.a
sp.
Ongoing. Forget-Me-Not Grief Support Groups, (FREE). For children in Grades K-5 who have recently
experienced the loss of a loved one. Opportunity to connect with other children and to process their
feelings. 14508 Physicians La., Suite 111, Rockville. Offered by the Expressive Therapy Center, Stephanie
Natter, 301-869-1017, ext. 1, www.expressivetherapycenter.com. (Call for Fall 2011 dates/times)
Ongoing. *How Will I Know If My Child Is Making Progress? Offered by the Parents’ Place of Maryland,
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/recording/9097193543789897986.
Ongoing. *Autism Insurance in Maryland. Offered by the Parents’ Place of Maryland,
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/recording/2243952960092538882.
Ongoing. *The PARCC Assessments and Students with Disabilities. The PARCC Assessments will be
replacing the MSA’s for grades 3-8 in Math and English/Language Arts and several of the HAS tests
beginning with the 2014-15 school year. Karla Marty and Cecilia Roe will offer information on allowable
accommodations and built-in accessibility features that are or may be available for all students. Offered by
the Parents’ Place of Maryland, https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/recording/5690519491574224897.