Attention 5th Grade Parents
Soon all of our 5th graders will fill out "Academic Plans" for middle school during a classroom guidance lesson. This plan will help guide our students in course selection and encourage them to think about future goals for middle school, high school, and beyond. Students will bring their plans home for parents/guardians to sign and return to school. Later in the year, during December classroom guidance lessons, students will learn even more about actual middle school pre-registration. In January (dates to be announced) we will fill out pre-registration paperwork to start the process of middle school registration. This is an exciting time for 5th graders!
November 10-14th is Bullying Awareness Week @ K.E.S.
Small Groups Update
School Success small groups have been the most requested small group so far this school year. The first round of groups are beginning to meet. Students are selected based on parent recommendations, teacher recommendations, need, and schedule availability. Other groups/topics will be offered after our first round of "School Success" groups. You will receive more information from the counselor if your child is selected for a group.
December Holiday Program:
K.E.S. has an "Angel Tree" early every December to help out less fortunate Kempsville families. Typically, our staff sponsors the program, but some parents and volunteers have inquired about helping in the past and have been so giving and generous to our families! If you would like to help out by donating a gift, please contact Amy Wight directly at 648-2732 for more specific information. Our goal is to give each child in the program at least one outfit and one toy. Thanks for your support!
Individual Referrals:
Many times children experience situations or changes in their lives and need a little extra support and encouragement. Please inform your child's teacher or the school counselor if you would like your child to see the counselor on an individual basis. The counselor will contact the parent(s) or guardian(s) for more information. The school counselor uses a brief, solution-focused approach when working individually with students.
J K.E.S. SMALL GROUPS:
An integral part of the school counseling program at Kempsville Elementary School is small group counseling. Groups allow the counselor to help students with similar needs in the most efficient way and give students the positive experience of working with and supporting their peers. Topics offered vary year to year, but typically include school success (organization, study skills), friendship skills, deployment, grief, anger and behavior management, family change, and more. Students will be selected for groups based on several factors including need, recommendations, and availability. Please contact the counseling office at 648-2732 for more information.
IS YOUR CHILD HAVING A HARD TIME WITH THE TRANSITION BACK TO SCHOOL?
(This may be helpful after a holiday break)
HERE ARE SOME SMALL WAYS TO HELP LESSEN SEPARATION ANXIETY:
· PRACTICE (ROLE-PLAY) WITH YOUR CHILD NEW WAYS OF HANDLING ANXIETY-PROVOKING SITUATIONS (AT A TIME WHEN YOUR CHILD IS CALM & RELAXED)
· TRY RELAXATION EXERCISES TOGETHER….TENSE UP , THEN RELEASE MUSCLES, STARTING FROM FEET GOING UP TO THE FACE, TAKE DEEP BREATHS TOGETHER, ETC.
· MAKE A CONTRACT WITH SPECIFIC GOALS AND REWARDS FOR BEHAVIOR
· LET YOUR CHILD’S TEACHER KNOW ABOUT THE SITUATION
· HELP TEACH POSITIVE “SELF-TALK”
(SOMETHING YOUR CHILD CAN SAY OVER & OVER AGAIN….”I CAN SOLVE PROBLEMS, I CAN DO IT, I WILL BE PROUD OF MYSELF”…)
· TRY (THIS ONE CAN BE TOUGH!) TO MODEL A “YOU CAN DO IT” ATTITUDE…TRY TO HOLD BACK YOUR OWN TEARS UNTIL YOU’RE OUT OF SIGHT! ALLOW THE TEACHERS/STAFF TO WALK YOUR CHILD TO HIS/HER ROOM OR ENCOURAGE YOUR CHILD TO RIDE THE BUS, IF POSSIBLEJ
· ALLOW YOUR CHILD TO HAVE A PICTURE OF YOU/YOUR FAMILY IN HIS/HER BACKPACK
· PUT ENCOURAGING NOTES IN YOUR CHILD’S LUNCHBOX