JUNE 2011
School Counselor Corner Newsletter
Page Hilltop School
School Counselors: Dr. Jayne Garrett: Preschool through Grade 2
Mrs. Betsy Dolan: Grade 3 through Grade 5
Phone: 772-8600; PH Guidance website: www.phguidance.weebly.com
School Counselor Corner Newsletter
Page Hilltop School
School Counselors: Dr. Jayne Garrett: Preschool through Grade 2
Mrs. Betsy Dolan: Grade 3 through Grade 5
Phone: 772-8600; PH Guidance website: www.phguidance.weebly.com
Celebrating Achievement
It is a natural instinct to be quick to discipline or impose consequences when children come up short on expectations or responsibilities. However, it is probably even more important to celebrate successes and achievement with our children. Here are some ideas on celebrating achievement as we come to the end of this school year:
- Find qualitative things to celebrate. Much of the end of year celebration focuses on the quantitative – scores, grades, numbers, rank, wins and losses. Look outside the quantitative. Reinforce the development of responsible behavior and good work habits. You may see that your child was good at persevering through the year (even if grades didn’t reflect this), found creative solutions to problems, or handled homework more maturely.
- Portfolio Celebration at Page Hilltop on June 6th at 6 PM is a wonderful opportunity to help your child reflect on their achievements. Ask your child questions such as“what are you most proud offrom this school year,” “what was the most interesting thing you learned,” or . “was there a subject you really got into?” Celebrate what he or she shares with you.
- Remember the whole child. Consider what other areas your child excelled in this year such as in art, music, gym, health class, handling family stress, learning to handle strong emotions, excelling socially as a good friend or making new connections. Maybe it’s something small like helping with chores at home or finding a new way to express themselves. Don’t forget to notice even slow progress in challenge areas. Celebrate these things together.
- End of Year Family Celebration Have a family meeting before the end of the school year and let everyone have a hand in planning what you will all do as a family for an “I did it!” end of school year celebration. A family movie night with popcorn, a night of family art and coloring, or a family bike ride and ice cream cones, are examples. Many businesses offer small incentives for good report cards, such as free family movie rentals, free soft drinks, dollars off a purchase, or free game tokens that could be incorporated into your family plan. Individual time with parents is also highly appreciated by children so a one on one celebration can also go a long way to celebrate your child’s achievements.
- Celebration as Motivation - The real power behind celebration resides in its ability to motivate future achievement. Do you remember the last time you achieved a goal and someone recognized you for your achievements? Were you inspired to continue your effort in pursuit of a new goal? Children receive critical feedback on a daily basis from parents, teachers and mentors. When the feedback comes from a meaningful source children strive to recreate the events that triggered the positive response. Children accept praise unconditionally. Celebrating your child’s achievements regularly paves the way for an inspired start to the coming school year.
June Area Events & Workshops
Due to the nature of events changing or possibility of cancellation, please check with any of the below events to confirm date, location, and time.
June 10th: Free Carnival for Families of Kids with Disabilities: Marlborough, 6 p.m - 8 p.m. ; Verizon's Center for Cutomers' With Disabilities hosts this annual event, which is for children ages 5 - 12 with a disability. The whole family can enjoy games, prizes, food, a DJ, and face painting. RSVP by June 2nd, 2011, with the families' names, ages, and type of disability the child has, along with how many adults and siblings will attend, to [email protected] or [email protected]
June 10: Parent/Professional Advocacy League: Location: Best Western in Marlboro; 20 years Promoting Family Voice, 20 years Celebrating Family Involvement; The conference is $10/family member and $30/professional and includes a buffet lunch. Scholarships are available for families. Our featured speakers include: Sandra Spencer is the Executive Director of the National Federation of Families for Children's Mental Health. Judith Warner is the author of "We've Got Issues," the winner of the 2101 NAMI Outstanding Media Award. Join us for a day of presentations, panels, networking, refreshments and support for people who care for and/or work with children and youth with mental health needs.
June 17th: Autism Spectrum Disorder Support Group: The Groton and Area ASD support group willbe meeting Friday morning, June 17 from 10am – 12pm in the Parent Resource Center at the Prescott School on Main Street in Groton. Contact Sarah Campbell at [email protected].
June 23rd: Workshop/ Winning Over The Worries: Helping Children Manage Anxiety This workshop will focus on helping kids with strategies and skills to help manage anxiety. Kids will…Learn to recognize when their brain is stuck on a worry…Learn how to express that worry to a helping adult…Practice ways to win over the worry and talk back to their brain…Create “worry free” zones and worry box. Fee is $40 per child per session. Curriculum is geared for ages 6-12. Payment may be made the day of the workshop. One parent should plan on attending with their child. A minimum of four, and maximum of ten participants per class. Researve a spot by emailing Nadine Briggs at [email protected].
June 26th: The Peter Pan Friendship Circle: End-Of-School Old Fashioned Backyard Carnival at The Peter Pan Center, 280 Ayer Road (Rt 111) Harvard,MA Rain or Shine; Saturday June 26th 1:00-3:00pm; $10 at the door; Please RSVP to Miss Donna at [email protected]; Games, prizes, face painting, popcorn, & lemonade.
June 28th Ayer Library Summer Reading Program Registration Begins: One World, Many Stories: Registration starts June 28th. Come into the Ayer Public Library to register for the summer reading program. Visit http://www.ayerlibrary.org for information on upcoming summer events in the works that include a theater performance, a concert, an illustrator, and author visit…and more! Don’t forget if you are an Ayer Library card holder, you can reserve passes to a number of great summer kids’ activity locations.
June 10th: Free Carnival for Families of Kids with Disabilities: Marlborough, 6 p.m - 8 p.m. ; Verizon's Center for Cutomers' With Disabilities hosts this annual event, which is for children ages 5 - 12 with a disability. The whole family can enjoy games, prizes, food, a DJ, and face painting. RSVP by June 2nd, 2011, with the families' names, ages, and type of disability the child has, along with how many adults and siblings will attend, to [email protected] or [email protected]
June 10: Parent/Professional Advocacy League: Location: Best Western in Marlboro; 20 years Promoting Family Voice, 20 years Celebrating Family Involvement; The conference is $10/family member and $30/professional and includes a buffet lunch. Scholarships are available for families. Our featured speakers include: Sandra Spencer is the Executive Director of the National Federation of Families for Children's Mental Health. Judith Warner is the author of "We've Got Issues," the winner of the 2101 NAMI Outstanding Media Award. Join us for a day of presentations, panels, networking, refreshments and support for people who care for and/or work with children and youth with mental health needs.
June 17th: Autism Spectrum Disorder Support Group: The Groton and Area ASD support group willbe meeting Friday morning, June 17 from 10am – 12pm in the Parent Resource Center at the Prescott School on Main Street in Groton. Contact Sarah Campbell at [email protected].
June 23rd: Workshop/ Winning Over The Worries: Helping Children Manage Anxiety This workshop will focus on helping kids with strategies and skills to help manage anxiety. Kids will…Learn to recognize when their brain is stuck on a worry…Learn how to express that worry to a helping adult…Practice ways to win over the worry and talk back to their brain…Create “worry free” zones and worry box. Fee is $40 per child per session. Curriculum is geared for ages 6-12. Payment may be made the day of the workshop. One parent should plan on attending with their child. A minimum of four, and maximum of ten participants per class. Researve a spot by emailing Nadine Briggs at [email protected].
June 26th: The Peter Pan Friendship Circle: End-Of-School Old Fashioned Backyard Carnival at The Peter Pan Center, 280 Ayer Road (Rt 111) Harvard,MA Rain or Shine; Saturday June 26th 1:00-3:00pm; $10 at the door; Please RSVP to Miss Donna at [email protected]; Games, prizes, face painting, popcorn, & lemonade.
June 28th Ayer Library Summer Reading Program Registration Begins: One World, Many Stories: Registration starts June 28th. Come into the Ayer Public Library to register for the summer reading program. Visit http://www.ayerlibrary.org for information on upcoming summer events in the works that include a theater performance, a concert, an illustrator, and author visit…and more! Don’t forget if you are an Ayer Library card holder, you can reserve passes to a number of great summer kids’ activity locations.