Student Assistance Newsletter

Grades K-8 March/April Edition

By: Ms. Valerie Northey LCSW, LCADC, SAC & Ms. Vanessa Hitchman MA NCC SAC

7 steps to promoting your child’s positive wellbeing!

1. Promote healthy sleep patterns.

It is recommended that children & adolescents receive at least 9 hours a night of sleep. It proven that sleep increases the memory of youth and helps them to learn. (Simon, 2019)

2. Encourage your child to hang with other positive people.

This promotes support from people and helps your child to feel more confident about himself or herself.

3. Exercise! Exercise! Exercise!

Exercise decreases a child’s anxiety and stress levels. It helps him or her to be healthy and have more energy.

4. Assist the child in finding what they are good at. This will help the child to build more on their strengths and build up more confidence.

5. Encouraging nutritious balanced meals. Nutritious meals aids in reducing your child’s risk for chronic diseases. It also promotes a health physical wellbeing.

6. Encourage your child to do something s/he enjoys!

Help them find activities that brings happiness to them. Simple things such as coloring, drawings, writing or listening to music. This is also a great technique when dealing with stressful situations such as test taking.

7. Encouraging your child to talk to an adult that he or she trusts.

Some situations are difficult for children or adolescents to handle on their own. An adult can guide them in finding a solution to deal with their concerns or help find someone that can trust. The child can speak with a teacher, counselor or another trusted adult that can give them support during their tough times.

References:

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-race-good-health/201402/5-tips-helping-teens-cope-stress https://www.hhs.gov/fitness/eat-healthy/importance-of-good-nutrition/index.html https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/sleep-helps-learning-memory-201202154265

K-8 SAC March/April News

Our Student Assistance Department in collaboration with the Franklin Township Municipal Alliance for the Prevention of Substance Abuse sponsored an enlightening program on Monday Evening , February 11th “ Reasons Why you Should not ignore the signs of Suicide” was presented at the FMS Hamilton Campus . The evening also included lyrical dances by students and public service announcements. Those in attendance included parents, middle and high school students, faculty and community members. We are also excited to be hosting our Annual Teen Summit to be held on Saturday March 16,2019. Our topics will include workshops on healthy dating relationships, vaping, college and career preparation and of course, skits presented by our very own high school Teen PEP.

We will also be hosting an evening presentation of the documentary ANGST for all students, parents and faculty. This documentary explores anxiety, its causes, effects and what we can do about it. Additional information on the date and location will be forthcoming. Boy’s Council and Girls Circle are a few of the many afterschool group activities offered to our students. During these groups the themes of trustworthiness and friendships are reinforced. New and exciting programs for the elementary schools include : Footprints for Life and Forest Friends. We continue to offer Happy, Healthy Me to the elementary schools.

Pine Grove Elementary School

March and April Themes at PGM:

• March 4 – Grades 3-5 “Mini” PBS Rally on Honesty • March 5 – Grades PreK-2 “Mini” PBS Rally on Honesty

• March 7 – Student of the Month Breakfast to recognize February winners (Fairness)

• March 20 – Junior Achievement • March 27 – FHS/PGM Brotherhood Program • Ongoing throughout March – Counselor Classroom Lessons

on Honesty/Trustworthiness • April 1 – Grades 3-5 “Mini” PBS Rally on Test

Taking/Readiness • April 2 – Grade PreK-2 “Mini” PBS Rally on Test

Taking/Readiness • April 4 – Student of the Month Breakfast to recognize March

winners (Trustworthy) • Ongoing throughout April – Counselor Classroom Lessons

on Test Taking Skills/Readiness

Claremont Elementary School

We have been busy here at Claremont Elementary School!

We celebrated Black History Month with our “CES MLK Museum

Walk.” Students responded in creative ways to quotes made by Martin Luther King, Jr. We also participated in the “Souperbowl of Caring” and collected food for our food pantry. We celebrated the Week of

Kindness with a School Spirit Dress-Up Week and The Great Kindness

Challenge! Congratulations to Mrs. Bevere’s team on winning the PBS bus challenge! Students in Grades K and 3 learned about Responsibility.

Lastly, we were invited to participate in “Valentines for Veterans!”

We have another busy month coming up in March. We will be celebrating “Read Across America” with Wacky Wednesday, Cat in the

Hat Photo Opportunities and Guest Readers! Our 3rd through 5th graders will also start preparing for the upcoming NJSLA test this

spring.

Thank you to our CES families for all of your support in making this first year so successful!

Conerly Road School

Conerly Road School March & April Activities

At Conerly Road School, our Guidance Counselor, Ms. Avellino, is conducting lessons about Caring and Trustworthiness in all classrooms. Our students collected donations for Operation Gratitude. They collected toiletries to be sent to military personnel serving our country. They also made Valentine’s to send to send to the troops overseas. Our PBSIS program continues to recognize Super Students and Teachers for each month. The students are building friendships as they continue to participate in daily Morning Meetings and their community service projects.

Macafee Road School

Macafee Road School January & February Activities

Monthly Themes continue. PBIS incentive and IReady competition. Sammy the therapy dog comes to visit. Special dancers from the middle school came to show off their talents. A special science assembly for our 5th grade. The 5th graders were also visited by the middle school counselor to discuss electives for 6th grade. Family math night was a huge success. Safety Patrol Kickoff Welcome Ceremony & Training.

Elizabeth Avenue School

Elizabeth Avenue Upcoming Events

• Dr. Seuss & Read Across America Assembly: This assembly is focused on encouraging students to love reading. March 1st

• Dr. Seuss Celebration Week: The Elizabeth Ave School will be transformed into a magical land inspired by Dr. Seuss’s books. Every day there will be a dress up themes and special activities to celebrate reading.

• Bullies to Buddies Cyber-Bullying Presentation: A presentation for students in grades 3-5 about responding positively to cyberbullying. March 4th

• Cookie Decorating Family Event: A fun family event where families can come together, play fun games, and decorate cookies. March 20th

• Mindfulness Mondays: Students have fun while learning how to be in the moment and ways to relax.

• Student of the Month Breakfast: A monthly breakfast honoring students who are working hard and being positive role models.

• Safety Patrol Mentoring Leadership Lunch: A monthly lunch aimed at helping students to develop positive leadership skills.

• PBS Booster Assembly: An assembly to inspire and encourage great behavior.

• Bus Incentive Parties: A monthly incentive where buses are chosen based on great behavior for a party.

Some of our students celebrating the GREAT Kindness Challenge Poster Contest!

Franklin Park School

FPS March & April School Activities The Counselors at FPS will be visiting each classroom and delivering Character Education Lessons on the character trait of Trustworthiness! Students demonstrating Trustworthiness will be recognized at our Peacemaker Celebrations on March 25 and April 17.

We’re very excited to be holding our 3rd Annual Women’s Career Day on March 26th where female volunteers come in and share information on their careers with our students in small group settings. We are beginning to plan and train for the upcoming State tests taking place in May and June!

Franklin Middle School One School

Two Campuses

Franklin Middle School at the Hamilton Street Campus

FMS@HSC March & April School Activities The following activities will be held for College & Career Readiness: March: • 1st- Rutgers Athletics Character Development Workshops • 1st-Rutgers GSE Student Teachers • 1st RIME trip to NJIT • 6th-Lunch & Learn with Raritan Valley Community College • 15th-6th Grade WISTEM 2D Event-Collaboration with Johnson & Johnson • 27th-College & Career Day • Paul Robeson Nominations, Raritan Valley Community College (Submitted)

• 3/2/19 Omega Leadership Institute, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. Launch • 3/05/2019 &3/06/ 2019 Health lessons by Central Jersey

Family Health Consortium

Franklin Middle School at the SGS Campus

FMS@SGS COUNSELING ACTIVITIES FOR MARCH/APRIL

• 2/28- Black History Assembly • RIME (Raritan Introduction of Minorities to Engineering) –

Visit to NJIT on 3/1 • 3/6- Junior Achievement for all students • The Paul Robeson Institute for Ethics, Leadership and Social

Justice at Raritan Valley Community College is pleased to announce the Twenty-Ninth Annual Paul Robeson Youth Achievement Awards. 14 students were nominated from FMS@SGS and applications were mailed.

• Career Café- Guest speakers will continue to visit with our students during lunches throughout March and April for College & Career Readiness.

• Social & Emotional Learning lessons will occur on 2/26 and 3/26 for all students.

• The 2019-2020 FMS Program of Studies is on our school website under “Counseling Office” tab.

• Week of 3/11- Counselors will be scheduling electives for the current 6th and 7th graders for the 2019-2020 school year.

• Week of 3/18- SGS Counselors will be visiting Hillcrest School, Pine Grove Manor School and Elizabeth Avenue School to present the FMS Program of Studies to the 5th graders.

• Week of 4/1- SGS Counselors will be visiting 5th graders at Hillcrest School, Pine Grove Manor School and Elizabeth Avenue School to schedule electives for the 2019-2020 school year.

• Parent Workshops: • -3/18 “Naviance Introduction for Parents” @SGS

campus 6:30pm-7:00pm All are welcome! • -4/10 “NJ PARCC” @SGS campus • Strategies and data for the state assessment will be shared

for all parents.

• SAVE THE DATE: • 5/7-5/24 NJ Student Learning Assessment • 5/7-5/8 NJ Student Learning Assessment ELA • 5/14-5/16 NJ Student Learning Assessment Math • 5/20-5/24 NJ Student Learning Assessment (Make-ups) • 5/30 FMS@SGS Career Expo

PBSIS Recent Events: • Valentine’s Day Pop-Up • Weekly Incentives and Winners – gift cards, Chromebook

covers, and make-your-own goodie bags • Staff Appreciation – 4 teachers announced and won jars

PBSIS Upcoming Events: • Star Warrior Breakfast March 1 (24 students) • Bus Incentive