Calm

Calm is offering free resources at this time.  These practices can be helpful for both children and adults. 

https://www.calm.com/blog/free-resources

It is becoming more commonplace for elementary-age children to access social media websites and apps.  Common Sense Media is a great resource for parents and educators.  The link below gives suggestions on helping our children navigate some of the negative interactions that can arise on social media.  In the upcoming weeks, our technology director Tim Brown will be visiting third through fifth grade classrooms to talk with children about online etiquette and digital footprint.

https://www.commonsensemedia.org/social-media/how-can-i-help-my-kid-avoid-digital-drama

Dr. Shefali Tsabary has written several books about mindful parenting and living.  Enjoy her TEDx talk Conscious Parenting.

Updates from Guidance

Kindergarten & First Grade

In guidance lessons this month we have worked on naming and recognizing emotions in ourselves and others.  Learning to identify emotions is critical to children's development.  Once they can recognize their feelings, children are better able to calm themselves.  We have also begun to introduce the Zones of Regulation, a common language we use at Hudson to categorize feelings and responses.

Second & Third Grade

After reviewing what they might already know about the Zones of Regulation, we have delved deeper into this curriculum that supports students' development of emotional regulation skills.  "The Zones is a systematic, cognitive behavioral approach used to teach self-regulation by categorizing all the different ways we feel and states of alertness we experience into four concrete colored zones.  The Zones framework provides strategies to teach students to become more aware of and independent in controlling their emotions and impulses, manage their sensory needs, and improve their ability to problem solve conflicts." 

Fourth & Fifth Grade Book Clubs

This year fourth and fifth grade students are participating in book clubs during guidance.

Students at this age are developing the skills they need to navigate more complex relationships and friendships.  They begin to reflect on their own identity, values they hold important, and the way that they want to be in the world.  Our books were chosen to prompt discussion and thought around these themes.

Hixson is hosting a Speaker Series on September 26th from 5:30-8:30 pm.  All parents are welcome to attend; talks will be geared toward families of 5th through 12th graders.

Topics will include:

• Anxiety & Depression
• Social Media
• The Adolescent Brain
• Trauma
• Vaping & Drugs
• Eating Disorders

Click here for more details!

Annie's Hope

This year we have the opportunity to partner with Annie’s Hope, a bereavement center that supports children grieving the death of a loved one.  An Annie’s Hope counselor and I will facilitate a six-week group for students this year.  Our group must have a minimum of six students with a maximum of ten.  Whether the group takes place this fall or next spring depends upon the response and need of our school community.  If, for any reason, we are not able to support the group, I will contact families directly with information about the programs Annie’s Hope offers at their center on Lockwood and Berry.

If you have any questions, do not hesitate to reach out.  If you are interested in having your child participate, please contact me by September 10, 2019.