K.E.S. School Counseling Program Components:
The school counseling program at Kaechele Elementary includes the following components:
Click here for more information
This week, we learned about our February Habitude: Curiosity. We discussed and used our journals to record things we are most curious about. Student ideas included interests in space, time travel, cures for illness, dinosaurs, caves, forests, nature, and animals. These are just a few of the many topics discussed this week. Students enjoyed books about curious characters in these books.
K Curious George Goes to the Zoo & Curious George and the Puppies
1 Curious George Takes a Train
2 Where do Balloons Go & Do Not go in There
3 The Mermaid and the Shoe
4 Question Boy Meets Little Miss Know it All
5 The Noisy Paint Box
Our October classroom guidance lessons this month are all about Bully Prevention. Students learn what is bullying behavior and how to make it stop. Some favorite books I use to help students understand bullying behavior are The Recess Queen, Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon, The Bully Blockers Club, and Sorry. Grades 4 and 5 viewed this google slide presentation https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1qtTl6sxo5olvuLDlGS8KYH0_idcAvMd4xBkKdrCISvo/edit#slide=id.g9e619acc7a_1_26 and discuss ed 4 upstanding champion behaviors to make the bullying behavior stop. 1. Be a buddy, 2. Tell someone, 3. Interrupt, 4. Stand Up. Please view this link https://vimeo.com/259390186for these upstanding champion methods to stop bullying behavior. 
The fall season is definitely here! With that comes a few new items to add to our Counseling Blog. IB applications will go live on 10/5/20. Parents and students in grade 5 may access and complete the application by going to our Kaechele School Counseling Course. This course is found on the students’ Schoology dashboard. All applications must be submitted by November 6, 2020. Please contact me via email or phone should you have any questions once you have gone to the school counseling course to review materials.
In addition, I would like to share a very helpful link for parents who may be noticing a higher level of stress in their children. This link has activities to assess and address stress and worry levels. Helping Children & Families cope with the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Welcome back to a new school year. In September my class lessons will focus on understanding and respecting differences. I will be using a variety of books that develop characters who have differences and how they learn to positively accept their differences. The book titles include, Elmer, Odd Velvet, Giraffes Can’t Dance, Calvin Can’t Fly, Dancing in the Wings, and Same Same but Different.
In addition we are welcoming 38 new students to grade levels 1-5. Each year as new students come to Kaechele I help to provide them a student buddy in their class. This year we will continue with our buddy lunches being virtual. A huge thank you to all our buddies who help make a difference by being kind. Together the group play in getting to know one another games and I share books about friendship. These groups meet once a week for 5 weeks. In October I will start support groups for students who may need help managing their academics or social and emotional growth. Parents may sign students on for a virtual group using these two permission slips. Counseling (GenEd) Consent- DOL Group Permission 2020-21
I look forward to working with students, parents and teachers. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have concerns about your students. I am happy to help make this the best year possible for all coyotes!!!
During these “new normal” circumstances of COVID-19 It may seem we as parents are spending more time helping our children solve conflicts and problems in our families. I have designed two activities for students to choose from to help them perhaps solve conflicts with siblings on their own. If you would like to try the spinner or the fortune teller simply download and print. In addition, I am sharing an article that our amazing school psychologist Lisa Frederes recommends for coping with fear and sadness as it pertains to times of a pandemic. Coping with Fear and Sadness During a Pandemic (4.13.20) Please know I am available and feel free to email me should a need arise. fortune teller- conflict resolution conflict resolution wheel
As we continue in our school closure and the uncertain times of COVID-19 I hope all of our KES community is staying safe and well. The following articles have great information for parents to think about in support of your child. I hope you find them helpful. Please feel free to email me if you should have questions or concerns regarding your child. I am always happy to help. Home & School COVID-19 Issue 1 2020 English Home & School COVID-19 Issue 2 2020 English
KES 2020 Virtual Career Day!
Hi Everyone in recognition of our planned Career Day 2020 I have gathered together many websites for students to enhance their career awareness. I hope you have fun with these. Please email me your thoughts about the sites and what careers you found most interesting!
K-5- Career Town: Virginia Career VIEW
K-5- Lots of great links within this site and includes careers Knowitall.org
K-5- Videos about government careers Videos About Government Careers
K-5- Dairy Council of California- Make a pizza game-
Make a Pizza – My Very Own Pizza Nutrition Game
2-5- Create a comic Make Beliefs Comix
4-5- Allows students to search careers, has videos describing career; best is student uses the “I want to be a…..” column My Next Move
4-5- Engineering careers for girls EngineerGirl – Homepage
4-5- Promo for automotive engineering and a video of a mechanical engineer’s job
3-5 Soil Games for kids (must have Adobe Flash Player on your computer)
https://www.soils4kids.org/games
3-5 Occupational Outlook Handbook Careers listed in occupational groups https://www.bls.gov/ooh/
I have been trying to come to terms that I will not see all my amazing students. As you know I feel that all 450 are truly my students. I enjoy our monthly time in classroom lessons. My small group and one on one sessions are the true heart of counseling at Kaechele. The daily orientation of our Watch D.O.G.S. is truly a highlight All of these along with many other joys at Kaechele I will truly miss until next year.
Thinking of our busy parents and the idea of homeschooling your children I thought this was a great resource for parents to view. It has lots of good ideas about schedules for this new way of life in these uncertain times. Children as we all understand really thrive when they can predict what is coming up next especially when things seem uncertain. Please view this if you are looking for a way to add a bit of predictability to help stabilize the “new” change in “school” and other scheduling for at home working and just living life. https://www.today.com/parents/how-homeschool-during-coronavirus-crisis-t176020
March 13, 2020
Dear Kaechele Families:
During this time, many different feelings and thoughts can arise. I want to provide resources to help support you and your families while we are navigating this period away from Kaechele. Here are a few links to resources on how to talk to students about the Coronavirus, how to deal with fear and anxiety, mindfulness strategies, and coping skills.
Managing Fear and Anxiety During Health Pandemic
Video made for kids about the Coronavirus and How to talk to your young children about the virus
25 Mindfulness Activities for Kids and Teens
Calming Anxiety – Coping Skills for Kids
Deep Breathing Exercises for Kids
In the event you need access to mental health services, here is the information for Henrico Mental Health Services. Phone Number: 804-727-8515West End Location: 10299 Woodman RoadHenrico, VA 23060
March classroom lessons were on career awareness and exploration. If students would like to explore career Ideas they can visit this site https://www.vaview.vt.edu/ for lots of fun games and information about many careers. I was fortunate to teach a few lessons using this site prior to our school closing and the students enjoyed many aspects of this learning.
Happy Random Acts of Kindness Month!! We have several projects to help make the world a better place. Here is a list of our projects.
February 3-28 Donate gently used new or used books
Books will be given to needy Henrico students for summer reading. Sponsored by KES school counseling and KES community service club.
February 10th-14 Bottle Brigade Collection of Plastics to Recycle
Students will deposit any plastics for recycling in bins at school. Sponsored by KES school counseling and the World Savers Club.
February 24-28 Change for Children
Donate spare change for Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU. Sponsored KES school counseling and SCA
In addition, I will begin 2nd-semester small group counseling sessions Click here to see a list of groups that are being offered for students. Second Semester 2020 Groups – Copy 2 If you wish to sign permission please print out and sign the permission with the group you are selecting for your student.
I am also seeking presenters for Career Day 2020! This year we will have Career Day April 3rd. If you would like to sign on please select this link to do so We need many presenters all are welcome!!! Thank you for considering this volunteer opportunity! http://goo.gl/i5KqyV
