Warrior Counseling Newsletter
December 2024
This Month
December 9th- 13th- Bilingual SEALS TESTING
December 9th- Winter Orchestra Concert @7PM
December 10th- 9th Grade Registration Information Night @6PM-8PM
December 12th- Winter Choir Concert @7PM
December 16th- Winter Band Concert @7PM
December 20th- NO SCHOOL - Teacher PD
December 21st to January 1st- Winter Break - NO SCHOOL
January 2nd- SCHOOL RESUMES
Navigating the Holidays
As the holiday season is upon us, many see this season as a full of hope, cheer, reflection, and togetherness. For some, however, the holiday season may bring reminders of grief and loss, trauma, loneliness, and stress. Here are some tips for your child (and you!) to navigating the holiday when you aren't in a place to feel very festive.
Grief and the Holidays
- Acknowledge your feelings: Don't stuff your emotions; embrace your feelings and give space for your grief and for processing unpredictable feelings that may catch your unaware. Allow yourself to feel your feelings and get rid of guilt for not have "holiday cheer."
- Take care of yourself: Be patient with yourself, be kind to yourself, and set realistic expectations for yourself and the holiday season. Be sure to have back-up skills for coping with particularly difficult grief triggers.
- Lost loved ones: Holidays without loved ones can be particularly difficult, so take the time to grieve. Share memories of those loved ones with others, honor their memory with holding space for them within your holiday traditions, or create a tribute to them to share with others.
- Make the holiday your own: Create new traditions, balance old and new traditions, say "no" to events, or opt out of the holidays altogether. It's okay to change things as the world is changing around you!
- Connect: Ask for help, seek support, or even volunteer to connect with others.
Trauma and the Holidays
- Identify your triggers: Know what aspects of the season bring up traumatic memories for you. This way if you can't avoid those triggers, you can at least try to prepare yourself when you may be faced with them.
- Set boundaries: Give yourself permission to say no to events or interactions that can be triggering or overwhelming, and have an escape plan for when you have these feelings for something you said yes to.
- Self-care: Practice grounding strategies, deep breathing, meditation and mindfulness techniques to help you get through those traumatic memories and triggering moments. Limit substances that might heighten your trauma symptoms.
- Seek support: Communicate openly with friends and family members on how they can help support you through the holidays. Ask for help from a trusted friend, family member, support group, or therapist to help process through your trauma emotions around the holidays.
Anxiety and Depression and the Holidays
- Set realistic expectations: Lessen the pressure for the "perfect" holiday (which doesn't exist!). Give yourself permission to say no to events, not bake all the items, not buy all the items, and not decorate all the spaces. You don't have to do all the things!
- Manage your schedule: Avoid overcommitting to holiday events and interactions; set boundaries around how much you take on to limit overwhelming feelings or to consider your social battery levels. Take time for yourself to rest, relax, and restore.
- Prioritize self-care: Maintain a healthy routine and practice relaxation techniques (like deep breathing, meditation, mindfulness, or progressive muscle relaxation) to reduce anxiety or stress. Engage in enjoyable activities to boost your mood for decreasing depression.
- Reframe: Take time to reflect, enjoy, and reevaluate the purpose of the holiday season. Practice gratitude, engage in acts of kindness and give unto others. Taking a step back and thinking through the "why" can help you to slow it down and prioritize what's important about the holiday season.
For more information like this please visit the following link https://acp-mn.com/
Beth Gjerde
Assigned students: A - Da | BARR 9.1
651-403-7203
elizabeth.gjerde@isd197.org
Onsite Availability:
M-F | 7:30 - 3:30
Jessica Grochowski
Assigned students: De - He | BARR 9.2
651-403-7181
jessica.grochowski@isd197.org
Onsite Availability:
M-F | 7:30 - 3:30
Leah Erchul
Assigned students: Hi - Mc | BARR 9.4
651-403-7245
leah.erchul@isd197.org
Onsite Availability:
M-F | 7:30 - 2:30
Margaret Citta
Assigned students: Me - Sal
651-403-7202
margaret.citta@isd197.org
Onsite Availability:
M-F | 7:30 - 3:30
James Winkoski
Assigned students: Sam - Z | BARR 9.3
651-403-7204
james.winkoski@isd197.org
Onsite Availability:
M-F | 7:30 - 3:30
Tricia Bluhm, Registrar
651-403-7207
tricia.bluhm@isd197.org
Onsite Availability:
M-F | 7:00 - 3:30
Britney Meza-Rodriguez, Administrative Assistant
Social Emotional
At Two Rivers High School, your school counselors are pivotal in helping students develop social emotional skills, collaborating with classroom teachers to provide social emotional curriculum, identifying interventions that support students' social emotional development, and referring students to resources that can better meet their social emotional needs.
Finding HELP:
If you feel that HELP is needed, please feel free to reach out to the Guidance Office Staff, most notably your assigned counselor. Associated Clinic of Psychology (ACP) Also offers counseling services through Two Rivers. If you feel you would benefit from counseling services, you can contact your counselor or access the referral form directly for ACP here: https://acp-mn.com/referral-form/
Step by Step on How to Make an Appointment with Your Counselor
If you can't make it during those two times, check in with your teacher before heading to the Guidance office.
2. Let Britney know you need to make an appointment with your counselor. Britney will look up your counselors calendar and let you know what time they are available.
3. Once you both have agreed on a time. Britney will look up your schedule and send you a Smartpass via your school email. This will allow you to come to the guidance office at the time of your appointment.
4. At the time of your appointment, check in on the iPad located on Britney's desk.
5.Britney will than check in with your counselor and make sure they are ready for you.
6.Once Britney gives you the okay, you have successful made it to your appointment.
YAY!
Family Support
CULTURAL LIAISONS
Cultural liaisons understand the value of and are committed to effective partnerships between schools, families and communities. They serve as advocates to our families and students and build trusting relationships that ensure equitable access to school and district services. Cultural Liaisons work in collaboration with a variety of school and district staff members to support and empower students in reaching their social and academic goals.
Meet our Wonderful Cultural Liaisons who
• Work in coordination with counselors, mental health and other support staff and/or administration to meet students/families needs
• Assist school and district staff in deepening their understanding of and responsiveness to the variety of cultures represented in our schools
• Assist in supporting student academic success and goals
• Partner with teaching staff to help build family connections
• Assist in developing and implementing support and outreach strategies for families
Elizabeth Honorio-Arroyo
Spanish Cultural Liaison
Claudia Cunningham
Spanish Cultural Liaison
Nell Barri
American Indian Cultural Liaison
