School Counselor Newsletter

I hope this newsletter provides information to assist you and your child. Please know that all the staff at Woodhill Elementary continues to be available to address concerns and answer questions. We miss seeing our students.

Ms. Berry and Mrs. K will be available during normal school hours (8-3). Please feel free to reach out via one of the following methods:

1) Counselor Referral Form-- We have updated this form to capture needed data while students are not in school. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdOfsAQj-Apbpy2e-MxuG1w0qvfdOAGzK8Kld7eHekQ4HwuDA/viewform?usp=sf_link This is the preferred method if a student needs to schedule a time to talk via phone. Once a form is submitted it immediately goes to our email.

2) Email--We will be checking this regularly. If you get a reply that states we are away from our computer please know that we will get back to you as soon as we are able. Ms. Berry- acberry@gaston.k12.nc.us and Mrs. K- akozlowski@gaston.k12.nc.us

3) You can contact Ms. Berry via Google Voice at 704-931-3455 and Mrs. K via Google Voice at 704-769-5550.

4) We will also be available through your teacher's Google Classroom. We can be contacted using this platform as well. If you need help with using this method, please let us know. We are all learning to navigate new technology so please use the method of communication that works best for you.

5) While we are not currently in the building, Mrs. Reed and Mr. Loudon are available at school. Call 704-866-6295 if needed.

6) You can contact Partners Helpline with any mental health emergency during weekday evenings and weekends at 1-888-235-4673.

As outlined by the American School Counseling Association:

A.15. Virtual/Distance School Counseling School counselors:

a. Adhere to the same ethical guidelines in a virtual/distance setting as school counselors in face-to-face settings.

b. Recognize and acknowledge the challenges and limitations of virtual/distance school counseling.

c. Implement procedures for students to follow in both emergency and nonemergency situations when the school counselor is not available.

d. Recognize and mitigate the limitation of virtual/distance school counseling confidentiality, which may include unintended viewers or recipients.

e. Inform both the student and parent/guardian of the benefits and limitations of virtual/distance counseling.

f. Educate students on how to participate in the electronic school counseling relationship to minimize and prevent potential misunderstandings that could occur due to lack of verbal cues and inability to read body language or other visual cues that provide contextual meaning to the school counseling process and school counseling relationship.

Academics:

1) Students should be working on any assignments that are provided in their grade level google classrooms. If you do not have access to this platform, work packets are available for pick up at the school from 9:00-2:00. If these times do not work for you, please call the school at (704) 866-6295.

2) It is very important for parents and students to pay attention to any and all communications from Woodhill Elementary and individual teachers. Parents, please be sure that you are receiving calls, emails, etc. from Mrs. Reed.

Please reach out with questions or concerns.

Right now the helpers are located in distant places but can be accessed easily via the internet and/or text. See the list below.

Resources Specific to the CoronaVirus outbreak and anxiety https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/current-events/supporting-your-emotional-well-being-during-the-covid-19-outbreak/

1-800-273-TALK (8255). The Lifeline is free, confidential, and available to everyone in the U.S. 24/7. You do not have to be suicidal to call the Lifeline. Staffed by trained support people.

LifeLine Chat--This is the same as The Lifeline, but in a chat function.

Dear Anxiety--a podcast focusing on helping children between the ages of 7-15 with anxiety of all types. The last few podcasts focus specifically on Coronavirus and anxiety.

Safe Space--Home to resources and tool to provide you with some extra support in an emotionally safe environment.

The Disaster Distress Helpline, 1-800-985-5990, is a 24/7, 365-day-a-year, national hotline dedicated to providing immediate crisis counseling for people who are experiencing emotional distress related to any natural or human-caused disaster. This toll-free, multilingual, and confidential crisis support service is available to all residents in the United States and its territories. Stress, anxiety, and other depression-like symptoms are common reactions after a disaster. Call 1-800-985-5990 or text TalkWithUs to 66746 to connect with a trained crisis counselor.

Article that provides some general information regarding controlling coronavirus anxiety--https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/erasing-stigma/202003/controlling-coronavirus-anxiety

Article with practices to help control anxiety https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/think-act-be/202003/anxious-about-the-coronavirus-these-practices-can-help

Article regarding how to talk to your children about the coronavirus. https://higherlogicdownload.s3.amazonaws.com/NASN/3870c72d-fff9-4ed7-833f-215de278d256/UploadedImages/PDFs/02292020_NASP_NASN_COVID-19_parent_handout.pdf

If you or anyone in your household has been laid off due to Covid-19, please click here for more information from the NC Department of Commerce. You may qualify for benefits.

You can apply for benefits online 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you need help, contact the Customer Call Center at 888-737-0259, Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.