As we step into the beautiful month of November, I want to take a moment to extend my warmest wishes to each of you. With the autumn leaves falling and the holiday season approaching, I hope this month brings you and your families a sense of joy and togetherness.

I'd like to remind you that our schools will be closed on November 4th through the 8th for a scheduled break and on November 28th and 29th for the Thanksgiving holiday. We believe in the importance of rest and quality time spent with loved ones. These breaks allow us all to recharge and reflect on the things we are thankful for.

Wishing you a wonderful holiday of thanks. May it be filled with laughter, delicious meals, and cherished moments with your loved ones. We are grateful for your continued support, and I am looking forward to a successful and exciting rest of the school year.

During the week of November 11-15th, the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) and schools across the United States will mark National School Psychology Week (NSPW).

WHAT DO SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS DO?

School psychologists provide direct support and interventions to students; consult with teachers, families, and other school-employed mental health professionals (i.e., school counselors, school social workers) to improve support strategies; work with school administrators to improve school-wide practices and policies; and collaborate with community providers to coordinate needed services.

WHY DO CHILDREN AND YOUTH NEED SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS?

All children and youth can face problems from time to time related to learning, social relationships, making difficult decisions, or managing emotions such as depression, anxiety, worry, or isolation. School psychologists help students, families, educators, and members of the community understand and resolve both long-term, chronic problems and short-term issues that students may face. They understand how these issues affect learning, behavior, well-being, and school engagement. School psychologists are highly skilled and ready resources in the effort to ensure that all children and youth thrive in school, at home, and in life.

The information above is from the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP).

We are very thankful to have four amazing school psychologists on our Child Study Team (CST).

• Lauren Crenny (Davies School)
• Kelly Crowder (Shaner School)
• Andrew Disque (Hess School)
• Samantha Wilson (Hess School)

We are also grateful to have two wonderful school psychologists on our Administrative Team.

• Colleen Bretones- Supervisor of Early Childhood
• Dana Kozak- Supervisor of Pupil Personnel Services

Technology is a wonderful tool when used appropriately. It is amazing to me that I can use my phone to conference with coworkers and clients from almost anywhere in the world. I am also extremely thankful for the GPS system that guides me turn by turn to where I need to go. Without this high-tech resource, I’d be lost. Technology is awesome and I am a great fan of it.

However, technology can be terrible when misused. There is much evidence suggesting that heavy tech usage, such as with phones, internet, social media, video games, can increase the risk of anxiety, depression, impulsivity, substance abuse, and more. This is an especially worrisome problem with many of our kids today.

Although the basics of parenting remain the same, rapidly evolving technology involving cell phones and the Internet have left many parents wondering what limits are appropriate, how to hold their children accountable for misuse of technology, and how to help kids learn the decision-making skills required to make healthy technology choices when they leave home.

There is good news! Even though these modern issues can be very challenging, we can achieve positive outcomes by applying some age-old parenting truths:

• Kids need limits
• Limits are best set through actions instead of hollow threats
• When kids make poor decisions, they need to experience natural or logical consequences
• Consequences are always more effective when loving empathy is provided first
• Our kids will learn how to live their lives by watching us

Listed below are a few examples of essential limits related to devices and technology:

• You may have your tablet only if there is no arguing when I ask you to shut it off.
• Feel free to have a cell phone when you can pay for the entire cost.
• We allow kids to have their internet-connectable devices only if they check them in with us each night. We’ll return them in the morning only if there are no problems.
• I’ve met plenty of good people who’ve ended up doing bad things on the Internet. That’s why your mom has all my passwords and is free to see my history. You may have this device only if you do the same. Everyone needs someone to hold them accountable.
• I’m shutting my phone off so that I can give you 100% of my attention. Thanks for doing the same.