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Hello Parents and Students,
After 20 years in St. John the Baptist Parish as an educator and Counselor, I have made the incredibly hard decision to retire. I have so many mixed emotions about this decision but I know I will not miss grading quizzes or meeting deadlines but I will miss everything that has to do with my students. I wish you all a wonderful rest of your school year (I hope it gets back to normal soon). Also, if you learned anything from me in all the years I have worked here, I hope you learned to always be kind and never give up. Always chase your dreams!!!
With Love,
Your School Counselor,
Mrs. Russell
This is my email if you ever need to get in touch with me....
[email protected]
After 20 years in St. John the Baptist Parish as an educator and Counselor, I have made the incredibly hard decision to retire. I have so many mixed emotions about this decision but I know I will not miss grading quizzes or meeting deadlines but I will miss everything that has to do with my students. I wish you all a wonderful rest of your school year (I hope it gets back to normal soon). Also, if you learned anything from me in all the years I have worked here, I hope you learned to always be kind and never give up. Always chase your dreams!!!
With Love,
Your School Counselor,
Mrs. Russell
This is my email if you ever need to get in touch with me....
[email protected]
National School Counseling Week is February 1st through 5th! Today school counselors are certified trained mental health professionals who focus on prevention and wellness through a counseling program that addresses academic, career and personal/social areas. Here is an overview of what your counselor has done so far this school year:
- 300+ individual and group counseling sessions (Virtual Chats and Team Sessions)
- 89 classroom lessons for 5th -8th grade students
- 125 high school Graduation plans created with 8th grade students preparing them for HS.
- Over 400 parent and student communication (emails, phone calls, meetings, chats and Home Visits)
Jennifer Russell
School Counselor
East St John Prep Academy
985-536-8450
As we go 100% virtual,
I would like you to read the attached letter up above!!
I will also be available to talk to students through the Social Emotional TEAMS page from 1:15pm-2:45pm on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
Thank you,
Mrs. Russell
January's Topic- Social Media Safety and Cyberbullying
To live in a world where we don’t allow our kids to access the Internet is not realistic, especially during the current pandemic and coronavirus crisis. 95% of schools are now connected to the Internet with 45 million children ages 10-17 using the Internet. Our society depends on the Internet for education, communication and information. Therefore, it is imperative as parents that we instill best practices for our children to remain safe as they navigate cyberspace and protect them from the possible dangers as well.
It is well known that social media is used by predators to exploit children, we also know that Cyberbullying is alive and well, so with some safeguards in place, we can work together to protect kids online. Educating and being involved is KEY!!!!
Your children will be getting safety tips and online etiquette from me this month, but if you would like more information on how to stay involved in protecting your child and keeping them safe as they navigate through the world of technology, please feel free to reach out to me.
Ms. Russell
Social Media Do's and Don'ts! (Modern Manners w/ Amy Aniobi) - YouTube
5 Social Media Rules for Teens & Tweens - YouTube
smart-social-networking.pdf (cyberbullying.org)
Caring in the Month of December!!!
This month's lesson is on CARING. Students will be learning the meaning of caring and how to demonstrate this character trait towards themselves and others. The videos attached are some of the ones I will share with my students because I truly believe that you must first love and care for yourself before you can genuinely love and care for others.
The Reflection in Me HD - YouTube
Kid President's 20 Things We Should Say More Often - YouTube
National Gratitude Month in November encourages us to embrace the power of gratitude. Gratitude is more than simply saying “thank you.” Gratitude's amazing powers have the ability to shift us from focusing on the negative to appreciating what is positive in our lives.
October is National Bully Prevention Month.
It's a time to understand and raise awareness on bullying. In recent years the term "bullying" is frequently used to describe undesirable interactions between children and their peers. When your child discusses unkindness that may happen at school, it is important to identify which type of conflict is occurring. The definition of bullying is hurting someone's body or feelings on purpose over and over again - the person doing the hurting has more power for an example: they may be older, physically bigger, more than one bully, is seen as more popular and lastly the victim is afraid of the bully. Sometimes it can just be a disagreement - when people have different ideas or opinions about something. Other times is can be a rude or mean isolated moment such as hurting someone's body or feelings on accident or on purpose but happens only one time or only once in a while.
Here are 5 tips on how to STOP bullying
1. Keep an OPEN dialogue - Help your children or your students find their voice, appreciate their own identities and backgrounds and develop acceptance for the diversity of their peers. Have an open communication with children. They must feel comfortable enough to come to someone to help.
2. Teach bystanders to be UPstanders- promote empathy, diversity, and social and emotional learning. Model and Role play ways to speak up!!!
3. Foster Safety- empower students to find solutions and lead others.
4. Parents, teachers, Students, and the Community should all support each other to help support our youth. It takes a village!!!
Welcome Back Students, Parents and Faculty!!
I am looking forward to a positive school year full of firsts!!! This is our new normal for at least this year and lets get a great jump on welcoming this change. Change can be scary and make us uncomfortable at times but we need to be open to it and move forward by asking questions and expressing our feelings. That is what I am here for as your counselor. I want to make this process as easy and stress free as possible for all of you. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to call me at the school or reach out via email. I will do my best to answer your questions.
Looking forward to seeing you all, meeting new faces and working by your side in this upcoming school year.
Ms. Russell
School- 985-536-8450
Email- [email protected]
Information changes weekly please scroll down to find information on home-school activities, books, coping skills, physical activity challenges and much more.....
Dear Parents and Students,
I hope all of you are staying safe and abiding by the stay at home order and practicing safe social distancing at this strange time in our lives. I wanted to reach out to you to let you know I am here for any parent, student or teacher/faculty member that would like to talk or get information regarding stress/coping skills, educational games and activities to do at home or anything you feel I can help you with to make this unprecedented time at home easier for everyone. I am calling students daily to just check in and see how everyone is adjusting to this new distance learning. Please take some time to access the site below to update yourself on this pandemic as well as using this site as a resource for stress and coping skills. I have added a list of activities for Homeschooling/Academic, keeping kids entertained and structured physical activities.
Remember, if you need to talk, please feel free to reach out to me at [email protected], I will personally call you to discuss any topic you would like confidentially. Together we will get through this and WE will be stronger as individuals and as a community.
Ms. Russell
Coping
• Keep a to-do list to reduce the anxiety of forgetting something
• Keep routines as normal as possible (meal times, bedtimes, and exercise)
• Make a schedule to establish feelings of normalcy and stability
• Need to calm down? List 5 things you can see, 4 things you can touch, 3 things you can hear, 2 things you want to smell, 1 thing you want to taste
• Remind yourself and your family that this will be temporary
• What has worked in the past for your family when you have endured a hard time? Do you play games together? Listen to music? Pray? Watch movies? Use things that have worked before.
• Shift expectations- do what is meaningful and purposeful
• Take small breaks when you find yourself feeling overwhelmed
• Establish a quiet time each day of no electronics
(adapted from Heather Tullier, MHS, PLPC)
Supporting your Children at Home
• With younger children, encourage free, imaginative play to allow for the expression of feelings- children often act out wants, needs, desires, or what they are experiencing in free play. They can’t process verbally like adolescents and adults
• Reinforce the things that are already in place to keep them safe-parents, washing hands, social distancing
• Older children- help them stay in touch with peers and family through phone or internet (monitor)- establish an appropriate amount of time and set a timer
• Older children- encourage expression through play or conversation-don’t force
• Limit media exposure
• Maintain limits, boundaries, rules- without limits there is a feeling of instability
• Model calmness and healthy coping skills- deep breathing, exercise, journaling, reading, sitting outside for a few minutes, etc…
(adapted from Heather Tullier, MHS, PLPC)
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prepare/managing-stress-anxiety.html
COVID – 19 RESOURCES FOR EMPLOYEES AND THEIR FAMILIES March 2020
https://4.files.edl.io/0dd9/03/30/20/025429-02983a04-1c3d-4045-84f7-33b506f31fae.pdf
East St. John Prep Academy's PBIS Expectations
Our students the ESJPA Bobcats will:
Practice Safety by following all school rules.
Act Responsibly by making good decisions and showing this through our actions.
Work Hard performing to our greatest ability.
Show Respect towards self, others and our environment.
Work Out Challenge
Here's a great video to challenge yourself and stay fit while at home. I would love to get videos of students or families doing this Hip Hop routine, just email them to me. Have Fun!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWk19OVon2k
New workouts for you to try:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EcqYeThduWk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrRDG4krjv8
Avengers Workout (for younger kids)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sqZFz44AB78
Black Panther workout-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9SDWArXm4mA
A kids Coping and Coloring Book
https://alliedhealth.lsuhsc.edu/clinics/docs/CarolineConquersherCoronoaFears31820.pdf
My Helping Book (guided workbook on coping skills)
https://in.bgu.ac.il/humsos/eprep_heb/DocLib/Pages/print/Activity%20Coloring%20Book.pdf
Coping Skills worksheets- (taken from Closet Counselor)
https://pottstownfoundation.org/media/65921/supporting-students-self-care-colleen-tillger-_-copecakescopingskillworksheets.pdf
Worry Monster Activity
PDF link at top of page
Bibliotherapy
(Great books to read)
Corona Virus and Me
PDF link at top of page
Find your Calm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8T4nwsSnNMA
The Color Monster
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWujGPb6mgo
Grumpy Monkey
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wylzbbSL668
One Drop of Kindness
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MzKmnbQ8420
The Way I feel
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gtTKXuzBh00
I Am Human
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8eQ1MrbU35w
Wilma Jean the Worry Machine https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpAijfP99Ng
Is a Worry Worrying You?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sc3ioOeSHbQ
Bubble Gum Brain
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDvRjlQGrkY
Relax Music for Stress Relief, Study Music, Sleep Music, Meditation Music
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFZKK7K52uQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eSyHcICoyss
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ZYbU82GVz4
Journal Writing- One of the best ways to let go and relax is to write. Here are different topics you can write about in a journal: (topics will change periodically)
Final Week 9
1. What was your favorite memory of
this school year? Explain
2. If you could own a business, what would you do and why?
Week 8
1. Free writing- write about anything you want (at least 6-10 sentences long)
2. How excited are you to start summer!! What will you do this summer?
Week 7
1. If you could create your best day EVER, describe what would it look like?
2. The perfect place in the whole entire world is......
Week 6
1. What is your favorite song and why?
2. What is the one thing you are afraid to do and how can you overcome your fear?
Week 5
1. What is your favorite movie? What are your favorite scenes and actors/actresses?
2. Earth Day was April 22, what can you do to help our environment?
Week 3
1. What is your favorite animal and why?
2. What are your thoughts on Social Media, has it made our life better or worse and explain?
3. If you had a Hot Air Balloon that let you visit any time and place in history, where would you go first and why?
Week One and Two topics
1. What does your home work area look like? What items do you have around that make it easier for you to do your work?
2. What are some things you did on your first week of Distance Learning?
3. If you could have one super hero power, what would it be and why?
4. April Fool's Day is coming up. Did you or anyone in your family ever get fooled? (if not, make something up)
Keeping kids entertained
Five minute Fun Activities – Five Minute Mum
Play-Doh Kitchen Creations Magical Oven - Amazon
PicassoTiles 100 Piece Magnet Building
Outdoor Scavenger Hunt
Lunch Doodles with Mo Willems - Youtube
Kennedy Center – Youtube Channel
Melissa & Doug: Paint Your Own Wooden Magnets - Amazon
101 Things To Do While in Quarantine – Kansas City Mom Collective
Take Your Kids on Virtual Disneyland Rides - Romper
Ideas for Children – Slack Channel
23 Fun Activities To Do With Kids Using Stuff You Already Have – Seattle Times
33 Virtual National Park Tours – TotallyTheBomb.com
Over 30 Virtual Field Trips (with links)
12 Virtual Museum Tours – Travel & Leisure
Virtual Tour of the Great Wall of China – The China Guide
44 Netflix Documentaries to Add to Your Homeschool
Farm and Food Tours – Farm Food 360
Virtual Tour of Mars’ Surface – Access Mars with Google
Story Time From Space – Website & Facebook Page
101 Ideas for Children
Physical activity
Yoga Exercises for Kids – Cosmic Kids
Movement and Mindfulness Videos - GoNoodle
Smart Fitness for the Family – Dribbleup.com
GoNoodle Games – Youtube
Frozen: A Cosmic Kids Yoga Adventure – Cosmic Kids
Homeschooling/Academics
Math Learning Games – Prodigy
Hands-On Stem Projects - Kiwico
Thread for Interesting Homeschooling Resources - Twitter
Education and Training Resources– King County Library System
Free Homeschooling Resources – Khan Academy
National Geographic Kids
Curiosity at Home Activities: Pacific Science Center
Live Animal Cams – Monterey Bay Aquarium
List of Education Companies Offering Free Subscriptions – Kids Activities Blog
Milk Street Cooking School Online Classes – Milk Street
Learn to Design Video Games – Gamestar Mechanic
Storybooks Brought to Life – Vooks
Educational Audio and Music Player - Timio
Vtech Explore and Write Activity Desk - Amazon
Homeschooling Daily Activities
Learn at Home by Grade Level – Scholastic
Lesson Plan
5th Grade Lesson Plan
8 Digital Education Resources from the Smithsonian – Smithsonian Institute