7th Grade Student Needs Assessment

7th Graders....please take the survey below. Your answers will be kept confidential and only viewed by our counseling staff here at the middle school. Ms. Flagor and I will review each of your answers and possibly form groups or invite you to participate in groups that focus on topics you have marked "agree" on. Regardless of your answers, we always invite you in to talk to us about any needs you have or any help you would like to receive. Even if all you need is for someone to listen.....we are here for that too! When finished with the survey, just click submit and you may log out. Thank you!

What Parents and Teens Need to Know about Sexting

What Parents Need to Know about “Sexting”

        First off, what is “Sexting”? Sexting is “the sending or receiving of sexually explicit or sexually suggestive images, messages, or video via a cell phone or the Internet”.  And many times, this can be a nude “selfie” sent to another young person. So why do middle school parents need to know about this topic? Because a recent study shows 1 in 3 teens have participated in sexting and 1 in 4 think it is a normal part of teen life. And when adults talk to teens about this issue, many times the students respond with “What’s the big deal? It is just a picture.” Well, it is a big deal. It isn’t a normal part of teen life.  And it isn’t just a picture. It can lead to low self-esteem, to bullying incidents, to harassment and exploitation, and can lead to criminal charges.

        The teen brain is more likely to take risks and engage in risky behavior AND has not yet developed the key areas that can help with decision-making and long term planning. So as adults in their lives, we must help them understand the short and long-term consequences of sending a sexually explicit photo or video. Nothing sent via text or Internet is ever really fully deleted. Those photos and videos always exist. And the countless stories of hackers gaining access to photos on phones and the Internet and distributing these around the world are just as common as teens sending the photos around to their friends. Neither are good, but both can and do happen. And that is usually the first time a teen realizes they made a mistake that they can’t take back. And these events can lead to ridicule, embarrassment, low self-esteem, depression, and possible self-harm or suicide. And depending on the state’s laws, sending AND/OR receiving these photos can lead to a lot of legal trouble. So these aren’t just “pictures”, these are life-changing situations for young people.

        What can you do? Talk with your child. Now. Explain that you understand the troubles a teen goes through with body image, self-esteem, peer pressure, and relationship pressures. Just because we didn’t grow up with all this technology doesn’t mean we didn’t have all these issues. Then explain the many dangers of sexting and help them understand the long-term consequences that can occur from just sending one photo or video (I didn’t even mention future college and career choices…these groups Google potential applicants these days!). And keep the lines of communication open. When a young person feels the external (or internal) pressure to send an explicit photo to someone else, they need to trust that they can talk to a parent about this pressure and have you help them.  It may be a tough conversation, but it is a conversation that could save their life. 

        For more resources, please visit our district counseling blog as well as the sites listed below.

District Counseling blog: www.carlislecounseling.blogspot.com

http://kidshealth.org/parent/firstaid_safe/home/2011_sexting.html#

http://ikeepsafe.org/be-a-pro/relationships/whats-wrong-with-sexting/

Carlisle Continues School-Based Therapy Program for 2015-16

     Adrienne Latoure started the school year as our district’s School-Based Licensed Mental Health Therapist. Her position will allow for students to meet with a therapist on school grounds and provide extra support for our students and families in need. Counselors will be contacting parents and making referrals for students they feel can benefit from meeting with a therapist if they are not currently meeting with a therapist outside of our school system. Parents can also contact their child’s school counselor if they feel their child could benefit from this service. Carlisle counselors are excited to partner with Adrienne to better serve the socioemotional needs of our students. Please contact the schoolcounselor in your child’s building if you have questions. Thank you!

Carlisle Community School Counselors & Interventionist

Leah Heidemann & Traci Lee (High School)  989-0831

Ben Barry & Kim Flagor (Middle School)  989-0833

Kim Flagor (Hartford)  989-0316

Jane Phillips & Matt Berryhill (Elementary) 989-0339