Back to School Anxiety Support and Resources

With school starting up for staff later this week and students next Wednesday (with Kindergarten and Pre-school after that), anxiety within our body may start to rise. I know it does with me every year and I've been doing this as my career for awhile! Anxiety is natural and normal. Some of us have very little and some of us have a lot. And it depends on the situation. But school, homework, testing, friendships, social skills, teachers, etc. all can cause different levels of anxiety. And nearly all of these scenarios are thrown at students on the first day. So how do you prepare your child (or even yourself) for this first day and each day afterwards? Here are some great resources to review.

Anxiety BC has a lot of great ideas....click here!

Child Parenting also has some great and similar ideas....click here!

And Family Education has some ideas on how specifically to talk to your children about their possible anxieties....click here!

Two New Sites, Both Great for Local Teens and Their Parents

  A couple of new sites popped up towards the end of 2012 and both are really, really good for our teens in our school district AND their parents. Check them out!

Warren County Standing Together on Prevention (WC STOP): This local group made of educators, law enforcement, leaders, parents, and community members has been working very hard for a couple years now to get drugs and alcohol out of our young peoples hands and bodies so that they can be successful, healthy, and make positive choices as they go through each and every day. They do this and so much more. And the best part is that anyone can be a part of their group, all you need is a passion to educate people in our county and beyond about the dangers affecting our young people. Check out their website and the many resources located across the top of their page. Upcoming meeting date/times are also located near the bottom of their page.

I AM in Control Website for Teens: This website is not just for teens by the way, I think parents and educators can benefit from the information posted as well. Basically a collection of blogs written by teens and adults with advice for teens, this website updates multiple times each week with information and advice for teens. Some of the content is great for teens to read on their own and some would be better for an adult to read and discuss with them. But all of the information is very current and relevant to our teens' lives. As a bonus feature, teens can online chat or call counselors located at Iowa State University and know they are getting professional advice and help on the other side of the line when they connect with them and want to discuss an issue they are struggling with. Great website!

Love and Logic Parenting Class Starting Soon!

Many educators, parents, families, and experts have been talking a lot about Love and Logic ideas when working with children. Well now all of you have an opportunity to hear more about Love and Logic Parenting in a FREE class starting up later this month. I have talked to a few parents that have been through classes on Love and Logic and they come away with many new skills and ideas and are really impressed with how it has affected their parenting and their families. If you want to take part in these upcoming classes, please see the information below. And when you are finished, let us know what you thought by emailing your building counselor. We would love to hear your thoughts and if we should work to get more of these classes and trainings offered. 

 Where: Family Enrichment Center, River Place, 2309 Euclid Ave., Des Moines, IA 50310

 When: Tuesdays 6-7:30 p.m., 6 weeks (Feb. 26th, March 5th, 12th, 26th, April 2nd, 9th) 

Cost: FREE!!!!! 

 To Register: Call 515-725-2682 


 What is Love & Logic?   "Love and Logic" is an evidence-based curriculum with a common-sense approach that provides parents with easy-to-learn skills that create respect, responsibility, and good decision-making in kids. It is based on 4 principles: Logical Consequences with Empathy, Problem-solving, Shared Control, Building Mutual Respect and Self-Esteem. Parents learn simple, effective techniques to help them remain calm and productive. 


 More about Love and Logic....click here!

8th Grade Email Answers: What am I Thankful for and Why?

When 8th graders were asked this week "What am I Thankful for and Why?", here are some of the best responses via email from this great group. Happy Thanksgiving to all!

"Im thankful for EVERYTHING in my life. My mom got my family into horses, my horses taught me how to ride, my trainer helped me get my dream to come true, and my dad is there for support and to help pay:) . I love having all the wonderful teachers that help me in all my classes at school. And of course to Jesus who had all this planned.

 I love my life."

" I am thankful most of all for my family. They are the reason I am who I am today, and why I have everything I have. I am pretty proud to call them my family. Sometimes we fight but we never can stay mad at eachother. I love them very much and wouldn't be here if it weren't for them."

"I'm thankful for my family, the roof above my head in school and at home. One thing at school that I'm thankful for Miss.Grieme i love the way she talks to us face to face."

"I am thankful for my parents and the roof(s) they put over my head, the food they put on the table, and the clothes they buy for me. I am thankful for their love. I am also thankful for my grandma who was the number one person who taught me my faith, which I am also thankful for. I am thankful for my sisters, even though I don't always show it. I'm also thankful that I have the opportunity to get a good education."

"I am thankful for my family and friends. They help me when I need it. They pick me up when I am having a bad day. I am so grateful to live where I do. This place has made me who I am today. I am thankful for my school and for the teachers that help me. Thank you!"

"I am thankful for so much in my life!  I have every meal of the day unless I choose not to. Not many people in the world can say that. I'm also thankful for my family. I am thankful for them because they care about me and support me in whatever I do. I think the main reason I'm so thankful for my family is because we love each other even when the world doesn't. I wouldn't be the person I am today without my family."

" I am thankful for my family and friends. I know that some people don't have that luxury and I am happy I do." 

Happy New Year! Are Your Thank You Notes Done Yet?

Happy New Year to all! As I spent my Sunday, writing my own thank you notes and helping my 3 kids write their thank you notes, I thought of my middle school Life Skills' students who have all spent some time learning how to write a good, short, and sincere thank you note and why these notes are so important to do. We talked about how they can make us feel better (many studies prove that showing gratitude actually helps our own self in many ways, see my link below), they can help our relationships grow, they could help us land a job, and they help the people in our lives have better lives....which comes back to help us too! So, if you have been enjoying lots of great presents, ate some great food, or had some really good conversations with people you love, drop them a quick email, phone call, or even a "hand-written" thank you note to show your gratitude for what they have done. And again, Happy New Year!

Blog post about the effects of showing Gratitude