Spreading friendship

This TED talk is inspiring for schools across the country to start an initiative to help kids find friends who are struggling to find friends. Such a great idea. We are looking into finding benches to start this at JA.

Kindness Boomerang

Kick-off to Kindness Week!

During the week of September 19th-23rd, Johnny Appleseed Elementary School kicks off its year long kindness initiative. The goal of this initiative is to promote kindness throughout our entire building, homes and community. Students of all grade levels will begin the conversation about what kindness is while participate in classroom and school-wide activities. The Kindness initiative will continue throughout the entire school year.

Johnny Appleseed has declared this year's slogan as "Be The Spark!"' the ripple effect starts with one. One person to hold open a door, one person to leave a kind note on someone’s desk/locker, one person to write a thank you letter to a teacher. One person to be a spark of kindness when another really needs it. Students are encouraged to be the spark in our school as well as community. 

Each day during the morning announcements, members of JA's "Kindness Krew" have shared daily kindness quotes as well promoted our monthly activity "Caught Being Kind." Teachers were given 'fish fins' to complete when they catch their students being kind. These fins continue to be added to the Guidance bulletin board. Here is an update of what our board looks like:

Please check back for updates regarding our Kindness Initiative. 

~Ms. Ruggles, Guidance Counselor 

Social Skills

If you would like a list of book titles that will help teach different social skills, please contact one of us in the Guidance Department.  

We have topics that include (but are not limited to):  

• Friendship skills
• Lying
• Anxiety/Worrying
• Self-esteem
• Self-control
• Responsibility
• Respect
• Anger control
• Feelings
• Problem Solving
• Grief/Loss
• Family issues (i.e. divorce, new baby, etc.)
• Diversity and accepting differences, etc.  
• Specific topics (i.e. nose picking, accepting no, personal space, and many more)

Thanksgiving Food Drive

November 4th-November 18th

Our 5th graders have started their annual Thanksgiving Food Drive for families in need this holiday season to help provide a meals for families to cook and enjoy together.   
Please give nonperishable items.  Everything helps!
Here is the list by grade level for what to donate.  

Kindergarten=canned soup and crackers
1st=Packaged dessert mix, muffins mix, and bread mix 
2nd=boxed/packaged potatoes, stuffing, rice
3rd= boxed pasta/sauce
4th=canned vegetables, gravy, & cranberry sauce
5th=packaged breakfast items like cereal, pancake mix, syrup, etc.

 

Website Resources for Parents

Website Resources

Children's Anxiety Network

Positive Behavior Intervention Supports (PBIS)

Owleus Bullying Prevention Program

Anti-bullying Resource

The Bully Project *Anti-bullying resource

Bullying info and facts

National Association of School Psychologists-parent/family resources

ADHD Resource for Parents

Early Intervention Programs for birth to 3 year olds

Learning Disabilities Resource

TED Talk on Stress Managment

Guidance Help!

Guidance Help and Support at Your Fingertips

We are here to support children, families, and teachers.  We have a full-time School Psychologist, Melissa Hopkins, School Adjustment Counselor, Karen Russo, and Guidance Counselor, Katie Ruggles.  

We have book resources for children and parents that we can share with you.  
In our roles, we have social skills groups that we run throughout the school year to address social-emotional needs, behavioral difficulties, and social challenges.  These groups generally occur during lunch with a small group of peers using research-based curriculum, books, games, and social-emotional lessons like Strong Start, Second-Step, The Incredible Flexible You Curriculum, Think Social! curriculum, etc.

Although our roles differ in some of our responsibilities, we work closely together to help any child in our school and their families.  We are all part of the Teacher Assistance Team (TAT) as well to help identify students that need extra support, intervention, or a possible education plan to address an area of disability.  

If you ever have any questions or concerns regarding your child's learning, behavior, social skills, coping skills, etc., please do not hesitate to contact one of us.  

Melissa Hopkins, M.Ed., C.A.G.S., NCSP
School Psychologist
Email:  melissa.hopkins@leominster.mec.edu
Phone:  978-534-7765, ext. 226

Karen Russo, M.S., C.A.G.S., LMHC
School Adjustment Counselor
Email:  karen.russo@leominster.mec.edu
Phone:  978-534-7765, ext. 292

Katie Ruggles, M.S.
Guidance Counselor
Email:  kathryn.ruggles@leominster.mec.edu
Phone:  978-534-7765, ext. 233