Weekly Communications

Hello PCMS Students and Families! Our newsletter this week continues with the focus on Empathy. This week we delve into having empathy for our kids. We hope you all are well and remember you can reach out at anytime!

If you missed it, you can find it here.

Being a parent can be a beautiful and fulfilling experience, but it can come with a lot of stress and unknowns –especially when coupled with our current situation(s)! Our children can give us a lot of joy and challenge us at the same time, sometimes making us wonder about our parenting skills!

At PCMS we believe we are in it together. Parents are the first teachers of their children, and educators are part of the village that help children become amazing contributors to the future.

At PCMS we like to encourage empathy and respect as a fundamental communication skill for expression.

We want to be heard!: As a child becomes aware of their surroundings, their desire to make different choices to their parent increases. A need to express their new ideas and approaches may not always be received with enthusiasm.

TIP: Let them share their thoughts, and just listen. By being attentive to their thoughts you are allowing them to have a safe space to explore and exercise their curiosity. As a parent you do not need to agree, but you are modeling respect and empathy.

Goal: As the child did not feel a parent was dismissive or judgmental, it is likely to encourage them to show empathy and respect to a parent, another student and an educator

We need to rebel!: As a child enters middle school, they appear to change and challenge authority every step of the way! As adults we want safe learning environments that allows all children to feel safe.

TIP: Make time to be curious to their behavior of pushing boundaries. Together help your child figure out what do they need. By helping them articulate what they need, you are modeling respect and empathy to their desire to grow and develop their identity. This allows for further communication, is there another way to satisfy the need that both parties find agreeable?

Goal: A child learns there can be different ways, safe ways, and respectful ways to meet their needs.

1. Nobody understands us!: As a child notices their environment they become more aware, including aspects of social acceptance. Everyone wants to be acknowledged and valued, without judgment.

TIP: Give your child the space to say what is on the mind. Wait patiently for them to complete what they are sharing, modeling respect and how it is important to give someone the time to finish what they need to say. Instead of questions to help understand, summarize what you think you heard. Do not focus on facts, but what you think they were trying to convey e.g. What is on their mind? What is important to them? What may be some of their concerns?

Goal: Recognize the importance of letting people share their ideas without interruption. The child can experience how good they feel when someone has allowed them to share their ideas and tried to understand them. Hopefully, it will help them develop their patience, model respect and be less judgmental when a parent, another student or an educator is speaking.

Helping kids understand the difference between empathy and sympathy allows them to get in touch with their own feelings as well as share compassion with others. Renowned researcher and storyteller, Brene Brown, describes empathy as, "feeling with people". Below is a kid-friendly cartoon that does a beautiful of job of illustrating the idea of empathy.

As we all work to have more empathy towards each other, especially in this time where emotions are running high and conflicts may be arising more frequently within families, this kindness mindfulness activity can help all of us shift our negative emotions towards one another into positive ones. (At least for a few minutes!)

This week we have two Family Dares for you to challenge yourself with around the theme of conversation starters. If possible, take some time away from work and helping your student with school to spend a little quality time together.

Take 5 minutes in the morning to share (and have everyone in the family share) one thing they are grateful for today. This allows everyone to start their days with a mind and heart filled with gratefulness. As Scarlett Lewis says, “ It’s hard to have a grateful thought and a negative thought at the same time.”

While hanging out at home, turn on the radio or a song and pick a lyric (or have your student pick a lyric) to use as a conversation started. As soon as you have the topic or word, turn the music off until the conversation is over. Turn it on to play again!

Counseling office hours, for all grades, are Tues/Thur from 9:30-10 where we will be responding to emails. Mrs. Gee will be answering for 8th grade on Tuesday’s and Mrs. Miranda will be available on Thursday’s. Mrs. Mez and Mrs. Stephens are also available on Edmodo!

PBSES office hours are Tues/Thur from 12:30 - 1:00 where I will be responding to emails.

Now that the school closure has been extended through the end of the school year, this will be a time of prolonged adjustment as students and families transition to on-line learning. Transitions and change can be difficult for students, especially during such an unprecedented time in history. Our Swedish School Based Mental Health Counselor, Laura Greening, is available to support students through individual telehealth (online) counseling support. If you are interested in getting your student connected to services, please do not hesitate to reach out to our school based mental health counselor: laura.greening@swedish.org.

Free virtual counseling sessions available for high school students age 13-18 years old. Meet with one of the Garage Counselors while maintaining Social Distancing ! Appointments available Mondays and Tuesdays. Sign up for a private, confidential session here

If you or someone you know needs support urgently, contact the crisis text line by texting "hello," to 741-741. You will be connected to a 24/7 hour live crisis counselor or you can call the Crisis Connections 24hr Crisis Line at 866-4Crisis. You can also use this link to be connected to a crisis counselor https://www.crisistextline.org/get-help/coronavirus. If you think someone is in immediate danger, call 911.

· Crisis Text Line – text START to 741741 www.crisistextline.org

· King County Crisis Connections 206-461-3222

· Trevor Project 1-866-4UTREVOR (488-7386) (specific toward LGBTQ youth)

· National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK (8255)

· Teen Link 1-866-833-6546 www.teenlink.org

· Children’s Crisis Outreach Response Services (CCORS) through the Crisis Clinic 206-461-3222

As instances of cyberbullying may increase during this time, here are some ways to help at home. Please know that you or your student may email their school counselor (contact information below) as well if they need support.

https://www.stopbullying.gov/cyberbullying/prevention

Laura Meserole, 6th Grade Counselor

Jessica Morrison, 7th Grade Counselor

Miranda Williams, 8th Grade Counselor

Gurminder Randhawa, 8th Grade Counselor

Tiffany Stephens, Counseling Intern

Laura Greening, Swedish Mental Health Counselor

Amy Butson, PBSES Coach

Website: https://www.issaquah.wednet.edu/pacificcascadems
Location: Pacific Cascade Middle School, Southeast Issaquah-Fall City Road, Issaquah, WA, USA
Phone: 425-837-5900