Words from the Counselor
Welcome back Awesome Aldridge Ocelots! We are excited to kick off another amazing school year and have lots of great things in store for Aldridge Elementary School! Allow me to introduce myself as your Saavy School Counselor, Ms. Hardy! I am beginning year 23 in education and my 9th year as a school counselor. I am excited to be a contributing member of Plano ISD to serve the students and families at Aldridge Elementary School.
I am a firm believer in building the whole child approach to education. I advocate for policies, practices, and relationships that ensure each child in every school and community are healthy, safe, engaged, supported, and challenged in order to build lifelong learners and successful citizens. My monthly newsletter ensures we can all stay connected and informed about academic, social emotional and mental health needs.
My goal is to meet the needs of both our students and families, so please take a moment and complete the Counseling Needs Survey during our grade level information nights. Your feedback will help me continually grow/develop our counseling program. My contact information is below; feel free to reach out anytime. If you are interested in meeting with me, please email me your request and allow up to 24 hours for a response. We are looking forward to a fantastic year at Aldridge Elementary School, home of the Awesome Ocelots!
Warmest regards,
Ms. Ngina Hardy, M.Ed.
Professional School Counselor
Aldridge Elementary School
“Supporting student success in a diverse and evolving society”
Office: (469)752-0015
Email: ngina.hardy@pisd.edu
STUDENT COUNSELING NEEDS SURVEY
Please take a moment and complete the Student Counseling Needs Survey for Aldridge Elementary School Counseling Services. Your feedback is helpful in ensuring I am meeting the needs of our students, parents, staff and community stakeholders! Please fill out this out by Tuesday September, 6, 2022! Thank you.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfZosJHZYjMAuPPgKHw6O4pVbAhOTghNJqF6M0m_7oOLzKunQ/viewform
COUNSELING REFERRAL FORM
If you have a student who may need emotional support and someone to talk to about their feelings I am here. This can include: Anxiety, academic support, anger, social skills or big life changes.
- Complete Digital Counseling Referral Form
- Referring parent, faculty or staff will be notified when referral form has been received.
- In order to maintain confidentiality, Ms. Hardy may need to limit or keep private information discussed after the referral is processed.
TRANSITIONING INTO THE SCHOOL YEAR TIPS
BACK TO SCHOOL TIME CAN BE ROUGH ON KIDS AND PARENTS!!
After spending months with family, the transition back to school can feel like you’re starting all over, even if your child isn’t new to the back to school routine. This year may be unusually hard due to the amount of time children have spent with their parents. Here are some of these tips to help ease student anxiety and fear as we begin a new school year.
Check your feelings at the door
You are really nervous or scared to drop your child off at school, your child will feel it too. Find time to express your feelings separately.
Make your goodbyes quick
Long and repeated goodbye rituals can prolong your child’s fear about you leaving them at school. A hug, kiss, and “have a good day” are all your child needs to start their day.
Be careful about saying “I’ll miss you"
While this sounds loving, it may cause your child to feel worried about you, instead of focusing on their school day. You might say “I can’t wait to hear about your day later” or “I’ll see you at dinner time” instead.
Write your child an encouraging note
Packing a short note in your child’s lunchbox or backpack can give them something to look forward to.
Avoid walking your child in after the first week.
There will be opportunities for you to come into their classroom, but your child needs to know they can do it on their own.
GUIDANCE Curriculum & CHARACTER STRONG EDUCATION
The purpose of the guidance curriculum component is to help all students develop basic life skills. It is the foundation of a developmental guidance program. In Texas, seven areas have been identified for the guidance curriculum:
• Self-confidence Development
• Motivation to Achieve
• Decision-making, Goal-setting, Planning, and Problem-solving Skills
• Interpersonal Effectiveness
• Communication Skills
• Cross-Cultural Effectiveness
• Responsible Behavior
During bi-monthly guidance instruction we also concentrate on a variety of other topics that are important in helping students make healthy choices and encourage positive academic, social, and emotional growth such as:
- Bullying/Cyberbullying/Cyber-Safety
- Anti-Victimization/Mental Health
- College, Career and Military Readiness
- Drug Prevention Education
- Physical & Mental Health/Safety
- Social Emotional Learning Lessons based on classroom needs
Character Strong Program
This year Plano ISD along with all campus administration, counselor and teaching staff will be implementing a new program designed to encourage the deeper connection between Character Development and SEL by offering:
- Grade-level-specific, vertically-aligned SEL Focus Goals
- Tools for emotion regulation and conflict resolution.
- All content designed for 3 Outcomes: Be Kind, Be Well, Be Strong
“Our “WELL-BEING” impacts EVERYTHING we do”
Studies have shown in recent years the "Empathy Gap" is widening meaning there is a rise in anxiety rise and decrease in empathy towards others. It is also important that citizen understand that:
- Mental Health does not equal Mental Illness
- Respect
- Responsibility
- Trustworthiness/Honesty
- Caring/Kindness
- Fairness
- Citizenship
Stay tuned to learn more about this amazing program!
SMALL GROUP COUNSELING SERVICES
Students may participate in the following groups:
- Coping with Social and Testing Anxiety
- Divorce/Blended/Extended Family Issues
- Relationship Building
- Social Skills
- Grief/Loss/Incarceration
- Anger Management
WHY IS SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING SO IMPORTANT AT SCHOOL AND HOME?
Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) is the process through which children and adults understand and manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions.
Social Emotional Learning: What is SEL & Why SEL Matters
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikehX9o1JbI&t=7s
It is important that all classroom teachers begin the school year incorporating SEL practices into your daily schedule. This established classroom expectations and become part of student daily routines.
5 Strategies to Build Community in your Classroom (Sanford Harmony)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TaZmiO8JBHU
How To Greet Someone At School, A Social Story
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gGma_FZRxc
5 Minute SEL Activities
https://www.edutopia.org/article/13-powerful-sel-activities-emelina-minero
Activities that aid in exploring and describing emotions:
https://www.apperson.com/teach-talk/10-activities-to-help-students-explore-emotions
Yoga for Classrooms Yoga together as a family that focuses on "Seven Ways to Find Grace and Alleviate Suffering" as we function in life.
Board Games. Board games are a great way to teach and model social emotional skills including sportsmanship, taking turns, being kind, being patient, and being fair, among others skills. Talk with your child about these skills and encourage/praise them when they are using these skills, Also, just have fun!
Mindful Moments. Take time to help your child be present in the moment, and also use this for yourself! Go outside and focus purely on your 5 senses: What do you smell, feel, taste, see, and hear? You can even do this with a little candy treat! Focus on your five senses as you feel and open the package and then focus on your senses as you eat it. Thinking about anything else in the world? Or are you enjoying that delicious piece of chocolate? Help your mind go to a more peaceful place with mindful moments!
If you need any support, please feel free to reach out
Email: ngina.hardy@pisd.edu
Website: https://www.smore.com/bh1bq
Location: 720 Pleasant Valley Lane, Richardson, TX, USA
Phone: 469-752-0015
Twitter: @diggybmomma09
