Re-Entry of the Whole Student- WELCOME BACK!                           

Counseling/Mental Health Departments:                 

Starting school or starting a new school year can be stressful at the best of times, let alone during a global pandemic. You can make your student feel at ease by having an open conversation about what’s worrying them and letting them know that it’s natural to feel anxious.

Children may feel nervous or reluctant to return to school, especially if they have been learning at home for months. Be honest – Talk about some of the changes they may expect at school, such as needing to wear forms of protective clothing like masks. Children may also find it difficult being physically distanced from friends and teachers while at school – you could encourage them to think about other ways to bond and stay connected.

Reassure children about safety measures in place to keep students and teachers healthy and remind children that they can also help prevent germs spreading by washing their hands with soap and coughing or sneezing into their elbow. 

LRSD Counseling and Mental Health departments will be providing a multi-tiered system of support to students, staff, and parents. The first tier will be offering Social and Emotional Learning workshops to staff and parents. Students will return to school to guided lessons by school counselors on ways to deal with stress, How to process what has happened these past six months and understanding the importance of academics. Tier II and III will provide more intensive support via small-groups and/or one-on-one counseling when needed.

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.  To help our community better process recent events LRSD in conjunction with our Mental Health Providers will be offering SEL workshops on the following topics: Effects of Prolonged Stress on Children, Realistic Expectations-Mindfulness, What to Do if You Suspect a Student has experienced Trauma, Establishing a New Normal: Setting up Routines and Structure for Yourself and Students.

Staff please go to Talent Ed for available dates and times from July 22-31^st.: https://launchpad.classlink.com/lrsd

Parents can sign up for the same workshops on August 3 and 4^th.  To see available dates and sign up at SignUpGenius: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/409084FAAAB22A7FC1-social

LRSD Mental Health Provider Partners: Resource links are embedded in logo

Social and Emotional Resources and Supports

Mental Health

• Jelena Kecmanovic Arlington/DC Behavior Therapy Institute 7 Science-Based Strategies to Cope With Coronavirus Anxiety
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Mental Health and Coping During COVID-19
• The Jed Foundation Tips for Self-Care and Managing Stress
• Psychology Today Helping Older Adults Find Happiness During COVID-19
• Care for Your Coronavirus Anxiety Virus Anxiety Resources
• World Health Organization Doing What Matters in Times of Stress

Parents and Students

• The Child Mind Institute Talking to Kids about the Coronavirus
• National Association of School Psychologists Talking to Children About COVID-19: A Parent Resource
• The Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress: Coronavirus and Emerging Infectious Disease Outbreaks Response
• The Child Mind Institute Helping Children Cope After a Traumatic Event
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Helping Children Cope
• PBS Kids for Parents* (Early Childhood-Third Grade) How to Talk to Your Kids About Coronavirus
• Psychology Today Worried About Sending Your Child Back to School?
• Mind Yeti* (Pre-K-8^th Grade) Mindfulness for Kids and Their Adults
• Coalition to Support Grieving Students* (6^th-12^th Grade) Peer Support

Teachers and School Staff

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Returning to School After an Emergency or Disaster: Tips to Help Your Students Cope
• National Center for School Crisis and Bereavement Supporting Grieving Students in Schools
• Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence and Yale Child Study Center Managing Anxiety Around COVID-19: Tips for You and Your School Community
• Psychology Today 3 Steps to Navigate COVID-19 Anxiety
• Teaching Tolerance Speaking Up Against Racism Around the New Coronavirus
• The Character Tree How, Not "If": Promoting Social-Emotional Learning and Character Development in Young Children is a Necessity
• WestEd Social and Emotional Learning and School Safety: Self-Care Strategies for Educators During the Coronavirus Crisis: Supporting Personal Social and Emotional Wellness

*LRSD Counseling and Mental Health Departments are aware of the many uncertainties surrounding the Coronavirus (COVID-19). This list of resources and supports will be updated and modified accordingly.