Longfellow Elementary School

School Counseling/Family Resource

December 2010

Dear Longfellow Families,

School Counseling Update

Hopefully your K-2 grader has brought home their I-Care booklets because they are all now “I-Care Experts”!  For the next 6 weeks I will be implementing the “Steps to Respect” program to students in 3-6 grades.  Please see reverse side for more information.  I have been leading 8 small groups; most of them have ended or will end before winter break.  You will be receiving a letter home if your child is selected to be a part of a small group.  Small groups are meant to be a positive experience with the purpose of learning and acquiring specific skills - a great opportunity for all students! 

Family Resource Center Update

I hope everyone had a wonderful thanksgiving.  Going along with the thanksgiving theme, I want to give a special thanks  to the student council and our Longfellow families!   We were able to provide several families with boxes filled with food for thanksgiving.  Your donations were very much appreciated.  We will be continuing our giving as we enter December – I am still asking for donations of:  jackets, boots, books, and especially toys for ages 5-12.  I will divide and deliver your donations (drop off in the office) to our Longfellow families in need. 

If your family would like extra support please let me know.

Sincerely,

        Nicole Schmidt

Research shows that bullying can be reduced greatly- but only when the whole school (staff, students, and parents) tackles the problem together.  Steps to Respect: A Bullying Prevention Program is one way to do that.  The main goal of the program is to help create a safe, caring, respectful learning environment in which bullying is not tolerated.

This is a new program for the Iowa City Community School District funded by a grant from the federal government called “Safe Schools/Healthy Students”.  All Longfellow Elementary staff attended a training session so that they will be better able to recognize and respond to student reports of bullying. 

Lessons will be taught in grades 3-6 by the school counselor, Nicole Schmidt, during weekly classroom guidance instruction time.  Classroom teachers will reinforce the lessons throughout the week. 

As part of the Steps to Respect program, students will learn new skills to help them build friendships and deal with bullying.  For example, they will learn how to:

• Make friends
• Join group activities
• Manage conflicts
• Recognize, Refuse, and Report bullying (whether it happens to them or someone else)