Mrs. Kristi Leap - School Social Worker
SCHOOL SOCIAL WORK/COUNSELING SERVICES


TURKEY WALK!
We are raising money for needy families who live in the Western School Corporation district.  All money raised will be used to help provide Christmas for students who attend Western Schools.

To make this more fun, Mr. Arthur will be dressing up as a TURKEY and walking around the track with all students who bring in money to walk.  The suggested donation amount is $1 per lap and students will be walking 2 laps with Mr. Arthur, our turkey!  

Please consider donating to this very worthy cause.  Last year Western Primary School raised over $3000 and were able to help so many students.  We hope to be able to help even more students this year!

Thank you!


HAVE YOU FILLED A BUCKET TODAY?
I will be reading the book Have You Filled A Bucket Today? to all students during the month of September.  The basic premise of this book is that we all have invisible buckets that carry our positive thoughts and feelings.  It's great to have full buckets but the only way to get a full bucket is by filling others' buckets!  We fill buckets when we show kindness, helpfulness, respect, and caring but we empty buckets when we are unkind, rude, thoughtless, or mean.  

So, have you filled a bucket today?  Here are some ideas for how you can fill your child's bucket:


NO BULLYING AT WESTERN!!!!
THESE PAWS DON'T BULLY!

From August 31st-October 15th, we will learn about KINDNESS AND FRIENDSHIP and we will also learn what to do about BULLIES. Students can show kindness and friendship by including everyone, inviting others to play, saying nice things to others, not joining in if others are being mean or teasing someone, and by acting nicely even when they are angry with someone. Conflict is a normal part of life but it is important that students learn to talk out problems they have with others. 
Here are some tips to help your child deal with bullies:

TRRFCC PANTHER

Please visit my page titled Character Education for more information!  At the top of this page, you should see a row of "tabs".  Click on the one that says "pages" and you will find the Character Education Page!


April is Child Abuse Prevention Month

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month.  As you drive through Howard County you will likely see blue ribbons and signs advertising that April is Child Abuse Prevention Month.  The Prevent Child Abuse Organization of Howard County provides blue pencils for every student in Howard County to help raise awareness of child abuse. 

I will talk with the students one day during lunch about why they will receive pencils.  I keep this explanation very simple: "You are getting blue pencils because kids are special people."  Some of the students even ask why the teachers wear blue ribbons and I tell them the same answer. 


WHAT IS THE ROLE OF A SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKER?
An elementary School Social Worker's role is very similar to that of an elementary School Counselor.  A School Social Worker is specially trained to provide support, counseling, and guidance to all students.  A school Social Worker works closely with parents, teachers, and staff to assist in the academic, social, and emotional success of all students.

A School Social Worker must obtain a Masters Degree in Social Work (MSW) and have knowledge of various elementary school programs, curriculm, and intervention processes.
 

WHAT DOES A SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKER DO?
A School Social Worker has many roles.  Here are some of the things I do at Western:

REFERRALS TO THE SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKER

How are students referred to see me?

Some students only need to meet with me 1-3 times. Other students need more ongoing support.  If I believe your student needs to meet with me on an on-going basis, I will send home a permission form so that you will know that your student has been referred to meet with me. 

If you would like for me to work with your student, please contact me at 883-5528, ext. 1040 so we can discuss your student's specific needs.

WHY WOULD A YOUNG STUDENT NEED TO MEET WITH ME?

Elementary school is an important step in a child's school journey.  For some children, it is the first time they have been separated from their family for the length of a school day. Most children adapt quickly to attending school but some need some help to adjust to this major change!

A child's school journey consists of academic, interpersonal, and self-awareness components.  To best meet these needs, the guidance and counseling program takes a developmental approach which includes all students.  All students participate in classroom based guidance lessons to gain knowledge of basic positive character traits.  Some students need more personalized help than what is provided in classroom guidance lessons.  For these students, individual or group counseling can provide the support needed to help the student obtain academic, social, or personal success.  Meeting with the School Social Worker can be a positive, beneficial experience that enhances the personal, social, and emotional development of students.