Resources and Support
Counselors Corner - September 2022
As school counselors, we have loved having students back in the building this week! Their energy, enthusiasm, and even their struggles are a piece of our “why” - why we feel called to this profession and how grateful we feel to be a part of our students’ middle school journey.
We hope that, aside from the typical back-to-school adjustments - figuring out earlier bedtimes and new morning routines - your students have had a wonderful first week back as well!
The first month of school coincides with National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. In the NW School Counseling Department, we are addressing this important month and its focus with efforts that foster community within the school building and that help students identify supports within the school setting.
We also want to share resources (below) with families who may be supporting loved ones struggling with their mental health. Please reach out to your child’s school counselor if you have questions, concerns, or need support finding community-based mental health resources.
Crisis Text Line
Text 741741
Suicide Prevention Lifeline
Call or text 988
Red Nacional de Prevención del Suicidio (Lifeline) al 1-888-628-9454 (en españo
Counselors Corner - August 2022
As we gear up for the start of the school year - next week! - we encourage parents and guardians to consider the supports that children may need during this transition:
- Re-establish “school-night” bedtimes. Teenagers need between 9 and 9 ½ hours of sleep each night. Here are tips on how to help your tweens and teens get the sleep they need:
- Set boundaries with tech. devices. Talk with your child about Northwest Middle’s technology policies and discuss what tech. time will look like at home during the school year. Here are ideas and strategies for setting healthy technology limits with your child:
https://www.verywellfamily.com/strategies-limit-your-teens-screen-time-2608915
- Set aside time to talk about your family’s weekly routine or calendar. Discuss dinner plans, homework times, and chore expectations so that each family member knows what to expect during the week. Keep evening activities light during the first week or two of school (if possible) - the transition back to school may be tiring as your child re-adjusts to the routine of school. Here are tips for getting started with a family calendar:
https://hbr.org/2021/02/create-the-best-calendar-system-for-your-family
- Be available for conversation. Returning to school opens the door for academic successes and social-emotional growth - but there can also be struggles. Children need adult support and guidance during these important years. How we engage in conversations with our children can shift as they grow older. See the following tips for connecting with your tween or teen:
Throughout the school year, please don’t hesitate to reach out to your student’s school counselor for support and resources. We look forward to seeing your students very soon!
Resources:
For further information about any topic listed below, please contact the School Counseling Office at (410) 751-3270:
- Academic advising
- Bullying, harassment or intimidation reporting form
- Career exploration
- Counseling appointment request
- Resources related to the following topics, but not limited to: anger management, anxiety, bullying, cyberbullying, organization skills, and study skills
Services:
The School Counseling Department at Northwest Middle School consistently works with all students in order to assist them with a variety of issues. We do this through several avenues, some of which include:
- Individual student counseling
- Small group counseling
- Academic interventions
- Behavior interventions and support
- Classroom guidance lessons
- Parental collaboration and support