Notes from Mrs. Winslow's Office

What Do School Social Workers Do?

The goal of a school social worker, as a member of the educational team,is to contribute to the positive social, emotional and academic development of all students. Providing support and guidance through prevention and early intervention practices, helps set the stage for optimal learning and success as children develop into responsible and productive citizens. I am available to you and your children Monday-Friday, please do not hesitate to stop by my office of leave me a message at ext. 208. If you do not hear back from me in a timely manner please contact the main office and I will be located within the building.

As the school social worker I am here to assist families, children and staff. Please do not hesitate to call me if you have any concerns about your child or family needs

The social worker:

*provides family support/consultation as needed with a multitude of social and psychological issues that may arise at school, at home, or in the larger community, i.e. ....

child development; sibling relationship; stress/anger management; death, divorce and other family changes; substance abuse.

*directs classroom guidance activities on a weekly basis to assist students in developing a positive self-image; in understanding themselves and others; in developing responsibility for their actions; in learning to cope with stress; and to develop decision making skills.

*facilliates educational support groups for students, i.e. Changing Families, Friendship Groups, Conflict Resolution.

*consults with families to help them: participate effectively in their children's education; to understand and meet their children's social and emotional needs; to utilize school and community resources effectively.

*offers parenting education and workshops

*consults with staff to: discuss students' needs; to facilitate parent/teacher involvement; to provide materials/guidance as needed in the classroom.Al

Guidance Curricula and Instruction

We want your child to be as successful as possible at school. Success in school is not just about reading and math. It is also about knowing how to learn and how to get along with others. Social and emotional learning is the process by which children acquire the knowledge, attitudes and skills necessary to recognize and manage their emotions, demonstrate caring and concern for others, establish positive relationships, make responsible decisions and constructively handle social situations. The school social worker delivers instruction in these areas weekly in grades PreK-6.

Second Step

The Second Step curriculum, utilized by TCS for over ten years,is a school based skills curriculum with the goal of reducing aggression and promoting social competence in children. The program teaches skills in the following four areas: Skills for Learning, Empathy, Emotion Management and Problem Solving.

Throughout the year, your child will be bringing home Home Links that go with several of the Second Step lessons. Home Links are simple, fun activities for you and your child to complete together. They are a great way for you to understand what your child is learning and for your child to show you what he or she knows!

MARC K-12

The goal of this curriculum is to educate children in grades K-6 about bullying and cyberbullying, and to raise their awareness about how these behaviors impact children, help children identify the adults in the school they can feel safe to go to for help and support, and help children develop additional strategies to deal with all aspects of bullying.

Supplemental curricula include

Quit it! A Teacher's Guide on Teasing and Bullying for Use with Students in Grades K

Bully Proof A Teacher's Guide on Teasing and Bullying for Use with Fourth and Fifth Grade Studen

Peace Corps Classroom Activities

Steps to Respect Cyberbullying Module

Talking About Touching: A Personal Safety Curriculum

"Caught in the Act"

Our efforts to address issues of teasing and bullying continue with the assistance of all the adults in our school community. Our school wide initiative "Caught in the Act", is a method by which we formally encourage and recognize pro-social behaviors. According to research, a school environment in which there are strong adult-student connections in place is an environment which fosters a sense of safety among students. The staff and students at TCS have great connections and "Caught in the Act" is another way for us to foster and acknowledge these relationships. All staff are asked to notice a specific kindness shown by a student or a good choice made during a difficult situation. Once a student, grade K-6 has been "caught" he/she decorates a page to be included in the "Caught in the Act" book located in the upper lobby. As students continue to be "caught", stars, shooting stars, and planets are added to a bulletin board next of my office in the upper lobby.

Mix-It-Up-At Lunch Day

Truro Central School participates annually in Mix-It-Up Lunch Day, a nationwide initiative sponsored by Teaching Tolerance. Founded in 1991 by the Souther Poverty Law Center, Teaching Tolerance is dedicated to reducing prejudice, improving intergroup relations and supporting equitable school experiences for our children. In our continued effort to support an environment with less conflict and fewer instances of exclusion, children are seated at lunch with students across grade levels with whom they would not typically converse. Sixth graders host the lunch groups during both first and second lunch. The event is a simple call to action. Mix-It-Up-At Lunch Day helps students become more comfortable interacting with different people. Family members are encouraged to model very important social skill by joining their children for breakfast and stiing with someonne with home they are not very well acquainted.

Bus Buddies

Bus Buddies is a program developed and implemented in 2005 in response to second grade students identifying the school bus ride to and from school as a time when many students feel unsafe. "Bus Buddies" is aimed at building multi-age alliances among students with the goal of increasing the sense of safety students feel during their time on the school bus as well as providing the opportunity for older students to become active bystanders when instances of bullying occur. Every student is assigned a specific seat as well as a "bus buddy", in most instances, a student in another grade.

Parenting Resources

Many of the titles below, as well as an extensive collection of children's books on specific topics, are available on loan from my office.

From Diapers to Dating A Parents Guide to Raising Sexually Healthy Children Debra W. Haffner, M.P.H.

What's The Big Secret? Talking About Sex with Girls and Boys Laurie Krasny Brown, Ed.D. and Marc Brown

"What's Happening To Me?" An Illustrated Guide to Puberty Peter Mayle

"Where Did I Come From?" The facts of life without any nonsense and with illustrations. Peter Mayle

1-2-3-Magic Effective Discipline for Children 2-12 Thomas W. Phelan, Ph.D

Raising Your Spirited Child Mary Sheedy Kurcinka

Yardsticks Children In The Classroom Ages 4-14 Chip Wood

So This Is Normal Too? Teachers and Parents Working Out Developmental Issues in Young Children Deborah Hewitt

(STEP) The Parent's Handbook Don Dinkmeyer, Sr. Gary D. McKay, Don Dinkmeyer, Jr.

(STEP) Parenting Young Children Systematic Training for Effective Parenting of Children Under Six Dinkmeyer

P.E.T. Parent Effectiveness Training Dr. Thomas Gordon

How To Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish

How To Talk So Teens Will Listen & Listen So Teens Will Talk Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish

Siblings Without Rivalry Adele Faber & Elaine Mazlish

Playful Parenting Lawrence J. Cohen

Parenting Without Power Struggles Raising Joyful, Resilient Kids While Staying Cool, Calm and Connected Susan Stiffelman

Parenting Children w/ ADHD 10 Lessons That Medicine Cannot Teach Vincent J. Monastra, Ph.D.

Talking With Children About Loss Maria Trozzi

Talking About Death A Dialogue between Parent and Child Earl Grollman

The Elephant in the Playroom Denise Brodey

Does Wednesday Mean Mom's House or Dad's? Parenting Together While Living Apart Marc J. Ackerman

The Co-parent's Companion Benjamin D. Garber, Ph.D.

Yes, Your Teen Is Crazy! Loving Your Kid Without Losing Your Mind Michael Bradley Ed.D.