June2021 Counsellor Newsletter
 
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SUPPORTING COUNSELLORS
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We are excited to welcome you all back for the 2021/2022 school year and hope that you feel rejuvenated and ready to continue your invaluable work with students and families.  Our collaborative learning opportunities and meetings will continue this year in response to your feedback.  Particular work that we are highlighting is Elena Aguilar's book "Onward - Cultivating Resilience in Educators" as a collaborative focus for SBT/Counsellors.  As we move forward with care for each other and resilience in our work, we are all better together.  
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September - Build Community  (Chapter 4) 

Habit: Build Community 
Disposition:  Empathy
We are social beings and we need each other to thrive.  A strong, healthy community can bolster us through challenging moments and bring joy to our lives.  When we build community, we can build empathy for each other, and building empathy for each other helps us build community.  During this month when we’re surrounded by new people, building strong relationships must be our primary goal.  The community we build is foundational for our resilience. (Aguilar, 2018)

Sixty Ways to Build Community (link)

Chapter Reflection

What was a takeaway from this chapter about how to build community?

What do you feel motivated to do in order to strengthen your community?

What did you learn about yourself from this chapter?

We encourage you to discuss the chapter, share your thoughts, and even explore some of the exercises in the workbook at your staff meetings and/or school based team meetings.  

 

 

 

How to get your copy of Onward Books:

Emily Fernyhough is available the first and second week of school (Sept 7 - 17th) if counsellors wish to pick up their books.  Please email Emily at efernyhough@sd61.bc.ca with your pick up time, and she will meet you at the back parking lot of the Tolmie building annex.  

We are also reaching out to all schools to confirm counsellor placements for this school year.  Once we have confirmed positions, remaining books will be mailed to counsellors through school mail.

 

 

 

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Counsellor Meetings for 2021-22:

One of our goals with our District Teams is to focus on supporting School Based Teams, and aligning aspects of our support for Learning Support Teachers and Counsellors.  With this goal in mind, and COVID safety measures still a consideration, we are planning for the following meetings, knowing that the in person options may shift to zoom:

September 15th, 8:45 - noon:
Townhall for all members of School Based Teams (Zoom invite has been distributed).

September 28th, 1 - 3pm:
Tri District Counsellor Meeting focusing on community partner updates. Save the date calendar invite  has been sent.

*October 19th, 9 - 10:30am:
Counsellor meeting for all counsellors in GVSD.  Save the date calendar reminder has been sent (Zoom invite week prior). 

November TBD:
Meeting for all members of School Based Teams.  Zoom or in person will be decided closer to event.
December 8th, 9 - 10:30am:
Counsellor meeting for all counsellors in GVSD.  Save the date calendar reminder has been sent (hope meeting can be in person).

January TBD:
Meeting for all members of School Based Teams.  Zoom or in person will be decided closer to event.

*February 14th, 1 - 2:30pm:
Counsellor meeting for all counsellors in GVSD. Save the date calendar reminder has been sent (Zoom invite week prior).

March 2nd, 9 - 10:30am:
Counsellor meeting for all counsellors in GVSD.  Save the date calendar reminder has been sent (Zoom invite week prior). 
*April 12th, 9 - 10:30am:
Counsellor meeting for all counsellors in GVSD.  Save the date calendar reminder has been sent (Zoom invite week prior).

May TBD:
Meeting for all members of School Based Teams.  Zoom or in person will be decided closer to event.

June 9th, 9 - 10:30am:
Counselling meeting for all counsellors in GVSD.  Save the date calendar reminder has been sent and we  hope to have this meeting in person.  

* Oct 19th, Feb 14th and April 12th were scheduled as teacher counsellor collaboration days, but at this time, we have shifted them to all counsellor meetings due to safety protocols
district workshops:

     VTRA Refresher:

           Tues Nov 16th
            9:00am - 11:30am
            Zoom 
             Invite mid October

CIRT Refresher:

        Wed Nov 24th
        9:00 - 11:30am
        Zoom
        Invite mid October

 

 

 

We have postponed the following workshops until after Christmas in the hope they can occur in person:

          Digital Threat Assessment

          Suicide Ideation Workshop with Dr. Kirsteen Moore
NOloxone training for students
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We are working in partnership with the Foundry, to offer students a Frist Aid opportunity: training in administering Noloxone.  The goal is to offer it at all our Secondary schools, and give an opportunity for interested middle school aged students to receive the training as well. 

We are starting in the fall with Spectrum, SJB and Lambrick, then will expand to the other schools in the next months.  For more information, please contact Jen Chambers.
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Highlighted Resource
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Social Emotional Learning through Second Step

School wide social emotional programs are a recommended resource as we strive to build connection within our classrooms and school community, The Second Step program has been purchased for every SD61 Elementary school.  If you wish to further your understanding of the resource and/or further promote the use within your school there are free Live Webinars as well as On Demand Webinars available on the website.

 

 

 

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Teach Mental Health

About school mental health literacy:

Approximately 1 in 5 youth worldwide will experience a mental illness before they turn 25. Many will experience significant and substantial life challenges that may require help. New life challenges and opportunities require skills for successful adaptation and the building of resilience.

This makes adolescence a critical time for mental health promotion, prevention, early identification, and intervention. Not addressing these issues early and effectively may lead to negative short and long term outcomes. Evidence-based mental health literacy is a scientifically-established effective foundation for all mental health improvements.

Schools are the ideal place to address mental health literacy as most youth attend school and the average teen spends over thirty hours per week in the classroom.
The resources on this website are based on the best available evidence to help educators address youth mental health in a freely accessible and effective way.

School mental health literacy has four unique but integrated components:

Understanding how to optimize and maintain good mental health,

Understanding mental disorders and their treatments,

Deceasing stigma, and

Increasing health-seeking efficacy.


Learn more about the Mental Health Literacy Curriculum Guide.Develop your mental health literacy by taking this freely available, evidence-based, self-guided course or as individual modules.
Prepare to deliver this freely available, evidence-based, classroom-ready curriculum resource to students 12 to 19 years of age to address mental health related outcomes.  

MOOC Mental Health Literacy for Educators

UBC Free Online Course - Teach Mental Health Literacy


 

 

 

resources and articles

Eating Disorders

There has been a dramatic increase in diagnosed eating disorders during COVID-19.  Kelty Mental Health offers the webinar below on their resource page to educate parents and caregivers.  
Island Health Eating Disorders Program:   302-2955 Jutland Road (250) 387-0000
Victoria Eating Disorder Peer Support Group:  1952 Bay St. Suite C 501 (778) 533-3843
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Growing Up Trans

What does it mean to be young and transgender today? Growing Up Trans shares stories, essays, art and poetry created by trans youth aged 11 to 18. In their own words, the works illustrate the trans experience through childhood, family and daily life, school, their bodies and mental health. Together the collection is a story of the challenges, big and small, of being a young trans person. 
At the same time, it’s a toolkit for all young people, transgender or not, about what understanding, acceptance and support for the trans community looks like. In addition to the contributed works, there are questions and tips from experts in the field of transgender studies to challenge the reader on how to be a trans ally.Growing Up Trans came out of a series of workshops held in Victoria, British Columbia, to bring together trans youth from across the country with mentors in the community.
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First Nations Health Authority Indian Residential Schools Program

LINK to the Resource Page

The Indian Residential Schools Resolution Health Support Program provides mental health and emotional supports to eligible former Indian Residential School students and their families. The support is offered before, during and after their participation in Settlement Agreement processes and includes:
common experience payments
the independent assessment process
truth and reconciliation commission events and commemoration activities

 

 

 

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September 2021 Snapshots

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Meet your Team

District Counselling Team Contact Info:

Secondary District Counsellor:                  Jennifer Chambers              jchambers@sd61.bc.ca            

Middle District Counsellor:                         Monique Moore                     mmoore@sd61.bc.ca               

Elementary District Counsellor:                 Maureen von Tigerstrom     mvontigerstrom@sd61.bc.ca

Youth & Family District Counsellor:           Jen Aston                              jaston@sd61.bc.ca                           
             

Additional Members of the District Mental Health Team:

Indigenous District Counsellor                      Joanne Mitchell                      jomitchell@sd61.bc.ca

District Behaviour Consultant:                      Dana Marchant                       dmarchant@sd61.bc.ca

District Principal:                                            Pam Halverson                      phalverson@sd61.bc.ca

Associate Superintendent:                           Harold Caldwell                      hcaldwell@sd61.bc.ca

 

 

 

Jennifer Chambers Secondary

Supporting schools and families with students who have complex emotional, behavioural, mental health & Substance use needs

SBT support throughout year for Secondary teams

Tri District Collaboration with Community partners for student support (i.e. Discovery, CYMH, Police) and to develop consistent interventions (VTRA, CIRT, Pro D for counsellors)

Mental Health Safety plans

Integrated case management meetings

Collaboration with District levelled Teams (Secondary), Complex Problem Solving Team and District Support Teams

Collaborating and connecting with community agencies to support students

VTRA (Assessments and training), Safer Schools Co-cordinator

Principal Review Committee and Diversion for Secondary

District based team meetings for Secondary (includes any referrals for Alternative Programs)

Collaborate and coordinate with middle/elementary district counsellor for counsellor collaborations and professional development (Refresher Series)

Monthly social emotional wellbeing snapshots for secondary school

Team and District Lead for CIRT including yearly training for staff

Spring Up to High School 

Monique Moore Middle

Supporting schools and families with students who have complex emotional, behavioural, and mental health needs

SBT support throughout year for Middle teams

Student observation and creation of student support plans to guide programming needs

Mental Health Safety plans

Integrated case management meetings

Collaboration with District levelled Teams (Middle), Complex Problem Solving Team and District Support Teams

Collaborating and connecting with community agencies to support students

VTRA

Principal Review Committee - Middle

District based team meetings for middle, and grade 9 (grade 9 DBT’s include any transitions to Alternative programs)

Collaborate and coordinate with district counsellors for Counsellor Collaborations and professional development

Monthly social emotional wellbeing snapshots for middle school

Staff professional development in Mental Health Literacy as well as CPI

Member of District CIRT

Spring Up to High School 

Maureen von Tigerstrom
Elementary

Supporting schools and families with students who have complex emotional, behavioural, and mental health needs

SBT support throughout year for Elementary teams

Student observation and creation of student support plans to guide programming needs

Mental Health Safety plans

Integrated case management meetings

Collaboration with District levelled Teams (Elementar), Complex Problem Solving Team and District Support Teams

Collaborating and connecting with community agencies to support students

VTRA

Principal Review Committee - Elementary

District based team meetings for elementary

Collaborate and coordinate with district counsellors for Counsellor Collaborations and professional development

Monthly social emotional wellbeing snapshots for elementary school

Staff professional development in Second Step (SEL) 

Member of District CIRT


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Jen Aston
District Youth and Family Counsellor

Supporting schools and families with students who have complex emotional, behavioural, mental health and substance use needs. 

Youth and Family  support for schools without a school- based YFC counsellor.

District Team for supporting Children in Care Plans and partnership with Ministry of Children and Families.
District lead for facilitation of Y Teen Mindfulness Training for Counsellors and teachers.

Counselling support for youth and families not currently connected to a school or who didn't "land" through DBT processes. 

Co-facillitation of annual Connect Parent Group for parents of secondary students who have accessed District Based Team Supports. 

Individualized transition plans for students moving from elementary to middle or middle to Secondary School.
Integrated case management meetings

Collaborating and connecting with community agencies to support students

Collaboration with District levelled Teams (Elementary, Middle and Secondary), Complex Solving Team and District Support Teams

District Team supporting Social Emotional Wellness Advocates in Schools through professional development and ongoing support

Spring up to High School

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