COMMUNITY RESOURCES:

Clara Martin Center

Community Mental Health

1483 Lower Plain, Bradford, VT 05033

Phone: (802) 222-4477

http://www.claramartin.org/

24/7 Hotline: 1-800-639-6360

Insurance: Most, inc Medicaid

Must be a VT resident

West Central Behavioral Health

Community Mental Health

Lebanon, NH

24/7 Hotline: 1-800-564-2578

Phone: 603-542-5128

http://www.wcbh.org/

Insurance: Most, inc Medicaid

Must be NH Resident

HCRS

Community Mental Health

49 School St, Hartford, VT 05047

Phone: (802) 886-4500

www.hcrs.org

24/7 Hotline 1-800-622-4235

Insurance: Most, inc Medicaid

Must be a VT Resident

WISE

Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault Support

38 Bank St, Lebanon, NH 03766

24/7 Hotline 866-348-9473

www.wiseuv.org

Upper Valley Haven

Housing and Food Support

Phone: 802-295-6500

713 Hartford Ave, WRJ VT

National Sexual Assault Hotline

24/7 Support 1-800-656-4673

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)

www.NAMINH.org

603-225-5359 or 1-800-242-6264

Providing in person, online, and 1 on 1 support

SAMHSA National Helpline

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

24/7 Support 1-800-662-4357

Trevor Project (LGBTQ Support)

24/7 Support 1-866-488-7386

Crisis Text Support: Text START to 741-741

VT Child Abuse – DCF

24/7 Hotline 1-800-649-5285

NH Child Abuse – DCYF

24/7 Hotline 1-800-894-5533 or

603-271-6562

Trans Lifeline

By and for transgender people

1-877-565-8860

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

24/7 Support 1-800-273-8255.

Crisis Textline

24/7 Support, Text 741741

Counselor’s Corner

         First of all, I want to have “zero” judgement of anyone’s parenting choices, we all do the best we can with the resources we have. As a parent and full-time teacher, I want to share some thoughts based on how my family is handling the transition to distance learning, and how we have been coping with the outbreak of the coronavirus. It’s only been two days that the children have been home, and one of my children is using the “COVID-19 Daily Schedule” which is widely available online, https://www.wsisd.com/apps/pages/familyactivities. I tucked one of these into many Westshire School families’ work bags that were available at school for pickup on Wednesday.

         We got outside early in the day in the “morning walk”, and I noticed how much our senses were awakened: the crunch of the gravel, the sounds of the birds, the feel of the fresh air, and sights that are changing daily as the snow melts. There is no danger in being outside, and I followed my child’s lead as she chose the route for our short walk. I like the schedule because it is like school, and I do not have to nag, we can just try to follow the schedule, “Let’s stay outside”, I said, “because we have an hour.”

         Back inside, I expected my child to work independently. But that did not work out terrifically. I tried to do some of my work – checking emails, communicating, writing – but got interrupted. Even noises in the house were distracting. The COVID daily schedule is an attempt at bringing routine and structure to our children’s day, but you can’t do it perfectly. But children thrive on structure, and routine helps everyone, so my advice is to try to map out some daily routine with work periods.

         Our president is encouraging people to stay at home as much as possible – in our living rooms.

I suggest we take advantage of our comfortable living rooms to relax. Do something to relax your tension because your kids will take cues from you. Slow down your breath, stretch, sit comfortably. Keep the news on television off (at least for portions of the day), and when confronted with worrisome news, try to stay positive. Focus on the things we can control, like hand-washing, making choices to limit trips out of the home, and relaxing. We could remind kids that right now experts are working on solving the problems, and what we can do is to make sure to follow their recommendations.

         Take care! I will stay in touch with weekly counselor’s corners. I am also available anytime through email for chats, vents, or needs you may have. Please reach out if you, or your child, is having a hard time and you want to talk.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Ann O’Hearn, Elementary School Counselor

aohearn@rivendellschool.org

Mrs. O’Hearn’s

Area Summer Camp Resource List*

1.             Riverbend Career and Technical Center, Bradford, Vermont - www.rbctc.org/summercamp

2.             Open Acres Horse Camp, Fairlee, VT, 802-333-9196

3.             Vershare Camp, Vershire, VT, vershare.org

4.             Montshire Museum, Hanover, NH, https://www.montshire.org/programs/for-children-families/summer-camps

5.             VINS Summer Camp, Quechee, VT, https://vinsweb.org/nature-camp/

6.             CCBA, Lebanon, NH joinccba.org/ccba-summer-camps/

7.             Upper Valley Acquatic Center, https://uvacswim.org/swimming/splash-camp/

8.             Ava Art Gallery, https://avagallery.org/education/summer-art-camps/

9.             Horizons Summer Camp, Fairlee, VT, https://alohafoundation.org/venue/horizons-day-camp/

10.         Rosie’s Girls Summer Camp, https://www.vtworksforwomen.org/programs/middle-school-girls/rosies-girls

11.                   Green Mountain Conservation Camp, vtfishandwildlife.com/learn-more/gmcc

12.                   Coyote Hill Mountain Bike Camp, coyotehillcamp.com.

13.                   Lightning Soccer Camp, uvlightning.org.

14.                   Upper Valley Haven Summer Camp, uppervalleyhaven.org.

15.         NH League of Craftsman Summer Camp, https://hanover.nhcrafts.org/youth-tweens-teens/

16.          Storrs Pond, https://www.storrspond.org/activities/summer-camps/

17.                   Billings Farm, billingsfarm.org/summer-camp-fun/

18.                   Roots Summer Camp, Corinth, VT https://rootsvt.com/youth/summer-camp-corinth

19.                   Lilac Hill Day Camp, Bradford, VT https://www.lilachilldaycamp.com/about_us

20.          Clara Martin Center Summer Program, http://www.claramartin.org/summer-programs.html

*LISTEN Agency in Lebanon, NH, has funds for summer camp scholarships. Qualifying children will receive one free week of camp. To inquire and make an intake appointment, call 1-603-448-4553 and ask to speak with Monica.03

PROBLEM-SOLVING LESSONS:

In guidance class this week we are learning about solving problems. We all face problems. Problems are anything that make you feel bad.

         The specific topics for the next several weeks are:

1.   Fair Ways to Play: Whenever we are using materials or toys, we can share, take turns or offer to trade. We can say, “Can I please have a turn with that?” or “May I share that with you?”

2.   Inviting Others to Join-In: If we notice someone is left out of play, the right thing to do is to invite them to play. Playing with others is a way to get to know them better.

3.   Handling Name-Calling: If someone calls you a name, you can ignore the person, or speak assertively, “I don’t like being called mean names. I want you to stop.” If the person doesn’t stop, then go tell a teacher.

At school we teach these topics to help students solve problems in safe and respectful ways. We also help students learn to make and keep friends.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Ann O’Hearn, School Counselor