From the Counselor

 

 

  April 2020 External Link
   
   

 

 

Rooted in Love Rooted In Love (from THE HARBOR) During this difficult, confusing, and frightening time, Mike Smith, the host of The Harbor™ by Jostens, takes to the crate to acknowledge the challenges we are all facing during the COVID-19 pandemic and related restrictions. Mike issues a call to action for all of us, in this unprecedented time, to find ways to build community, take care of one another, and stay rooted in love.
   
The Road to
Resilience
In times of stress of crisis, we have a choice.
Learn to face your fears and become resilient
  Part 1 Calm Yourself - "An anxious mind cannot exist in a relaxed body" 
Dr. Edmund Jacobon
PDF Document
  Part 2 Change Your Thinking - "One of the most significant findings in psychology in the last twenty years is that indiviuals can change the way they think" Marin Seligman PDF Document
  Part 3 Create a Resilient Lifestyle - "I can be changed by what happens to me, but I refuse to be reduced by it" Maya Angelou PDF Document
   
Inspiration Inspiration PDF Document
   
Stress Stress is the body's reaction to any change that requires an adjustment or response. The body reacts to these changes with physical, mental, and emotional responses. Stress is a normal part of life. You can experience stress from your environment, your body, and your thoughts. PDF Document
   
Online
Ideas / Activities
Activities I thought I would put up some of the online ideas/activities
that I have provided for homeroom and/or in class lessons this year. Not all teachers covered all the topics so please look these over and see if there is something you might enjoy watching.
PDF Document

 

 

  Free meditation app for all of Michigan! - This special collection of meditation, sleep, and movement exercises below are designed to help you keep a strong and healthy mind in the midst of this global health crisis. External Link
  Michigan adds “warm line”  for mental health assistance. - The peer-operated warmline, which is open daily from 10 a.m. to 2 a.m., is intended to act as resource for people experiencing depression, anxiety, or other mental illnesses — including those who may not have access to traditional counseling services or emotional support.External Link

 

 

Good Afternoon!

COVID-19 has quickly and profoundly changed our daily lives and we want to help. Junior Achievement for the first time in its history is providing free, online classes for teachers, parents, and students through June 30, 2020. I would like to invite you to use our online resources to enhance your curriculum.  

These resources are a combination of stand-alone activities that your students can do at home and versions of our traditional programming in a digital format – to reach the students at home.  If you enjoy our traditional programming, we are confident you will enjoy our digital format as well. Our online-adapted formatting allows the school to implement the programs utilizing teachers instead of the traditional classroom volunteer.

I will also work with you to ensure the delivery of all digital program materials and will be available for virtual training sessions throughout this complex time.

We have all our available resources available by clicking here, but I would like to highlight some specific programs: we know you’ve got a lot of programming your students have to get through the next five weeks, so here’s what I think is worth your attention!

JA Economics – Using our revised JA Economics program, JA USA has tailored the program to help young people better understand the economic effects of COVID-19.

JA Online Career Speaker Series – This is a work in progress – we are currently collecting videos from our JA Career Speaker Series and JA Reverse Job Shadows volunteers to create bite-sized video presentations. Stay tuned!

JA Assembling Your Career - JA Assembling Your Career helps provide middle school and high school students with practical information about STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) careers and ways students can prepare for these careers before college.

JA My Way – JA My Way provides tips and tools to put students' careers on the express track. They'll take a Personality Quiz then visit My Career to find job matches. They'll explore buying a car and saving for college in My Money, create pro resumes at My Resume, and get tips to start a business at My Business!

JA Career Profiler – A JA produced Career Assessment tool that links with the US Department of Labor.

All of our Blended Middle and High School programs are still available to be requested, including our full High School Experience including JA Entrepreneurial Mindset and JA Introduction to Business & Technology!

If you have any questions or additional programming needs, please let me know and I will happy to assist you.

Junior Achievement is doing this in order to continue our programming, servicing the students we impact daily. Our efforts will ensure that students can spend more time planning for and dreaming about tomorrow, and less time worrying about today.

 

Gregg Hampshire | Director of Education
(616) 369-1629 O | greggory.hampshire@ja.org
Junior Achievement of the Michigan Great Lakes
741 Kenmoor Ave. SE Ste. C | Grand Rapids, MI 49546

 

 

Camp Newayhome — Virtual Resources During COVID-19  External Link

Corona Shouldn’t Stop Connection.

Camp Newayhome is designed to bring virtual camp magic to you, wherever you are during this pandemic

These are incredibly trying times. We aren’t epidemiologist, doctors, or medical experts. What we strive to be are fun, compassionate, role models, and leaders for the next generation of resilient change-makers.

In these challenging weeks we are doing our best to bring Camp Newaygo to you, to do our best to bring some joy, connection, and love to maybe ease, just a little, the increased burden of this pandemic on each family’s life.

 

Kailey Peterson
Fremont Middle School
Counselor