tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36402697837109594542024-02-20T10:23:55.050-08:00 Guidance A look at the MBS guidance program: curriculum and counseling. Setting and achieving high goals for every student.Luba Routsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00475147376413214884noreply@blogger.comBlogger33125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3640269783710959454.post-79344887724303419762016-01-08T05:24:00.001-08:002016-01-08T05:24:43.000-08:00Learning to Love Your Brain or The Care and Feeding of the Brain <br /><br />
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The third semester the third and fourth grades are learning about the brain. The brain is nearly 3 pounds of gooey, slimey, gelatinous stuff that smells like blue cheese. It is grey and light pink, and about the size of two fists side by side. It is the control room that directs almost all your activities: thinking, moving, feeling, talking, and just keeping alive. It works 24 hours a day. So how do we take care of it and help it to work well? If you have a third or fourth grader in the third semester Guidance class ask them. Here are a few ideas; the brain needs blood, oxygen, good food, sleep, exercise, to be kept safe from head injuries(helmets, seat belts), water and happiness. Yes, happiness helps our brains work better. Two ways we can boost our happiness is with gratitude and with optimistic thinking. Thinking on the "bright side" of life also is a happiness booster, so keep your sunny side up and see the glass as half full not half empty.</div>
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Luba Routsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00475147376413214884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3640269783710959454.post-33150049678969373432015-11-30T06:17:00.001-08:002015-11-30T06:17:50.040-08:00Similarities and DifferencesAs we begin a new guidance unit, we will be looking at commonalities among people as well as differences. How children feel about themselves will ultimately determine how they live their lives and how they interact with one another. Here are some ways that caregivers can help children believe in themselves, resist negative influences and be tolerant of differences.<br />
<ul>
<li>Teach your children about your family, culture, and community. Help your children take pride in their heritage.</li>
<li>Promote diversity. Stress that differences between people make life more interesting.</li>
<li>Encourage your children by recognizing their interests and accomplishments.</li>
<li>Listen to your children's opinions and help them to see other points of view.</li>
<li>Point out to your children when a particular group is being stereotyped. Tell your children stereotyping is not fair. Explain why stereotypes are inaccurate and encourage discussion.</li>
<li>Remember that you are a role model.</li>
<li>Your children need to know that you find discriminatory behavior unacceptable. Children will look to adults on how to confront prejudice and discrimination. Encourage children to create positive change.</li>
</ul>
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Luba Routsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00475147376413214884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3640269783710959454.post-80799167732582625952015-09-10T09:59:00.000-07:002015-09-10T10:00:41.601-07:00Cyber Bullying ContinuedOur third cyber bullying prevention lesson focuses on the idea that when we are doing things online, we have to be very careful to think ahead, predict consequences, and make sure that nothing we do can be used in an uncomfortable, mean, or hurtful way. Students will learn that they lose control of messages once their messages are sent. The messages are gone in an instant. The messages can be sent to other recipients without the knowledge of the original sender. This makes it very important to think about what we say and do before we send, text, or post any information.Luba Routsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00475147376413214884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3640269783710959454.post-51967204802892849202015-08-31T11:37:00.003-07:002015-08-31T11:37:47.642-07:00WelcomeI hope you all had an enjoyable summer and your children are ready to return to a terrific school year.<br />
I am the school counselor for Mallets Bay School. This year I will be teaching classes, running groups and lunch bunches, and seeing children as needed. I may be reached at 264-5898 and my e-mail address is <a href="mailto:routsongl@csdvt.org">routsongl@csdvt.org</a>. Please feel free to contact me.<br />
The first semester I will be working with the following classes; Carney, Chioffi, Hunt, Miller, Cheney, Longchamp, O'Neill, Chittenden, Sato, Rayner-Cyr and Ellingson. The fourth and fifth grades will be discussing cyber bullying. Cyber bullying has all the characteristics of regular bullying, but here is how cyber bullying is different:<br />
<ul>
<li>Its done using technology</li>
<li>The person doing the bullying and the target can be far away from each other in space and time.</li>
<li>The person doing the bullying can be anonymous and hidden.</li>
<li>The bullying can be witnessed by many bystanders.</li>
<li>It is difficult to get away from the bully because children have access to different technology devices.</li>
<li>It can happen very quickly and is difficult to stop.</li>
</ul>
Children report cyber bullying less often. They fear adults will not be able to help, and that the adult's solution will be to limit their access to technology.<br />
We will talk about the three Rs: recognize, refuse and report bullying. We will also talk about an additional R: record. The record speaks to the need to document cyber bullying.This can be done in a variety of ways, including:<br />
<ul>
<li>Saving messages and images</li>
<li>Taking sreeen shots</li>
<li>Coping URL's</li>
</ul>
An additional R is directed to adults-it is receive. This R message reminds us to stay calm, listen and look patiently, and support the child being targeted.<br />
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<br />Luba Routsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00475147376413214884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3640269783710959454.post-24877481656936774602015-03-02T11:05:00.000-08:002015-03-02T11:09:21.186-08:00How to Keep Your Children Safe<br />
<ul>
<li>Children need lots of loving words and affection. Help your child feel secure.</li>
<li>Remind your child that most people are kind, nice people. However, there are some with bad behaviors. Encourage your child not to keep any secrets about someone like this.</li>
<li>Help your child understand he or she can say no to an adult who tells them to do something wrong. Get away from that adult.</li>
<li>Spend time listening to your child.</li>
<li>Be aware of who spends time with your child. Get to know them.</li>
<li>Pay attention to what your child says and does around people, especially if they talk about feeling uncomfortable. Take notice.</li>
<li>It is okay to tell a secret that is not safe.</li>
</ul>
Luba Routsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00475147376413214884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3640269783710959454.post-81612204013149413512015-02-19T12:12:00.001-08:002015-02-20T06:44:58.265-08:00Personal SafetyIn the third and fourth grade guidance classes students will be learning about personal safety. School guidance programs help children to learn to stay safe from abuse. Sadly, sexual abuse of children takes place more often than we would like to believe. The skills needed to help prevent abuse are taught in a safe and simple manner. Through theses lessons children will learn:<br />
<ul>
<li>What the difference is between good touch, bad touch, and secret/confusing touch.</li>
<li>Who to tell if they are abused.</li>
<li>Child sexual abuse is not the child's fault.</li>
<li>Children have a right to privacy and the right to say no to secret touches.</li>
<li>What are some lures used by child sex offenders.</li>
</ul>
Please feel free to call me with any questions, 264-5898.Luba Routsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00475147376413214884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3640269783710959454.post-19326167659194117232014-12-23T07:26:00.003-08:002014-12-23T07:26:56.637-08:00ENJOYHappy Holidays and have a safe and fun vacation.Luba Routsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00475147376413214884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3640269783710959454.post-61325052194691552002014-12-04T09:56:00.000-08:002014-12-04T09:56:00.551-08:00BullyingIf your child wants to talk to you about bullying please listen carefully. He or she may feel scared, angry, lonely, sad, or guilty. Help your child talk about their feelings. Let them know that you love them and will help with this problem. The most important thing your child can do is to get help by telling an adult. Praise them for talking to you. Contact teachers or school administrators if you have a concern.<br />
Even if your child does not mention bullying, talk about examples of it on television, in movies, or in books. Help them to recognize bullying. Give them some suggestions to deal with bullying behavior.<br />
<ul>
<li>Tell a trusted adult about bullying.</li>
<li>Tell the person doing the bullying to stop.</li>
<li>Ask a trusted friend for help.</li>
<li>Stick with positive friends who help each other.</li>
<li>Walk away from the situation.</li>
<li>Avoid people, locations, and situations that may be connected with bullying.</li>
</ul>
With your support your child will learn the skills needed to stay healthy and help to make their school a safe place for everyone.Luba Routsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00475147376413214884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3640269783710959454.post-16682096716441154102014-11-13T11:29:00.000-08:002014-11-13T11:29:01.536-08:00Creating Goals and PlansAs adults we can look back on many things we have accomplished, such as getting an education, getting a job, and raising children. Some of the best things we have done happened because we decided what we wanted in life and then worked toward those goals.<br />
Sometimes when we write down our goals it is easier to achieve them. Its important to write goals in a way that makes it clear what you will do and when, in order to achieve your goal. <br />
For example, your child may have the goal of keeping their room clean. Keeping your room clean is a great idea but it is not clearly defined as a goal. The goal becomes specific by stating "I will put my dirty clothes in a hamper and return my books and games to their shelves every night before bedtime." This gives a clear picture of what your child should do and when he or she will do it.<br />
Here are some ideas that may help you in developing goals with your child:<br />
<ul>
<li>Describe what the goal is. Make it realistic.</li>
<li>Set the due date.</li>
<li>Provide motivation by listing reasons why this goal is important.</li>
<li>Brainstorm tasks that must be completed to reach the goal.</li>
<li>Set a due date for each task.</li>
<li>Track progress</li>
<li>Make changes in tasks, dates due,if needed.</li>
<li>Evaluate</li>
</ul>
Luba Routsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00475147376413214884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3640269783710959454.post-4667837691212912412014-10-30T11:59:00.001-07:002014-10-30T11:59:40.573-07:00Appreciating your FamilyAs the rush of the winter season begins it is important to remember how much and what we appreciate about each other. This is a fun activity to do at home. Help your child to draw the trunk and the branches of a tree on a large sheet of paper. Display it on a door, a wall, the refrigerator, or a bulletin board. Keep post-it-notes or slips of paper and tape nearby. Tell everyone that this tree needs some leaves. Everyone can tape slips of paper to the tree to add leaves in the next week. Each leaf must have a message on it thanking someone in the family for something he or she did. Younger children could draw a picture and add a smiley face. It is important to recognize the little things that people do as well as the big things. Make sure everyone in the family(including pets) receives some messages about his or her positive behavior.Luba Routsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00475147376413214884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3640269783710959454.post-66027126520055000192014-10-22T05:56:00.002-07:002014-10-22T05:59:16.773-07:00ListenIn guidance we have been working on the following respectful listening skills:<br />
<ul>
<li>Stop what you are doing</li>
<li>Look at the person speaking</li>
<li>Be quiet while the person speaks</li>
<li>Think about what they are saying</li>
<li>Ask questions, nod your head or make comments on what the person says</li>
</ul>
Help your child practice these skills at home. Show how you use them in your own life .Praise your child when they listen more respectfully. Let them know you feel like they heard you.<br />
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Try this activity in your family to help your child practice listening skills and to build a sense of team work in your family.<br />
Create a regular time to talk. This is a chance to really listen to one another. For some families, meals are good times to talk and listen. Other families find that the hour before your child's bedtime or the hour when everyone has arrived home are the best times. The time you choose isn't as important as listening to one another. Use this time to share thoughts and feelings about what happened that day or week. Together you can practice the listening skills at the top of this page.Luba Routsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00475147376413214884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3640269783710959454.post-36860510333338121742014-10-13T07:36:00.002-07:002014-10-13T07:36:35.986-07:00Accepting DifferencesWe have just finished a unit in guidance about accepting differences. By the completion of the unit students understand what we mean by, "We are all different, but we have a lot in common."<br />
Each of us is different. Learning to accept each other and our differences is important.<br />
Help your child accept his or her special qualities:<br />
<ul>
<li>Discuss your family's background and countries your family came from.</li>
<li>Point out your child's individual talents and skills.</li>
<li>Discuss the traditions that are a part of your family.</li>
</ul>
Help your child accept the special qualities of others:<br />
<ul>
<li>Provide chances for your child to interact with other children who may have different backgrounds, skills, or abilities.</li>
<li>Stop any name calling or teasing that puts down another person.</li>
<li>Talk about other children's talents, skills, cultures, and traditions.</li>
</ul>
Luba Routsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00475147376413214884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3640269783710959454.post-2535681527761460022014-10-02T06:34:00.001-07:002014-10-02T06:34:43.538-07:00Making and Keeping FriendsFriends are important to all of us. As your child grows up, he or she will have many chances to make new friends. The older your child gets, the more important friends become. Share with your child how you have made friends and what you like about them. By talking and listening to your child you are helping them to develop the most important relationship skill:communication.<br />
Here are some simple skill steps to make a new friend you can share with your child:<br />
<ul>
<li>Pick a time and place when the person is not busy.</li>
<li>Say "Hi"</li>
<li>Talk about something you have in common or say something positive you have noticed about the student. Maybe you both like to play the same game at recess.</li>
<li>Tell the other student alittle bit about yourself.</li>
<li>Ask questions about the other student.</li>
<li>Suggest doing something together, like having lunch, playing 4 square, basketball.</li>
</ul>
Luba Routsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00475147376413214884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3640269783710959454.post-26324160609255475392014-09-19T11:33:00.000-07:002014-09-19T11:33:39.129-07:00Take a breakTry some mindfulness and breathing to make a stressful day less stressful.<br />
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<ul>
<li>Sit in a comfortable position. Close your eyes or look down.</li>
<li>Pay close attention to your breathing. Feel the air come in thru your nose, then fill your chest, and your belly. Calmly and slowly, let the breath leave your belly, then your chest, and finally your nose.</li>
<li>Keep your shoulders dropped and relaxed. Think about the air coming into your body and the air going out.</li>
<li>Bring your attention back to your breath, if your mind tries to think about other things.</li>
<li>Notice your stomach rising and falling. Let your belly be soft and relaxed.</li>
<li>Open your eyes slowly and take a slow, deep breath.</li>
</ul>
Luba Routsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00475147376413214884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3640269783710959454.post-6090845032378017972014-09-08T11:59:00.001-07:002014-09-08T12:04:12.006-07:00More Tips to Start the School YearHomework-staying motivated<br />
When your child gets home from school or after-school care, he/she might want to relax for a little while or maybe just jump right in and work. If he feels restless when doing his homework suggest that he gets up and moves once in awhile to a new spot. For example he might finish his spelling at the kitchen table and then read on the porch. A planned break can also give him a second wind (a snack or a short walk).<br />
Building Relationships<br />
One way to help your child develop relationship skills is to enourage him/her to identify feelings. As you watch your favorite television show, movie or read a book with your child, have them write down all the feelings they see and hear the characters express. Compare the list with your list.<br />
See how many feelings you label the same. Notice how many feeling words you both think of.<br />
You can also discuss how the different characters handled their feelings. Talk about their decisions on how to deal with their feelings.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />Luba Routsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00475147376413214884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3640269783710959454.post-85948160408815452092014-08-28T07:35:00.002-07:002014-08-28T07:35:56.448-07:00Welcome <strong>Welcome to the 2014-2015 Schoo</strong>l<br />
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Hopefully you and your child(ren) are slowly but surely getting back into the school routine. I would like to start my blog this year with a few basic suggestions for getting off on the right foot.<br />
Attendance<br />
Being in school every day means your child will not miss out on learning. Try your best to schedule family trips and appointments outside of school hours, although we all know we all can not get into that 4:00 p.m. appointment time.<br />
Celebrate Progress<br />
Suggest that your child create a fun reminder of all the things he/she has acomplished. Try covering a container with construction paper and label it, "I did it". He/she can write each success on a slip of paper and put it in the container. If they are feeling discouraged it would be a great time to read their accomplishments in the container.<br />
Have a meal together<br />
You may have heard its important for families to eat a meal together. If you work evenings maybe it could be breakfast. On a week-end try a picnic lunch.<br />
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Let's have a great year!!<br />
Luba Routsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00475147376413214884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3640269783710959454.post-19803189245756533342013-11-04T10:45:00.002-08:002013-11-04T10:45:48.345-08:00SECOND QUARTERThe second quarter has started for the Unified Arts. The new semester brings new classes for all of us. The classes for Guidance are now; Carney, Rayner-Cyr, Longchamp, Renner, Sato, Rogers, Chittenden, Taylor, O'Neill, and Schroeder. I will be teaching the same lessons that are posted for the first semester classes.Luba Routsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00475147376413214884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3640269783710959454.post-84091924006818632492013-10-10T08:54:00.000-07:002013-10-28T09:38:18.769-07:00Tools to Help Calm the BrainNow that we understand alittle bit about the brain, how do we calm the brain so it has time to process something we hear, taste,smell, or feel before it responds? How do we create a buffer between the input and the response or how do we go from a fuzzy brain to a clear one? A fuzzy brain is also referred to as a "puppy brain".<br />
At the end of the first semester we started a toolbox of skills to calm the brain. The students are keeping a list of skills they are learning. This will go home the end of the second semester that they have guidance. Some examples are; counting to ten, exercising, doing a finger labyrinth, coloring a circular Mandala, smelling an aroma we enjoy(we tried the scent of an orange), and taking three deep belly breaths. I can not emphasize the importance of the breath. It not only calms the mind, but as an added bonus lowers blood pressure and heart rate. When breathing is deliberately regulated, the brain is primed to think first and then plan a response. Luba Routsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00475147376413214884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3640269783710959454.post-77455439569168196782013-10-10T07:23:00.002-07:002013-10-14T12:24:51.856-07:00Continued Care of the Brain-Meet Some Key PlayersWe certainly do not have time to delve into a deep study of the brain in Guidance, but we can meet some key players involved in our attention and focus as students in school. The amygdala is a pair of almond shaped structures that reacts to fear, danger, and threat. The amygdala regulates our emotional state by acting as the brain's gatekeeper. When a student is in a positive emotional state, the amygdala sends incoming information on to the conscious, thinking brain. When a student is in a negative state, the amygdala prevents the input from passing along, basically blocking higher level thinking and judgment. Therefore there is an automatic response of flight, fight, or freeze from the brain. Examples might be, "I can't do this" or " I won't do this".<br />
The hippocampus assists in managing our response to fear and threats and is a storage vault of memory and learning.Information is fed to the prefrontal cortex-the learning, reasoning, and thinking center of the brain. This area of the brain controls our decision making, focuses our attention, and allows us to learn to read, write, compute, analyze, predict, comprehend, and interpret-phew, that's alot to do.<br />
If the amygdala triggers an alarm we go into fight, flight, or freeze without letting the parts of the brain that think about something do their job. We also are unble to send information into the storage banks , the hippocampus and the the prefrontal cortex. How do we calm our brains in a stressful situation so we may store information and make good decisions? Stayed tuned as we next develop a toolbox to help our brains to work as best as they possibly can.Luba Routsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00475147376413214884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3640269783710959454.post-73774451796202834342013-10-09T10:54:00.000-07:002013-10-14T12:25:28.536-07:00Learning to Love Your Brain or The Care and Feeding of the BrainThis semester the fourth and fifth grades are learning about the brain. The brain is nearly 3 pounds of gooey, slimey, gelatinous stuff that smells like blue cheese. It is grey and light pink, and about the size of two fists side by side. It is the control room that directs almost all your activities: thinking, moving, feeling, talking, and just keeping alive. It works 24 hours a day. So how do we take care of it and help it to work well. If you have a fourth or fifth grader in the first semester Guidance class ask them. Here are a few ideas: the brain needs blood, oxygen, good food, sleep, exercise, to be kept safe from head injuries(helmets, seat belts), water and happiness. Yes, happiness helps our brains work better. Two ways we can boost our happiness is with gratitude and with optimistic thinking. Each student made three links of things they are grateful for and combined made a very long chain, a chain of gratitude. Thinking on the "bright side" of life also is a happiness booster, so keep your sunnyside up and see the glass as half full not half empty.<br />
<br />Luba Routsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00475147376413214884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3640269783710959454.post-13999633441951345162013-10-08T10:26:00.000-07:002013-10-14T12:26:12.341-07:00THIRD GRADE GUIDANCE CURRICULUM-DIFFERENCEThe goal of this unit is for students to value themselves as unique and special individuals and as members of various groups. The lessons are based on the belief that before children can accept, value and understand others, they must first value and know themselves. Among other things students will have the opportunity to share their names, their likes and dislikes, and information about their families and where they have been with students in the class. They will each have an opportunity to bring home what they have shared, "What's in My Head?" Ask them to share it with you.<br />
We also viewed an award winning short video, Small Differences. This video allows children, some with and some without disabilities to explore the realities and perceptions about people with disabilities with video cameras. Interviewing other children, parents, each other, and adults with disabilities they discover two basic things. One is that everyone is unique and the other is that most of us want the same things in life.Luba Routsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00475147376413214884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3640269783710959454.post-54512706254632953192013-10-03T07:05:00.000-07:002013-10-03T07:08:26.523-07:00THIRD GRADE GUIDANCE CURRICULUMAs children grow into socialization, the need to make and keep friends becomes a major issue for them. Friendships play a critical role in their lives, shaaping their social skills and helping them forge a sense of identity and a feeling of belonging. Friends matter to children. The rewards of friendship-a mutual relationship built on understanding, trust, sharing, and concern for one another-can be great, but for children whose social skills are still evolving friendships can be a source of anxiety. <br />
The lessons provided in Guidance are designed to help children develop skills for building and maintaining friendships. Friendship is the first topic of third grade guidance.Luba Routsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00475147376413214884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3640269783710959454.post-15067301809985883752013-08-30T07:22:00.000-07:002013-08-30T07:23:38.448-07:00First Quarter ClassesFor the first quarter which ends October 25th I have the following classes: DiMercurio, Bonfigli, Laurent,Ellingson, DiGrande, Miller, Galati, Buswell, Cioffi, Hunt, and Cheney.<br />
The third grade classes will address friendships; how to make and keep friends and of course the importance of having peers in our support network.<br />
The fourth and fifth grades will intially work on techniques for improved focus and attention. We will then shift gears and address bullying in schools. Luba Routsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00475147376413214884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3640269783710959454.post-16804874551195392872013-08-26T09:37:00.001-07:002013-08-26T09:37:49.860-07:00Welcome back to school I would like to welcome all our wonderful students back to school for the 2013-2014 school year. I am looking forward to a terrific year in guidance. This year I will be the only school counselor here at Malletts Bay. If you have any questions about the guidance curriculun, which will be in my next post, please give me a call. If you would like to refer a student to me for any school issues please e-mail, call me, or have the student visit the guidance room. My e-mail is <a href="mailto:Routsongl@csdvt.org">Routsongl@csdvt.org</a> and phone number is 264-5898. The guidance room is in the green wing and is Room 122.Luba Routsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00475147376413214884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3640269783710959454.post-51880084367880578632013-03-13T10:29:00.001-07:002013-03-13T10:29:40.007-07:00Safety UnitIncluded in our third semester guidance work is a unit on safety, which includes the prevention of sexual abuse to children. I thought it would be important for you as caretakers to have information in case your child discloses that he/she has been sexually abused. What follows are guidelines compiled by the state of Vermont. Please feel free to call me if you have any follow-up questions or call the Department of Child and Family Services at 800-649-5285.<br />
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If your child has been sexually abused:<br />
<ul>
<li>Find a private place to talk</li>
<li>Stay calm.</li>
<li>Believe what your child tells you.</li>
<li>Thank your child for telling you and praise his/her courage. Let them know it is NOT their fault.</li>
<li>Be careful at this time not to make negative comments to your child about the abuser. This is likely someone your child knows.</li>
<li>Do not continue to question your child repeatedly, as this could jeopardize an investigation. If they want to talk about the abuse, listen carefully.</li>
<li>At this time do not correct your child's language if he/she does not use the proper terms for private body parts. Use their language.</li>
<li>Respect the feelings your child is experiencing. Each child feels differently.</li>
<li>Tell your child you will be taking action to keep her safe, but be careful not to promise things you can not control.</li>
<li>Call Department of Child and Family's 24-hour Child Protection hotline to report the abuse-1-800-649-5285. DCF staff will work with law enforcement to address the situation and will help you figure out the next steps.</li>
</ul>
Luba Routsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00475147376413214884noreply@blogger.com0