Dear Woodland Families,

Due to this unprecedented situation in our life it is normal to feel anxious and stressed. I want families and students to know that you are welcome to contact me by email and phone.

Here are some ways I can provide support: 

• Counseling over phone or email
• Family resources including parenting, family team planning, community resources
• Community therapists that are providing virtual appointments 
• Assistance through the North Thurston Education Foundation and the Family Youth Center

This school year we started teaching students Social-Emotional Learning, using a curriculum called Second Step. During the school closure second step is providing free access to its resources for educators and families. Below are links that are accessible to help support your child during this stressful time.

Best,

Justin Thomas

• Free Social-Emotional Learning Activities: There are a number of Second Step activities freely available online for children ages 5–13. Many of these are adaptable for remote learning or for families to do at home with their children.
• Second Step Social-Emotional Passport: The Second Step SEL Passport is a great SEL reinforcement activity for students to do at home. Integrate this activity into your remote-learning plan or share it with families as a fun resource.
• The Imagine Neighborhood: This new podcast for families is designed to help children and grown-ups practice their social-emotional skills. Each episode tells a story that’s amazing, fantastical, and maybe a little bananas, while it tackles the big feelings that come with growing up.
• Mind Yeti®: Fifteen of our mindfulness program sessions are now available for anyone to use, no experience necessary! Designed for educators and families to do alongside children, or for older children to do on their own, Mind Yeti provides a great way for everyone to practice mindfulness during this difficult time.
• Little Children, Big Challenges: Committee for Children and Sesame Street have partnered to create a collection of resources for young children facing significant challenges. These materials, aimed at building children’s resilience, may be useful for educators and families.
• Captain Compassion®: Here, children can find games, comics, and activities they can do on their own, or with their families, to learn about how they can help stop bullying.
• Hot Chocolate Talk: A resource to help families talk with their children about child sexual abuse. Families may be spending a lot more time together during school closures, which makes this an opportune time to have these difficult but very important conversations.
• ParenTeen Connect: For families with older children, this resource provides an online experience they can share together. It’s loaded with videos, resources, and useful advice to help teens and the adults in their lives address hot-button topics.
• SEL Posters: Put up a few visual reminders to help your kids name their feelings and learn how to manage them, too!