On Tuesday, November 9, Helene Perrucci-Kinsman, Swain’s School Counselor, served as the guest speaker at our November Swain Association meeting.  Ms. Helene shared the following during the meeting.

While research is still being conducted regarding the mental health effects of COVID-19 on our children and students, educators are observing increases in anxiety, depression, and behavioral issues in classrooms across the country.  Many students are having challenges with their abilities to self-regulate, resolve conflict, focus/concentrate, and empathize with others. Our Swain students are not immune to these concerns.  

There is no doubt that this pandemic has been stress-producing and emotionally taxing on our community.  With that being said, what we know about stress & trauma is that it has a direct correlation to how our brain functions which sheds light on how our students are struggling. 

While uncertainty has remained, Swain continues to meet students where they are emotionally & academically.  We are supporting our students' mental health with patience & thoughtful interventions in a multi-tiered system.  We are teaching social-emotional skills such as self-awareness and self-regulation/management, as well as social and interpersonal skills in the classroom setting; and we are offering small groups and individual counseling for students who may need additional support.  Finally, we are helping families find appropriate referrals for outside services and communicating with these resources to help implement additional services and strategies in the classroom setting. Here at Swain, we continue to focus on helping our students build strong relationships with themselves, peers, faculty, and staff, which will ultimately help to build trust and create a supportive and nurturing environment that is crucial for learning.

For more resources on ways to help our children reduce stress and anxiety at home, check out this collaboration with United Way, Resilient Lehigh Valley, and Shanthi Project www.shanthiproject.org/mindfulness-for-families.  Kira Wiley, a local mindfulness instructor, and musician is another great resource for younger students, https://kirawilley.com/, she provides lessons, songs, and breathing exercises.  Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions or concerns at hpkinsman@swain.org.

For an opportunity to talk more in-depth about these items and others that are on your mind, Swain family members are invited to join Ms. Helene on Friday, December 3 via Zoom from 8:30-9 AM for Coffee with the Counselor.