Counselor’s Corner, January 2025

Happy New Year! As we begin 2025, I’d like to share some important updates and resources to support your child’s mental health and wellbeing during the winter months.

Social-Emotional Learning Groups: A new session of Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) groups begins this month! SEL groups focus on a variety of skills, including emotional regulation, friendship and social skills, and executive functioning. Groups are made up of 4-6 same-grade peers and meet weekly for 30 minutes during the school day for 10 weeks.

This is the last call to sign up for the winter session. If you would like your child to participate, please complete the online form by Monday, January 13.

Care Solace: If you or your child are ever in need of mental health support, recall that Care Solace is a free and confidential care coordination service available to all St. John families. Care Solace helps quickly match families with treatment options based on their needs. To use this service, call 888-515-0595 or visit their website here. You are also welcome to contact me directly, and I can submit a referral on your behalf.

How to Reach Me: Please don’t hesitate to contact me at cshaw@st-johnschool.org if you have any concerns about your child’s mental health or well-being. Students are also encouraged to fill out the I Would Like to See My Counselor online self-referral form or drop by my office if they ever need support!

January Resources

  • Did your child get a new device over the holidays? Consider using these Family Tech Planners from Common Sense Media to guide your child in making safe and healthy choices online. 
  • The January 16th ParentEd Talk is sure to be a good one! Dr. Hallowell will present on “Navigating Neurodiversity: Strengths-Based Support for ADHD Kids.” Be sure to register and use the St. John promo code “STJCATHSCH” to attend for free!
  • The winter months can be a particularly blue time of the year for many. The post-holiday letdown combined with the dark and cold days often leads to a decline in mood and motivation. To learn about how to distinguish between typical winter blues from something more severe, check out this article from Seattle Children’s Hospital; it’s packed with great insights and resources.