Monthly Focus  //  April 2021

managing test anxiety

What is the role of the elementary school counselor?

The elementary school years set the foundation for developing the knowledge, attitudes, and skills necessary for children to become healthy, competent, and confident learners. Elementary school counselors have an impact on these years by implementing a comprehensive school counseling program and collaborating with school staff, parents, and the community to create a safe and respectful learning environment. By providing education, prevention, early identification, and intervention, elementary school counselors help their students achieve academic success, develop an understanding of career opportunities and develop social/emotional skills in response to issues they face.
- American School Counselor Association, 2017 -

mental health challenge

Monthly Focus  //  april 2021

This month students will be participating in a mental health challenge. 
As a parent, you can support your child's mental well being by creating safe, healthy, nurturing relationships through:
Available & Present
  • 15 minutes 1-on-1 time everyday doing what your child wants to do
  • Follow their lead
  • Talk about what they want to talk about
Approachable
  • Make EYE CONTACT (put down the phone)
  • Open body language
Consistent
  • Firm and kind
  • Boundaries (hold the line)
  • Follow through--every choice has a consequence; positive or negative
  • Reinforce desired behavior in the moment
Empathic
  • Listen without judging or fixing
  • Recognize and label the emotion
  • "I get it."
  • "That is difficult."
Fun
  • Move, play, dance, and sing together
  • Make plans to look forward to
  • Let them plan the details
Warm & Nurturing
  • Smile
  • Say, "I love you."
  • 5 to 1 positive to negative ratio of interactions
  • Give 8 second hugs
Research shows the key to building resilience and overcoming adversity is the presence of a stable caring adult in a child's life. The 6 suggestions listed will help to build a secure attachment to strengthen any relationship.
Additionally, consider the following:
  • Have you had to ask someone lately to put down the phone to talk to you?
  • Have you eaten an entire meal without taking your eyes off of your phone?
  • Has someone repeatedly said your name or tried to get your attention without you even noticing?
If so, you may be experiencing a case of "modern life". The antidote: connection.
It's not enough to be in the same room with someone. Research shows the key to connection is feeling: SEEN, HEARD, and VALUED.
To be seen, requires eye contact. Eye contact releases the hormone Oxytocin in our brain, often referred to as the bonding chemical.
We experience increased feelings of safety and trust with that person, making it easier to feel seen, heard, and valued by that person. Thereby improving the quality of the relationship.
Through awareness and intentional in-person human contact we can strengthen our connections with those who are most important to us. 
                                                                    -Created by WCSD SEL and Wellness, 2020

5 Top resources: Counseling

resources  //  2020-21 School year

​These resources are links to sites that can provide additional help and support for you and your child(ren). 

ABOUT ME

My name is Michele D'Avignon. Most of the students just call me Ms. D (it's a lot easier than D'Avignon). This is my fourth year working as a school counselor. I have the great honor of counseling at Diamond Valley. The students at this school display a wide variety of characteristics that keep me moving. Before getting my Master's Degree from Utah State University, I worked as classroom teacher at Lava Ridge Intermediate School for 10 years. I was privileged to work as a Special Education teacher, English as a Second Language (ESL) Coordinator, At-Risk teacher, Social Studies teacher, and Language Arts teacher over the course of my tenure. 
As a counselor, I will be working with your child to develop social/emotional skills to help them succeed at school. This process requires classroom lessons, small group sessions, and individual counseling. Working with students at the elementary level gives me the opportunity to instill important traits before they move to secondary school. 

Educational links​

    STAY UPDATED!