James Fallon Support Staff

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EPIS- Mrs. Malone's Page

Counseling Corner

Denise Malone, M.A.

Elementary Prevention and Intervention Specialist

Welcome back everyone. September brings changes in weather, our activities and certainly in our family routines as we welcome the beginning of the new school year. This is an exciting time and I am looking forward to a wonderful year full of learning and growth for all the children here at James Fallon Elementary School.

Some children, however, will have some difficulty adjusting to the new school year. Changes in routine, new teachers and classrooms, new friends, and of course being away from home can present some anxieties for some of our children. A little anxiety is normal, but for some, it may be more of a problem. Some children may complain of frequent stomachaches or headaches, or some may simply cry and say they do not want to go to school. This creates a difficult situation for parents as well. We all want our children to be happy and feel calm at school. Here are a few suggestions from the American Academy of Pediatrics:

See your pediatrician to make sure there are no medical causes for the symptoms
Talk with your child about why he or she does not want to go to school. Be supportive and listen, and try to resolve any stressful situations that may come up as root causes of his or her worries
Acknowledge your child’s feelings, but firmly tell him or her that they must go to school. It’s the law.
Discuss the problem with your child’s teacher and / or school counselor, and work together to resolve the problem.
Help your child develop independence by encouraging activities with other children such as play, clubs, or sports.

I would also add to this list that your own feelings and what you convey to your child is so very important. Let them know you are happy that they are in school, and excited for all the new things they will learn and fun they will have. They need to know that you feel good about them being here at school. Even if it is hard, focus on the positive and communicate that attitude to your child. Please, also, do not hesitate to contact me if you wish to discuss a situation further.

Some of the things I am looking forward to are more class lessons. I will be presenting anti bullying lessons during the month of October in all classes. Please talk with your child about this important topic, and again, contact me if you would like to discuss anything with me. Other topics such as anger, social skills, conflict resolution and stress management are also planned as the year progresses.

I will also be offering again groups for families experiencing the stress of divorce and social skill building groups. These groups are voluntary and will require parental permission. If you feel that your child would benefit from participating in one of these groups, please feel free to contact me. I have some other ideas as well, and welcome ideas from students, parents and teachers.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or concerns about my program, or any concerns you wish to discuss with me about your children. Again, I am looking forward to an exciting year. Let’s remember to work together to keep our school a place where everyone feels Capable, Connected and Contributing!

Additional Fallon Faculty:

Speech-

Mrs. Hamilton

School Pyschologist-

Ms. An

Learning Consultant-

Mrs. Shelichach

Social Worker-

Ms. Gerber

Additional Support Staff:

Cafeteria/ Payground Staff-

Mrs. Diane Acione

Mrs. Marianne Coogan

Mrs. Lucille Salomone

Mrs. Renee Laterza

Mrs. Amy walden

Paraprofessionals-

Ms. June Huff

Mrs. Lisa Oelke

Custodians-

Mr. Domenico Salomone

Mr. Mohammed Basha

Mr. Mohamad Ismail

Mr. Taesser Marza

Cafeteria-

Mrs. Arlene Den Heyer

Mrs. Iolanda Desimone