School Counselor

~Katrina V. Loef~

(207) 781-3988

kloef@fps.k12.me.us

Winter Group Session has begun!  Group are underway and I am enjoying spending time with the students in a small, group setting.  We have all been getting to know one another and are currently working on our group norms/agreements. 

The students are always excited to attend and are very engaged in the group process.  If you child is not participating in this group session, please know there will be an another opportunity to do so in March when Spring Session begins.  More information to follow in Principal notes. 

During the month of November classroom lessons for the third and fourth graders will focus on Bullying Prevention.  Students are asked the question, “What counts as bullying?” We will discuss and identify many examples within the following three types of bullying:

~Physical

~Verbal

~Mental/Emotional

Students will also discuss and identify what we can all do to stop bullying: if you are being bullied, if you witness bullying or if you are the bully.

The difference between tattling and telling/reporting is clarified.  Tattling is talking to someone just to get someone else in trouble or to get your own way.  Telling/Reporting is talking to someone about a problem because you or someone else may be hurt. 

When your child(ren) report something to you, please encorage him/her to tell the appropriate authority.  If bullying occurs in a school situation, the school can only deal with it if we are aware of it. 

In December, I will be going into the fifth grade to teach Bullying Prevention and using the wonderful book, Confessions of a Former Bully by Trudy Ludwig as a catalyst for our discussion. 

Please remember the significant adults in a child’s life are the most effective teachers in helping a child learn respect and tolerance.

As always, it is a pleasure to teach your child(ren).

In partnership,

Katrina V. Loef ~ School Counselor

I am happy and excited to share that I have been elected to the Maine School Counselor Association (MESCA) as a board member in the capacity of Elementary Vice President.

I am pleased to be representing the interests and concerns of elementary school counselors throughout the state.

Fall Session ~ October 24th-December 16th

Winter Session ~ January 9th-February 17th

Spring Session ~ March 5th-April 13th

My Fall Session of small groups begins the week of October 24th!  Please contact me with any questions or if you are interested in having your child(ren) participate. 

It is great to be back to school and I am excited to be the school counselor for the 3rd, 4th and now 5th grade students!

I have been spending time with our students who are new to Falmouth as well as helping all students adjust to our new surroundings. 

As always, please contact me with any questions or concerns that you may have and I looking forward to spending time with your child(ren)!

Wishing all students and their families a wonderful summer vacation!!

See you all next year at Falmouth Elementary School!

Dear Parent(s) and Guardian(s):

During the month of May classroom lessons for the third and fourth graders focused on Transition and Change.  I shared the phases “Change Happens” and “While it is natural to be afraid, change is inevitable.”  Students were then asked to reflect upon recent and upcoming changes in their own lives.

This exercise led to lively class discussions in both grades about the impending end of the school year and the transition to the new Falmouth Elementary School.  I then read the book, Tonia the Tree by Sandy Stryker which is a wonderful book that explores change from a tree’s perspective.

Please keep in mind that times of transition can be added stress on a student.  It is helpful to prepare your child for new school experiences by discussing the changes beforehand.  It is also important to form a working partnership with your child’s teacher and school personnel.  Children can behave differently at home than in school under the stress from academic and social challenges.

As always, it has been a pleasure to teach your child(ren) this school year.  I look forward to working with all the third, fourth and soon to be fifth graders at Falmouth Elementary School in the fall.  Please contact me with any questions or concerns that you may have about your child’s school experience.

In Partnership,

Katrina V. Loef ~ School Counselor

Dear Parents and Guardians:

During the month of April, I am teaching third and fourth grade students about Personal Body Safety.  As part of the current K-4 Comprehensive School Counseling Program, students are given information about Personal Body Safety beginning in Kindergarten at Lunt School.

This information begins with the introduction of “good” touch / “bad” touch and the following personal safety rules are covered:  certain parts of our bodies are special and private (the areas covered by a bathing suit); except for a quick cleaning or check up to stay healthy, we do not share our special body parts with others, and if a child or grown up tries to share our or their private body parts, no matter what they say, we always:

~Say a loud “NO!”

~If you can, go to a safe place.

~Tell a grown up that you trust right away and keep                                                             on telling until the unsafe touching stops.

~Remember, it is never our fault!

During the third and fourth grade lessons, I will read excerpts from the books, I Said No! by Zack and Kimberly King (in 4th grade) and I Can Play It Safe by Alison Feigh (in 3rd grade).  These stories discuss: how we are all one of a kind, how we should be treated with respect, and Personal Safety “Rules”.

The Personal Safety rules include:

~Always check in with a caregiver for permission to go anywhere with anyone.

~Know that your body is your own and some parts are private.

~Listen and respond to your gut instincts.

~Know you are special and deserve to be safe and that your body belongs to you.

~If a person touches any part of your body that you do not want them to, say “STOP” or “NO” or “DON’T!”  It is your right to say that even if the person is someone in your family or someone you know-even if that person is bigger, older or stronger than you.

~Then tell a trusted adult right away!

All students will be asked to identify a minimum of three trusted adults, which they will write on a note card and keep for their own personal use.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding this lesson or would like further information, please do not hesitate to contact me at 781-3988 or kloef@fps.k12.me.us.

In Partnership,

Katrina V. Loef~School Counselor at Plummer-Motz School

Dear Parent(s) and Guardian(s):

During the month of March classroom lessons for the third and fourth graders focused on Respect and Tolerance.  Students were asked the question,”What does respect look like?”  Students were able to give many examples about what respect looks like in the classroom/school setting, at home and in the community.

Respect was defined as to consider or show regard for others.  To consider another person’s feelings in a situation.

Tolerance was defined as being able to recognize and respect the beliefs, opinions and ideas of others.  To understand that we are all diverse individuals with different ways of thinking and learning.

Students played the game, “Could you be friends with someone who?” which challenged the students to think about treating others the way that they would want to be treated.

Please remember the significant adults in a child’s life are the most effective teachers in helping a child learn respect and tolerance.

In partnership,

Katrina V. Loef ~ School Counselor at Plummer-Motz