VALHALLA COUNSELING
As Valhalla’s school counselor/social worker, I strive to help all students be safe and successful at school. I do this by working with them to build confidence, learn to solve problems, develop friendship skills, and cope with difficulties. There are several programs that I use to help your students be successful—Kelso’s Choices, Second Step and Steps to Respect (grades 4 and 5). I also coordinate the school’s character education program, Project Character. Read below to learn more about each of these programs.
In addition, I facilitate small groups for children in areas such as friendship, anger management, and changing families. When needed, I also work with children individually on a short-term basis. Furthermore, I provide families with information and referrals to community resources that may be of assistance. The Community Resources section below will give you information on some of the agencies in the area.
Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or concerns.
Erin Barry, Valhalla Counselor/Social Worker
Kelso’s Choices, created by Barbara Clark and Diane Hipp, is aimed at helping children to solve their own problems. Kelso’s Choices teaches that there are two types of problems: BIG problems—problems in which someone may be hurt or in danger—that require adult help; and small problems—like cutting in line or playing unfairly—that kids can solve on their own. Kelso’s Choices consists of nine choices in solving small problems—walk away, talk it out, tell them to stop, apologize, make a deal, share and take turns, wait and cool off, go to another game, and ignore. Posters with the choices are found in each classroom, and students are encouraged to use a Kelso’s Choice to solve small problems on their own. If they have a big problem in which someone is not safe, students are to tell an adult right away. Help your kids to be great problem solvers by encouraging them to use a Kelso’s choice to solve a small problem at home. For more information, about Kelso's Choices, visit the website at www.kelsoschoice.net.
Second Step is a violence prevention curriculum created by the Committee for Children. It is aimed at helping students to be self-aware and solve problems peacefully. Lessons are divided into three key areas—empathy, impulse control/problem solving, and anger management. The program emphasizes students taking responsibility for their actions, recognizing feelings, and communicating respectfully to solve problems. Second Step has been designated as an “Exemplary” program by the U.S. Department of Education, and has been shown to improve social competence and pro-social behavior. It also touches on many of the academic content standards, and thus can improve emotional and academic intelligence. For more information about Second Step, visit the Committee for Children website at www.cfchildren.org.
Steps to Respect is a bullying prevention curriculum created by the Committee for Children. The goal of Steps to Respect is to help create a safe, caring, respectful school environment. The program addresses both bullying and healthy friendships. During classroom lessons, students focus on and practice friendship skills such as respect, finding things in common, and joining groups. Students also learn about the 3 R’s of bullying—Recognize, Refuse, and Report. Students learn that when they recognize bullying is happening to them or to someone else, it is important to report it to a trusted adult. Students also learn that, in situations where help is nearby, they may be able to refuse the bullying by assertively telling the bully to stop. The Steps to Respect program is based on the best available bullying prevention research. For more information about this program, visit the Committee for Children website at www.cfchildren.org.
Project Character —This year we are making some changes to our character education program! We will focus on 6 character traits, known together as the Pillars of Character. These 6 traits are Respect, Responsibility, Caring, Fairness, Trustworthiness, and Citizenship. To help students learn and practice these valuable traits, we will continue to use some aspects of the Project Wisdom program, including messages broadcast over the announcements and writing prompts, to get Valhalla students thinking about the choices they make each day. We will also be using activities from the program Character Counts! to provide students with opportunities to build character. We will spend a period of time focusing on each trait as follows:
September-October—Respect
November-December—Responsibility
January-February—Caring and Fairness
March-April—Trustworthiness
May-June—Citizenship
For more information about these programs, visit www.projectwisdom.com and www.charactercounts.org.
253-854-0077
1229 W. Smith St.
Kent, 98032
Federal Way PTSA Clothing Bank
253-839-2834
30819 14 th Ave. S.
Federal Way, 98003
Federal Way Community Caregiving Network
345 S. 312 th
Federal Way, 98023
South King County Multi Service Center
253-838-6810
1200 S. 336 th St.
Federal Way, 98003
Salvation Army
253-946-7933
26419 16 th Ave. S.
Des Moines, 98198
St. Luke’s Operation Blessing
253-941-7270
515 S. 312 th St.
Federal Way, 98003
Valley Cities Counseling and Consultation/ Federal Way Youth and Family Services
253-939-4055/253-735-9627
800-499-5979
1229 W. Smith St., Kent
Auburn Youth Resources
253-939-2202
Kent Children and Family Service
253-859-0300
232 S 2 nd Suite 201, Kent
Divorce Lifeline
206-694-5700
“Bridges” grief groups
253-272-8266
Apple Parenting Classes
253-939-0870
Children’s Home Society
Family Resource Center
253-854-0700
4338 Auburn Way N., Auburn
Parents Trust for Washington Children
Family Help Line 1-800-932-4673
Relatives as Parents Project
Kent Youth and Family Services
253-859-0300
232 2nd Ave S, #201, Kent
Child Care Resources
253-852-3080
253-941-2722
YMCA
Federal Way—253-838-4708
Auburn—253-833-2770
Big Brothers/Big Sisters of King County
1-877-700- BIGS
Federal Way Parks and Recreation and Cultural Services
253-835-6900
Auburn Parks and Recreation
253-931-3095 or 253-941-3043