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The SCCoop
Words on Wellness
March 2019
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March is off to a great start, even after a little hiccup with rescheduling our first Ethics Day due to a school delay. Ethics Days continue on Fridays in March (and we could use a few more
volunteers
March 22). We're so thankful for our volunteers, our new partnership with the ADL, and the gang at HTC.
April 1 brings our annual speaker event featuring Lynn Lyons, an expert in anxiety in children and families. Lynn will give us strategies we can use right away to break the worry cycle. Tickets are available below, and get yours soon as we do expect to sell out!
As always,
let us know
how the SCC can help in your community, school, and home!
Brad Kuebler, President, and Elizabeth Hale, President Elect
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April 1, 7 pm
McLean Community Center Alden Theater
Childhood should be a joyful time of carefree play, active learning and spontaneous exploration, yet a growing number of children are trapped in a cycle of anxiety that literally paralyzes them with fear and affects the whole family. The good news is that anxiety disorders are highly treatable, and current research shows that children, teens and adults can be trained to successfully manage anxiety given the proper tools.
As part of a yearlong focus on youth anxiety, the Safe Community Coalition is pleased to present an evening with the nationally-recognized speaker Lynn Lyons, LICSW and author of
Anxious Kids Anxious Parents: 7 Ways to Stop the Worry Cycle and Raise Courageous and Independent Children
. Lynn will provide practical and straightforward strategies that parents and educators can use to break the cycle of anxious worrying.
In
Anxious Kids Anxious Parents
, Lyons provides families with step-by-step plan to solve the puzzle of anxious, avoidant kids. It explains the difference between healthy worrying and debilitating anxiety and provides the tools to help children and teens face their challenges and stop the cycle of fear.
Based in Concord, New Hampshire, Lynn has over 28 years of experience working with parents and children with anxiety. She is a sought-after speaker and consultant specializing in the treatment of anxiety disorders in adults and children, including generalized anxiety, phobias, social anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and performance anxiety.
A limited number of books, as well as a companion book,
Playing with Anxiety: Casey's Guide for Teens and Kids
will be for sale. A book signing will follow the presentation.
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Anxious Kids, Anxious Parents
Community Book Talks
Langley High School, Monday, March 18, 12 pm
Come join Principal Greer as she leads LHS’ book club on Anxious Kids, Anxious Parents: 7 Ways to Stop the Worry Cycle and Raise Courageous and Independent Children.” Bring your lunch for the book club at noon on Monday, March 18th in the Lecture Hall. Dessert and drinks will be provided.
McLean High School, Tuesday March 26, 10 am
Dr. Melissa Sporn, local psychologist and McLean High School mom, will lead a book talk on Anxious Kids, Anxious Parents: 7 Ways to Stop the Worry Cycle and Raise Courageous and Independent Children. Come join other McLean High School and Longfe
llow Middle School parents for coffee and danishes while discussing the book’s topic of anxiety. Having read the book isn’t necessary to participate. All attendees must check in at MHS front office and will be directed to the discussion room. Beth Werfel, MHS school psychologist, will also be present to describe the school’s mental health supports.
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Launching Your High School Student
Whether you have a ninth grader starting high school or a senior heading off, there is a lot you can do to prepare your children for a successful launch to college!
Dr. Melissa Sporn
,
licensed clinical psychologist, expert in relationships and developmental adjustments, and SCC board member and past president will present at The StudyPro's free Lunch and Learn event on March 14, 11:45 am- 1:15 pm.
In this important presentation we will cover:
- How to integrate college prep throughout high school
- The important differences between HS and college
- Conversations you want to have before your child leaves
- The skills students need to thrive in college
Please join us to hear the ways that we can help our children (and ourselves) be as successful as possible on the most exciting journey of their lives.
Register here.
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Sixth Grade Ethics Days
This program serves all 6th graders in the McLean and Langley school pyramids, with the goal of helping students navigate difficult ethical situations that may arise as they progress through middle school, high school and beyond. During the program, students are provided with an ethical decision-making model called “Could, Should, Would” in a group setting with adult leaders. New this year is a small group program on anti-bullying called “One Person Many Roles” presented by the Anti Defamation League and also featuring their adult leaders. Ethics Days are half-day events and lunch is provided.
Volunteers are needed to serve as table leaders for small groups of students from 9am-1pm on the following dates: March 15, 22 & 29. No prior experience is needed, and training is provided. Click
HERE
to volunteer. For more information, contact
Maria Barnett
.
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O
peration Medicine Cabinet Cleanout
In conjunction with DEA National Prescription Drug Take Back Initiative, the SCC is a community partner with Fairfax County’s spring medicine cleanout — let’s get the word out!
- Saturday, April 27, 2019, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
- Drop off unused or expired medications at a Fairfax County Police district station
- Pills or liquids only, no pressurized canisters or needles
- Disposal is FREE, convenient, confidential, and safe
Safe handling of unused or expired medications:
- Prevents accidental poisoning
- Protects the environment
- Prevents drug abuse
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Prom Notes and Project Sticker Shock
This spring the SCC is bringing back its popular Prom Notes program in a new format. Prom Notes used to be written by elementary kids reminding high schools to make responsible choices on prom night and were insert in ticket envelopes. When schools started using electronic tickets, we lost the delivery mechanism. But thanks to an idea from Flowers&Plants in McLean, we have partnered with FCPD to put cards in corsage and boutonnière boxes reminding teens not to get in a car with an impaired driver. We will be delivering cards to local florists ahead of area prom nights. Look out for them!
In addition we will be putting stickers on beer and wine cooler bottles at local stores ahead of prom night. These stickers remind parents and others of the penalties for buying alcohol for underage students.
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Community Read
The McLean HS PTSA is partnering with MHS Student Services to offer a Pyramid-Wide book talk series and author event on
The Self-Driven Child, The Science and Sense of Giving Your Kids More Control Over Their Lives
by William Stixrud, PhD, and Ned Johnson.
The Self-Driven Child
empowers parents with practical tools to help their children reduce stress and anxiety, while building capacity for resilience, success, and optimal development. The strategies shared in the book are relevant for parents of children of ALL ages.
Kathleen Otal, counselor at McLean High School, will lead three book talks in the pyramid throughout the year. Two have already taken place, but on
Wednesday, March 20, 7-8:30
pm, we'll hear from
William Stixrud and Ned Johnson in McLean's auditorium
. Even if you don't have time to read the entire book or didn't come to the previous book talks, you will learn valuable parenting strategies that will help your child develop the skills to succeed!
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Anxiety Check-In
"High-functioning anxiety is not a clinical disorder. But it creates problems with anxiety that can be chronic and at least partially debilitating. People suffering from high-functioning anxiety tend to keep it hidden, but that only deepens the stress and anxiety they experience and prevents healing from occurring. Even though it is not a clinical disorder, high-functioning anxiety is a treatable condition, and those who reach out for help and are serious about recovery can expect significant improvement in their symptoms (
Bridges to Recovery
)."
Experts line up 7 thoughts that people struggling with high-functioning anxiety can have on a daily basis:
- "I Wish I Hadn't Said That" Someone with high-functioning anxiety has trouble moving forward and thinking about an incident that made them anxious.
- "What If..." Someone with high-functioning anxiety will create "what if" scenarios frequently throughout the day.
- "What Have I Missed?" People with high-functioning anxiety have difficulty moving forward from thinking about something they've done wrong or might've forgotten about.
- "I Wish I Was More Like Them" Social media is often a cause of this thought but someone with high-functioning anxiety can think about this to a more negatively affecting degree.
- "I Have To Be 'On'" Someone with high-functioning anxiety puts on a mask and feels like they have to present themselves a particular way throughout the day.
- "I Need To Be Perfect" This is common with anxiety. This is a symptom of high-functioning anxiety if it becomes a persistent, daily occurrence.
- "But I'm Responsible For..." People with high-functioning anxiety feel a constant pressure to just get through the day.
High-functioning anxiety can be treated by medication, therapy, and even self-awareness. Recognizing the thoughts that are affecting your life is the first step to eradicating them. (Main points, quotes, and research from
the article
.)
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Online Safety
FCPS Communication to Parents and Students about the Momo Challenge and Digital Citizenship Resources
In Fairfax County schools, county agencies and families are working together to create an environment where children and youth can safely learn, work, and play. Similar to our message containing information about the 13 Reasons Why NETFLIX program and the Blue Whale Challenge, we are sending this communication to alert you to a recent rise in new games and social media challenges that encourage young people to participate in harmful behavior.
One example of this is a potentially harmful game called the “Momo Challenge" that has reportedly been posted on different social media platforms to include WhatsApp and assigns players a series of progressively more intense tasks, to include self-harm. It is important to note that the Momo Challenge is a hoax that has received a significant amount of media attention.
This hoax has been seen across the United States in recent months, targeting primarily elementary aged children. Vigilant parents and guardians in Fairfax County have also reported seeing information about the Momo Challenge or similar games on their children's phones and have alerted school authorities.
Please talk to your child about this type of internet hoax, and check his or her phone or other device for signs of an app or communications with anyone telling them to do specific tasks. This provides an excellent opportunity to remind your child of best practices for internet safety and digital citizenship:
- Remind your child information shared on social media is not always true and how quickly misinformation can create a panic online.
- Children should never engage in conversations with strangers online.
- Be aware of the sites and apps your children are using and know their usernames and passwords.
- Turn off suggested autoplay on videos to stop children from viewing content they have not selected, and you have not approved.
- If appropriate, tell your children that Momo is not real and will not hurt them.
- Encourage open dialogue with them around any concerns.
FCPS has additional resources available on this website:
https://www.fcps.edu/node/32086
.
If you have concerns about your child, please contact your school counselor. Please be aware that a number of mental health resources are available, including Fairfax County Public School resources: School Counseling Services at 571-423- 4420, School Psychology Services at 571-423-4250, and School Social Work Services at 571-423-4300 and Fairfax County resources: Crisis Link Hotline at 703-527-4077, Merrifield Emergency Services 703-573-5679 (available 24/7) or Entry and Referral during business hours at 703-383-8500. The Fairfax County Police Department non-emergency number is 703-691-2131.
More information about the Momo Challenge and other internet challenges or hoaxes is available at these links:
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Safe Community Coalition | mcleanscc.org
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