Ms. Kent Counselor's Corner

    "You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes.  You can steer yourself in any direction you choose."- Dr. Seuss

                                                                                         

    My Schedule:

    Monday-Friday from 8:20-3:50 

    About Me

    My email: Laura_Kent@mcpsmd.org
     

    Welcome to The Counselor’s Corner! 

    My name is Ms. Laura Kent and I am excited to be the school counselor at BGES! I look forward to meeting students and families and becoming a part of the school community. My role as the counselor is to work collaboratively with all stakeholders in order to support the academic, personal, and social/emotional needs of students. I hope that you find this page helpful with resources for you and your family. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.

    On a personal note, I am a proud graduate of MCPS and have worked in the county for over twenty years. Before becoming an elementary counselor, I held positions both as an elementary classroom teacher and a reading interventionist. Outside of school, I love to read, visit new places, and spend time with my three children. 

    Please do not hesitate to contact me with questions or concerns about your children and their social-emotional or academic well being. I am looking forward to meeting you and working together to achieve optimal success for every student.

    Laura_Kent@mcpsmd.org

    (240)-772-1800

     

    News and Important Dates...

    *How to ask your child how their school day was click here.

    *CASEL's Social Emotional Core Competencies
    Fullproof strategies for getting kids to talk

    *Please contact me with any questions or concerns regarding your children, need help finding community resources, or just to introduce yourself!                             

    Please let me know if you are in need of school supplies! I might be able to help!  

     

    * We are all about super powers this year!  What is your super power?  This year students will be introduced to a monthly super power!  

       Monthly Super Hero Themes

     

    My Role as a School Counselor:

    School Counseling at the Elementary Level

    Description of school counseling at the elementary level

    Check out my School Counseling Brochure!! 

    Self Referral Form

    Why should you come see the counselor?  

    Articles:

    Counselor Newsletters:

    As I go into your child's room for guidance lessons, I will give out a newsletter after each lesson.  Please look in your child's folder each night :)

     

    We are RESPECTFUL, RESPONSIBLE, and READY TO LEARN!!!

    Mindfulness

    • Every morning we have mind up time where we take time to relax, regroup, and get ready for theday!
    • Our mind bell helps us to focus and recharge after a hectic morning.
    • Too find out more about Mind up time take a look at Hawn Foundation: http://thehawnfoundation.org/mindup/
    • Check out the video I showed your kids about why we need Mind Up time:

                                                           

     

    An Article about Mindfulness at School

    Schools are now teaching kids — and their parents — how to deal with stress

     

    How to incorportate mindfulness at all ages- Mindfulness and Children- the Essential Guide

    Every classroom has a calm space!

    • Every person needs to learn to cope with their feelings. The calm space gives us a place to take the time to calm down!

    My Calm Space

    Character Counts

    While we aren't specifically focusing on the character counts character traits every month- they are still important!

    school kids

    Links and Resources

    Resources:

    Positive Parenting and other Articles:

    Check out these articles on parenting:

    Also...

    Take advantage of that time to talk to your children about healthy, respectful choices. Find some materials to support your discussion here

    When a tragedy strikes it's often difficult to know how to discuss these incidents with your children. Tell them too much and you could add to their anxiety. Tell them too little and they may be confused and scared without the reassurance they need. The Johns Hopkins Children’s Center's website at http://www.hopkinschildrens.org/index.aspx, offers these tips from child psychiatrist Patrick Kelly, M.D. and child psychologist Renee DeBoard-Lucas, Ph.D. Read the article here!  

     

     

    The 10 Tools http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/ten-tools

      

    These proven tools can help you feel stronger and more hopeful. Click on links for specific tips.

    1.Connect with others

    2.Stay positive

    3.Get physically active

    4.Help others

    5.Get enough sleep

    6.Create joy and satisfaction

    7.Eat well

    8.Take care of your spirit

    9.Deal better with hard times

    10.Get professional help if you need it

    FAQ-
    Frequently Asked Questions about the things related to school counseling

    FAQ

    Collaborative for Academic, Social, Emotional, Learning (C.A.S.E.L.)'s Top 10Tips at Home

    American School Counseling Association's (ASCA) Description and Explaination of Elementary School Counselors.

    MCPS Links:

    • Parent Academy- Educational seminars and information to support parenting skills and knowledge
    • Family and Community- Tons of great resources for all of the families and communities in MCPS
    • Parent Support- Links and information specifically related to parents of MCPS students
    • Middle School Magnets- Information about the middle school magnet programs

    Community Resource Links:

    • Mental Health Association, Montgomery County - MoCo's M.H.A. full of a variety of amazing trainings, programs and information
    • Whole Child- An incredible wealth of information about recognition of the child as a whole (social, emotional, academic...)
    • Local Therapist- A list of some local therapist in the Olney area

    Forms