INFORMATION REGARDING THE CURRENT BUILDING CLOSURES
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"School is a special place - a sacred place. All of our communities stress that learning has its foundation
in the relationships developed between learners and teachers, whether adults or children"
- Wakefield Public Schools Superintendent Doug Lyons, on the current school closures
Information and Resource Links for Families
- NPR: Link : Comic for kids explaining the coronavirus.
- Child Mind Institute: Link : Talking to Kids About the Coronavirus
- Brain Pop: Link : Coronavirus Specific
- Common Sense Media: Link : Help Your Family De-stress During Coronavirus Uncertainty
- Arlington Public Schools: Link : Mental Health and Wellbeing; Coping with stress
- Aperture Education: Link : Downloadable Strategies and Educational Links
- Shine Initiative: Link : Mental Health Toolkit for parents and caregivers of children and young adults
- Mind Matters: Link : An app from Mindmatters that serves as an interactive tool to share mental health resources
- Coping Skills for Kids: Link : Deep breathing exercises to manage stress and anxiety
- 211: Link : Database to provide families with social service resources and information
- CDC: Link : Coping with anxiety
- Paced Breathing: Link : Guided breathing visual
- SEL4MA: Link : COVID-19 SEL Supports
- Calm Classroom: Link : Scripted techniques & audio recordings for preschool-12th grade students and adults
- Aperture Education: Link : 5 tips to help parents teach social and emotional learning
- Go Noodle Mindfulness: Link: Guided Exercises for kids and teens
- Calm Blog: Link : A catch-all site for all things to relax including sleep stories, music, meditations, and mindfulness resources
- Sample Daily Schedule: Link : Complete with links to activities
- Mindful Schools: Link : Link to mindfulness lessons for kids with free facebook live events
- Town of Wakefield: Link : COVID-19 updates
- Commonwealth Of MA Link : Substance use & mental health support during COVID-19
- Digital Resources: Link : List of multiple links academic & social emotional
- WPS SPED: Link : Guidance for families regarding special education
- Character Strong: Link : SEL character and leadership resource library
- Wakefield Food Pantry: Link: Food assistance during the quarantine
- 101 Social Skills Activities: Link: Multiple activites for kids
Tips on how to get through this challenging time at home
1. Stick to a routine. Go to sleep and wake up at a reasonable time, write a schedule that is varied and includes time for work as well as self-care.
2. Dress for the social life you want, not the social life you have. Get showered and dressed in comfortable clothes, wash your face, brush your teeth. Put on some bright colors. It is amazing how our dress can impact our mood.
3. Get out at least once a day, for at least thirty minutes. If you are concerned about contact, try first thing in the morning, or later in the evening, and try less traveled streets and avenues. If you are high risk or living with those who are high risk, open the windows and blast the fan. It is amazing how much fresh air can do for spirits.
4. Find some time to move each day, again daily for at least thirty minutes. If you don’t feel comfortable going outside, there are many YouTube videos that offer movement classes, and if all else fails, turn on the music and have a dance party!
5. Reach out to others, you guessed it, at least once daily for thirty minutes. Try to do FaceTime, Skype, phone calls, texting—connect with other people to seek and provide support. Set up virtual playdates with friends daily via FaceTime, Facebook Messenger Kids, Zoom, etc
6. Stay hydrated and eat well. This one may seem obvious, but stress and eating often don’t mix well, and we find ourselves over-indulging, forgetting to eat, and avoiding food. Drink plenty of water, eat some good and nutritious foods, and challenge yourself to learn how to cook something new!
7. Develop a self-care toolkit. This can look different for everyone. A lot of successful self-care strategies involve a sensory component (seven senses: touch, taste, sight, hearing, smell, movement, and comforting pressure. An idea for each: a soft blanket or stuffed animal, a hot chocolate, photos of vacations, comforting music, lavender or eucalyptus oil, a small swing or rocking chair, a weighted blanket. A journal, an inspirational book, or a mandala coloring book is wonderful, bubbles to blow or blowing watercolor on paper through a straw are visually appealing as well as work on controlled breath. Mint gum, Listerine strips, ginger ale, frozen Starburst, ice packs, and cold are also good for anxiety regulation. Create a self-regulation comfort box (often a shoe-box or bin they can decorate) that they can use on the ready for first-aid when overwhelmed.
8. Give everyone the benefit of the doubt, and a wide berth. A lot of cooped up time can bring out the worst in everyone. Each person will have moments when they will not be at their best. It is important to move with grace through blowups, to not show up to every argument you are invited to, and to not hold grudges and continue disagreements. Everyone is doing the best they can to make it through this.
9. Find your own retreat space. Space is at a premium. It is important that people think through their own separate space for work and for relaxation. Identify a place where they can go to retreat when stressed. You can make this place cozy by using blankets, pillows, cushions, scarves, beanbags, tents, and “forts”. It is good to know that even when we are on top of each other, we have our own special place to go to be alone.
10. Expect stress. We are all struggling with disruption in routine because we rely on routines constructed by others to make them feel safe and to know what comes next. Anxiety, worries, fears, nightmares, difficulty sleeping, and meltdowns are all normal. Try your best to manage and move on.
11. Limit social media and COVID conversation. One can find tons of information on COVID-19 to consume, and it changes minute to minute. The information is often sensationalized, negatively skewed, and alarmist. If the news is stressing you out. Turn it off.
12. Notice the good in the world, the helpers. There is a lot of scary, negative, and overwhelming information to take in regarding this pandemic. There are also a ton of stories of people sacrificing, donating, and supporting one another in miraculous ways. It is important to counterbalance the heavy information with the hopeful information.
13. Help others. Find ways, big and small, to give back to others. Support restaurants, call elderly neighbors; helping others gives us a sense of agency when things seem out of control.
14. Find something you can control, and control the heck out of it. In moments of big uncertainty and overwhelm, control your little corner of the world. Organize your bookshelf, purge your closet, put together that furniture, group your toys. It helps to anchor and ground us when the bigger things are chaotic.
15. Find a long-term project to dive into. Now is the time to learn how to play the keyboard, put together a huge jigsaw puzzle, start a 15 hour game of Risk, paint a picture, read the Harry Potter series, binge watch an 8-season show, crochet a blanket, solve a Rubix cube, or develop a new town in Animal Crossing. Find something that will keep you busy, distracted, and engaged to take breaks from what is going on in the outside world.
16. Engage in repetitive movements and left-right movements. Research has shown that repetitive movement (knitting, coloring, painting, clay sculpting, jump roping etc) especially left-right movement (running, drumming, skating, hopping) can be effective at self-soothing and maintaining self-regulation in moments of distress.
17. Find an expressive art and go for it. Our emotional brain is very receptive to the creative arts, and it is a direct portal for release of feeling. Find something that is creative (sculpting, drawing, dancing, music, singing, playing) and give it your all. See how relieved you can feel. It is a very effective way of helping kids to emote and communicate as well!
18. Find lightness and humor in each day. There is a lot to be worried about, and with good reason. Counterbalance this heaviness with something funny each day: cat videos on YouTube, a stand-up show on Netflix, a funny movie—we all need a little comedic relief in our day, every day.
19. Reach out for help. Do not worry alone. Do not isolate yourself. Let your parents know you are scared or sad. Reach out to friends, teachers, counselors, etc.
20. “Chunk” your quarantine, take it moment by moment. We have no road map for this. Focus on whatever bite-sized piece of a challenge that feels manageable. Whether that be 5 minutes, a day, or a week at a time; find what feels doable for you, and set a time stamp for how far ahead in the future you will let yourself worry. Take each chunk one at a time, and move through stress in pieces.
21. Remind yourself daily that this is temporary. It seems in the midst of this quarantine that it will never end. It is terrifying to think of the road stretching ahead of us. Please take time to remind yourself that although this is very scary and difficult, and will go on for an undetermined amount of time, it is a season of life and it will pass. We will return to feeling free, safe, busy, and connected in the days ahead.
- Tips from Dr. Eileen M Feliciano, Brooklyn NY
1. Stick to a routine. Go to sleep and wake up at a reasonable time, write a schedule that is varied and includes time for work as well as self-care.
2. Dress for the social life you want, not the social life you have. Get showered and dressed in comfortable clothes, wash your face, brush your teeth. Put on some bright colors. It is amazing how our dress can impact our mood.
3. Get out at least once a day, for at least thirty minutes. If you are concerned about contact, try first thing in the morning, or later in the evening, and try less traveled streets and avenues. If you are high risk or living with those who are high risk, open the windows and blast the fan. It is amazing how much fresh air can do for spirits.
4. Find some time to move each day, again daily for at least thirty minutes. If you don’t feel comfortable going outside, there are many YouTube videos that offer movement classes, and if all else fails, turn on the music and have a dance party!
5. Reach out to others, you guessed it, at least once daily for thirty minutes. Try to do FaceTime, Skype, phone calls, texting—connect with other people to seek and provide support. Set up virtual playdates with friends daily via FaceTime, Facebook Messenger Kids, Zoom, etc
6. Stay hydrated and eat well. This one may seem obvious, but stress and eating often don’t mix well, and we find ourselves over-indulging, forgetting to eat, and avoiding food. Drink plenty of water, eat some good and nutritious foods, and challenge yourself to learn how to cook something new!
7. Develop a self-care toolkit. This can look different for everyone. A lot of successful self-care strategies involve a sensory component (seven senses: touch, taste, sight, hearing, smell, movement, and comforting pressure. An idea for each: a soft blanket or stuffed animal, a hot chocolate, photos of vacations, comforting music, lavender or eucalyptus oil, a small swing or rocking chair, a weighted blanket. A journal, an inspirational book, or a mandala coloring book is wonderful, bubbles to blow or blowing watercolor on paper through a straw are visually appealing as well as work on controlled breath. Mint gum, Listerine strips, ginger ale, frozen Starburst, ice packs, and cold are also good for anxiety regulation. Create a self-regulation comfort box (often a shoe-box or bin they can decorate) that they can use on the ready for first-aid when overwhelmed.
8. Give everyone the benefit of the doubt, and a wide berth. A lot of cooped up time can bring out the worst in everyone. Each person will have moments when they will not be at their best. It is important to move with grace through blowups, to not show up to every argument you are invited to, and to not hold grudges and continue disagreements. Everyone is doing the best they can to make it through this.
9. Find your own retreat space. Space is at a premium. It is important that people think through their own separate space for work and for relaxation. Identify a place where they can go to retreat when stressed. You can make this place cozy by using blankets, pillows, cushions, scarves, beanbags, tents, and “forts”. It is good to know that even when we are on top of each other, we have our own special place to go to be alone.
10. Expect stress. We are all struggling with disruption in routine because we rely on routines constructed by others to make them feel safe and to know what comes next. Anxiety, worries, fears, nightmares, difficulty sleeping, and meltdowns are all normal. Try your best to manage and move on.
11. Limit social media and COVID conversation. One can find tons of information on COVID-19 to consume, and it changes minute to minute. The information is often sensationalized, negatively skewed, and alarmist. If the news is stressing you out. Turn it off.
12. Notice the good in the world, the helpers. There is a lot of scary, negative, and overwhelming information to take in regarding this pandemic. There are also a ton of stories of people sacrificing, donating, and supporting one another in miraculous ways. It is important to counterbalance the heavy information with the hopeful information.
13. Help others. Find ways, big and small, to give back to others. Support restaurants, call elderly neighbors; helping others gives us a sense of agency when things seem out of control.
14. Find something you can control, and control the heck out of it. In moments of big uncertainty and overwhelm, control your little corner of the world. Organize your bookshelf, purge your closet, put together that furniture, group your toys. It helps to anchor and ground us when the bigger things are chaotic.
15. Find a long-term project to dive into. Now is the time to learn how to play the keyboard, put together a huge jigsaw puzzle, start a 15 hour game of Risk, paint a picture, read the Harry Potter series, binge watch an 8-season show, crochet a blanket, solve a Rubix cube, or develop a new town in Animal Crossing. Find something that will keep you busy, distracted, and engaged to take breaks from what is going on in the outside world.
16. Engage in repetitive movements and left-right movements. Research has shown that repetitive movement (knitting, coloring, painting, clay sculpting, jump roping etc) especially left-right movement (running, drumming, skating, hopping) can be effective at self-soothing and maintaining self-regulation in moments of distress.
17. Find an expressive art and go for it. Our emotional brain is very receptive to the creative arts, and it is a direct portal for release of feeling. Find something that is creative (sculpting, drawing, dancing, music, singing, playing) and give it your all. See how relieved you can feel. It is a very effective way of helping kids to emote and communicate as well!
18. Find lightness and humor in each day. There is a lot to be worried about, and with good reason. Counterbalance this heaviness with something funny each day: cat videos on YouTube, a stand-up show on Netflix, a funny movie—we all need a little comedic relief in our day, every day.
19. Reach out for help. Do not worry alone. Do not isolate yourself. Let your parents know you are scared or sad. Reach out to friends, teachers, counselors, etc.
20. “Chunk” your quarantine, take it moment by moment. We have no road map for this. Focus on whatever bite-sized piece of a challenge that feels manageable. Whether that be 5 minutes, a day, or a week at a time; find what feels doable for you, and set a time stamp for how far ahead in the future you will let yourself worry. Take each chunk one at a time, and move through stress in pieces.
21. Remind yourself daily that this is temporary. It seems in the midst of this quarantine that it will never end. It is terrifying to think of the road stretching ahead of us. Please take time to remind yourself that although this is very scary and difficult, and will go on for an undetermined amount of time, it is a season of life and it will pass. We will return to feeling free, safe, busy, and connected in the days ahead.
- Tips from Dr. Eileen M Feliciano, Brooklyn NY
Resource Guides Below from our Community Partners at the NAN Project
About Us
The Wakefield Public Schools Student Support Services Team
strives to assist our students in successfully managing their school day in order to support learning
strives to assist our students in successfully managing their school day in order to support learning
- Social emotional health and wellness are important factors in finding success at school and a priority for our team.
- We address challenges daily that arise during the school day with all members of our student community.
- If these challenges become persistent or pervasive, our team's specific school and grade liaison will contact you to discuss more formal communication and support arrangements.
- If you have a concern about your child's social emotional success at school, please contact the specific school liaison team member below.
- This student support services team member will assess your concerns, consult with the academic and administrative team to determine support offerings, and follow up with recommendations.
- This team is also available as a resource to parents and guardians to provide information regarding additional community support services within Wakefield and the surrounding communities.
- These external services can be valuable in supporting the whole child.
- The student support team collaborates with students, families, faculty, administrators, community members, and partner agencies.
WAKEFIELD MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL
David Robinson: Guidance Director: Grades 9-12
Brian Robertson: Guidance Counselor: Student Last Names A-D
Kathryn Healey: Guidance Counselor: Student Last Names D-K
Margaret Delory: Guidance Counselor: Student Last Names K-P
Rick McKenna: Guidance Counselor: Student Last Names P-Z
Victor Branco: School Psychologist: Grades 9-12
Rebecca Gordon: School Psychologist: Grades 9-12
Suzanne Burns: School Counselor: Grades 9-12
Denise Ewald: School Counselor: Grades 9-12
Officer Jason Skillings: School Resource Officer
Rita Perlin: School Nurse
Lisa Giberti: School Nurse
David Robinson: Guidance Director: Grades 9-12
Brian Robertson: Guidance Counselor: Student Last Names A-D
Kathryn Healey: Guidance Counselor: Student Last Names D-K
Margaret Delory: Guidance Counselor: Student Last Names K-P
Rick McKenna: Guidance Counselor: Student Last Names P-Z
Victor Branco: School Psychologist: Grades 9-12
Rebecca Gordon: School Psychologist: Grades 9-12
Suzanne Burns: School Counselor: Grades 9-12
Denise Ewald: School Counselor: Grades 9-12
Officer Jason Skillings: School Resource Officer
Rita Perlin: School Nurse
Lisa Giberti: School Nurse
GALVIN MIDDLE SCHOOL
Andrew Cedrone: School Counselor: Teams A,B,C,H
Bonnie Warren: School Counselor: Teams D,E,F,G
Caroline Boyd: School Psychologist: Teams G,H,I,J,K,L,M,N,O
Jennifer Hart: School Counselor: Teams I,J,K,L,M,N,O
Kate Hersman: School Psychologist: Teams A,B,C,D,E,F
Officer Kelley Tobyne: School Resource Officer
Kerri Melanson: School Nurse
Sara Plano: School Nurse
DOLBEARE ELEMENTARY
Diana Greider: School Psychologist
Christina Young: School Psychologist
Officer Kelley Tobyne: School Resource Officer
Linda Smith: School Nurse
Diana Greider: School Psychologist
Christina Young: School Psychologist
Officer Kelley Tobyne: School Resource Officer
Linda Smith: School Nurse
GREENWOOD ELEMENTARY
Jennifer Beardslee: School Psychologist
Officer Kelley Tobyne: School Resource Officer
Mary Doherty: School Nurse
Jennifer Beardslee: School Psychologist
Officer Kelley Tobyne: School Resource Officer
Mary Doherty: School Nurse
WOODVILLE ELEMENTARY
Lianna Levine: School Psychologist
Kirsten Sletterink: School Counselor
Andrea Barone: District Behavior Coach
Nicole Weiler: District Behavior Analyst
Officer Kelley Tobyne: School Resource Officer
Cheryl LeBlanc: School Nurse
Lianna Levine: School Psychologist
Kirsten Sletterink: School Counselor
Andrea Barone: District Behavior Coach
Nicole Weiler: District Behavior Analyst
Officer Kelley Tobyne: School Resource Officer
Cheryl LeBlanc: School Nurse
WALTON ELEMENTARY
Lynore Connelly: School Psychologist
Sara Mestjian: School Counselor
Officer Kelley Tobyne: School Resource Officer
Kelly Qualey: School Nurse
DOYLE EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER
Christine Garcia: School Psychologist
Officer Kelley Tobyne: School Resource Officer
Barbara Durney: School Nurse
Christine Garcia: School Psychologist
Officer Kelley Tobyne: School Resource Officer
Barbara Durney: School Nurse
