Has another year really gone by? Indeed it has. Welcome to 2016-2017! I've rounded up a few handouts with strategies to support your family in transitioning to a new year. Back-to-school tips for a smooth transition. General strategies and suggestions to help kick off a healthy, happy, and organized year. At the start of the year, some children get uber excited over brand new school supplies in anticipation of homework time. Other children, not so much. This handout provides some nice strategies to help create an organized, stress-free homework environment. School refusal. It's not uncommon for a child to feel a little nervous at the beginning of a new year. Sometimes, however, significant anxiety can take hold of a child and lead to extreme challenges with attending school. This handout provides information regarding why it can happen and how to support a child experiencing school refusal. Hi there! My name is Kim Getty and I'm the school psychologist for Brassfield Elementary and Cary Elementary. Here you'll find a variety of information to support children's social and emotional well-being, as well as strategies to strengthen academic performance and improve any behavioral challenges. You may be wondering what a school psychologist actually does. The National Association of School Psychologists describes these professionals as "uniquely qualified members of school teams that support students' ability to learn and teachers' ability to teach. They apply expertise in mental health, learning, and behavior, to help children and youth succeed academically, socially, behaviorally, and emotionally. School psychologists partner with families, teachers, school administrators, and other professionals to create safe, healthy, and supportive learning environments that strengthen connections between home, school, and the community." This handout goes into a bit more detail. So, I do a lot of different things. I help teachers identify ways to support kids who might be struggling with academics or behavior, and I consult with parents to discuss any concerns they might have about their child (mental health, academics, behavior, anything). I provide brief counseling to children who may be going through a difficult time, and I can provide academic or behavior interventions to children either individually or in small groups. When a child struggles to achieve grade level benchmarks, despite multiple interventions, I may evaluate the child to assist in determining whether he/she needs special education. When I'm not at one of my schools, I'm likely participating in some of my other job roles within Wake County, including serving as a consultant for the Autism team as well as the Low Incidence team (which specializes in working with children who have complex and/or severe disabilities). I'm also a member of the WCPSS Crisis Team, which involves providing training to staff on psychological crisis response, as well as providing counseling support for schools experiencing crisis. I also serve as a mentor on the Mentor Team, which provides support to newly hired psychologists. A little about me...I double majored in Psychology and Sociology at the University of Richmond, and I earned my MS and PhD in School Psychology from NC State. In my free time, I love to bake, read, run, hit the beach, and spend time traveling and enjoying new restaurants with my boyfriend of seven years. Thanks for stopping by! Feel free to call or email me anytime, or stop by my office at Brassfield or Cary. [email protected] Voicemail: 919-694-8839 |