Welcome to the 2020-2021 School Year!

     Hello to all the returning students and families and welcome to all the new students and families to the Owensboro Catholic School K-3 Campus! This is going to be one school year to remember!  Let me take a quick moment to introduce myself.  My name is Kim Bennett, and I am the counselor at the K-3 Campus. This is my 9th year as the counselor with the Owensboro Catholic School System. Prior to this position, I was a school based counselor/art therapist with River Valley Behavioral Health for 14 years. I have been married to Dan Bennett for 23 years and I’m the proud mom to four children ranging in age from 13 to 21 years old. As the counselor I teach monthly social-emotional lessons in the classroom.  I also work with students individually and in group settings.  I was recently trained in the Love and Logic method for parenting and hope to host monthly parenting groups utilizing this curriculum.  I also do monthly blogs (sometimes bi-monthly) describing the guidance lessons for the month and offering suggestions or extra links to articles that I hope will help parents. Guidance lessons will begin sometime in September so the focus of this blog is adjusting to the new school year.

     As mentioned before, this school year will be like none other! As we all get ready for the first official day of the school year, here are some suggestions for a smooth start!

     *ROUTINE, routine, routine!  In any school year, pandemic or no pandemic, it is so important and beneficial to have a routine in place.  It’s best to begin practicing that routine before the school year actually begins. If you have done that, then you are ahead of the game. If you haven’t, it’s never too late to start! (Unless you are starting really late, like the last week of school late!).  Kids needs routine. It can ease anxiety and help establish trust.

     *Your child will follow your cue on wearing masks. In other words, if you make a big deal of wearing them then so will they.  Kids are smart and pick up on almost all our behaviors.  If you put a positive spin on the situation, then they will also!  For the most part, kids also easily adapt.  While wearing masks can very a hot topic, it doesn't have to be for kids, especially if we put a fun spin on it.

     *Model patience and grace. Now I know that saying this is so much easier than doing it.  I get it!   If I had a $1.00 for every time I had lost my patience in front of my kids, I would probably be able to send us all to Disney World for the week.  With that said, things will go so much smoother if we can all have just a little more patience and offer more grace and mercy.  These are new waters we are exploring.  I have said many times that we are living in a sci-fi movie and we are writing the history books as we speak.  A little more patience and grace will go a very long way with our students and be helpful to all the adults as well. Many many school experiences are going to be a little different from previous years.  One huge difference parents will notice is the drop off and pick up system.  Please be patient as we iron out all the kinks and get the school year running.  Please also remember that the guidelines set in place are there for everyone's safety and well being.  We want everyone to stay healthy!

     *Approach conflicts and concerning situations with a team approach. Your child’s teacher is there for you and they want to help. They want your child to have a wonderful year.  If any problems arise, talk to them about it.  Open communication is essential and beneficial.

     *Be open about your feelings, but not too open.  I know this sounds contradicting, but hear me out.  It's important to acknowledge how a student is feeling and not just dismiss any feelings they may be having.  But it is also important to build them up as well.  Nervous about that first day?  That's ok!  Acknowledge that, but also offer encouragement that they can handle this situation (even though you may be scared, nervous, uneasy, etc.)  This helps establish a growth mindset, which is a topic I love and will be talking about more, later in the year.  One area that may cause a little anxiety for some will be the drop off guidelines.  Parents/grandparents can walk the students in for the first three days of school, but after that time the students will need to be dropped off in the car rider line.  This may be difficult for some families.  But please know that most children who are tearful at drop off time usually settling very quickly (like before the parent leaves the parking lot quick!).  If you have any questions about how your child is doing, feel free to contact me and I will do my best to check on them.  We want the parents to feel comfortable with this process, as well.  

     I hope these few suggestions will help.  It is not an understatement when I say that your child's teacher is so excited to be here and for a new school year!  We plan on having an amazing school year!  If I can be of any help or assistance, please feel free to reach out.  I want to help in what ever way I can.  I can be reached through email, at kim.bennett@owensborocatholic.org or through calling the front office at (270) 684-7583.  I can also be reached through the OCS website.  By clicking on the following link, you can submit a form for assistance:  https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdGkEeGfO7y-DO138HQHqRrmMClozyr9N6KZjK8Sj0yccjw9A/viewform?vc=0&c=0&w=1 

Happy New School Year!

 

     Back to School: Prayer for the Start of a New Year

Loving God,

Our Creator, our Savior, our companion,

bless this journey of a new school year that we undertake today.

Refresh our souls

and renew our spirits

as we embrace the beautiful ministry you have called us to.

We welcome those who are new to this community and 

ask that you strengthen them to share the wonderful gifts you have given

them.

Lord, make our hearts pure as we prepare for the return of students to this school,

and may you guide them to return with open hearts and minds eager to learn.

We ask this in Your name,

Amen