September 16, 2022

Counseling Den

Dear Cameron Families,

We are your Cameron Elementary School Counselors Nikki Bohnert and Lisa Heath.  We are pleased to be able to offer you a monthly glimpse into Cameron’s School Counseling Program via this Counseling Den Newsletter.  In our Weekly Counseling Den, we provide you with information regarding the Positivity Project Character Development Program, school-wide initiatives and other useful social and emotional resources.   

What does your School Counselor do to support students?

School counselors help students socially and emotionally as they develop self-awareness, learn how to make responsible decisions, and develop healthy relationship skills such as the ability to resolve conflicts.

School counselors assist students academically by supporting them as they come more aware of their personal learning styles, reflect on goals and develop a positive attitudes for learning.   

School Counselors help students become college and career ready by providing opportunities for career exploration for post-graduation success.

School Counselors support students through classroom, small group, and individual counseling activities.  We are available to meet with students through referrals either directly from the student, parents/guardians, or school staff.

We look forward working closely with you and your families this year in support of your Cameron Cheetah.   Our contact information is below.

Lisa Heath – Grades K, 2, 4, and 5

Nikki Bohnert – Grades 1, 3, and 6

Family Liaison Corner           

from Susana Trupo

“I am so good at sleeping that I can do it with my eyes closed!” -Anonymous

Dear Cameron Families

If you have children at home, you know the nightly challenge: to get your kids to go to bed and stay there. It’s not easy, but it’s one of the most important things you can do for them. When children don't get enough sleep have a harder time controlling their emotions. They may be irritable or hyper, which is no fun for anyone. Kids who are always sleep-deprived are more likely to have behavior problems, have trouble paying attention and learning, and be overweight. So, although it's not easy, it's important to do all you can to help your child get the sleep they need. Here some suggestions.

1. Make sleep a family priority. Set regular go-to-bed and wake-up times for the entire family and be sure to follow them, even on weekends.

2. Work as a team. It's important to discuss and agree on a sleep strategy for your child with your spouse or partner beforehand and work together as a team to carry it out consistently. Otherwise, you can't expect your child to learn or change their behavior.

3. Routine, routine, routine. Kids love it, they thrive on it, and it works. It helps your child learn to be sleepy, bath time, teeth brushing, read your child a book, kiss goodnight. This routine will help your child associate the bedroom with good feelings and give them a sense of security and control.

4. Bedtime snacks. Children may need more than three meals a day to keep them going, so a small snack before bedtime can help their bodies stay fueled through the night. Do a small nighttime snack, choose a healthy option. Do not feed or give water thought the night.

5. Dress and room temperature and sleep environment. Everyone sleeps better in a room that is cool but not cold. A rule of thumb is to dress your child basically as you dress yourself, keeping in mind that very young children often kick off the covers at night and can’t cover themselves.

6. Security object. Bedtime means separation, and that can be easier for kids with a personal object, like a doll, teddy bear, or blanket. It can provide a sense of security and control those comforts and reassures your child before they fall asleep.

7. One last thing. Kids will always ask for that one last thing -- hugs, a drink of water, a trip to the bathroom, just one more book. Do your best to head off these requests by making them part of the bedtime routine. And let your child know that once they are in bed, they must stay in bed.

September AAP News

Important Dates

Advanced Academics Parent Meeting: September 22, 2022 at 9am in the library.

A Note from Mrs. Reed

This month students have been learning about the critical and creative thinking strategy VISUALIZATION. Critical thinking and creative thinking are essential to problem solving. Critical thinking involves applying logic, while creative thinking involves constructing something new. Visualization can be a powerful strategy for helping students set goals, picture the steps that need to be taken, consider alternatives, and visualize a plan to achieve their goals. It can take students to places not yet seen in order to: see from another's point of view, rehearse steps in goal setting and decision making, and reflect on past situations. Visualization in reading can deepen comprehension and empathy. Visualization can also improve communication, decision making, and executive functioning skills. 

Monthly Challenge

Draw a picture to show how ________ (transportation, culture, money, communication, etc) has changed over time. Draw a picture to show what it used to look like, what it looks like now, and then predict what it will look like in the future. 

OR

Using a character from a book, pretend you have been hired as the illustrator. Create cover art for the book and draw the character using the visual clues and descriptions the author provided in the book. How do you visualize the character? 

Return your challenge to Mrs. Reed for a surprise and a shout out on the morning news!

Sleep Health School Wide Awareness Week

Youth have significant differences in the number of hours of sleep appropriate for their development. Here are sleep recommendations by age offered by the National Sleep Foundation (NSF):

• Newborns (birth to 3 months) need 14 to 17 hours of sleep per day.
• Infants (4 to 11 months) need 12 to 15 hours of sleep per day.
• Toddlers (1 to 2 years) need 11 to 14 hours of sleep per day.
• Preschoolers (3 to 5 years) need 10 to 13 hours of sleep per day.
• School age children (6 to 13 years) need 9 to 11 hours of sleep per day.
• Teenagers (14 to 17 years) need 8 to 10 hours of sleep per day.
• Younger adults (18 to 25 years) need 7 to 9 hours of sleep per day.

Cameron Traffic Information

Hello families!

It has been observed that parents are parking on both sides of the street on Norton Street in the back of the school. This makes it very challenging for buses to both enter and leave Cameron in the morning and to enter and leave in the afternoon. We will place several cones on the side of this street to prevent cars from parking here in an effort to keep everyone safe. Thank you for your understanding in this matter!

Signed SR&R Form Due September 30 

FCPS’ updated Student Rights & Responsibility (SR&R) booklet is now available online and in the ParentVue section of the Student Information System (SIS). The SR&R booklet explains expectations for student behavior, and adult responses to enhance school safety and to create a fair, equitable, and supportive school environment. 

Each year, families must review, sign, and return the SR&R to their child’s school. Paper forms went home in the first day folder; families may sign the paper form or sign electronically in SIS ParentVue.  Every parent/guardian with a ParentVUE account will see the SR&R upon login to ParentVUE until the SR&R acknowledgement has been completed.

Please take a moment to log into ParentVue in your child’s SIS account to access the SR&R. Signatures are due by September 30, 2022.  Students cannot take their laptop home until they have a signed SRR.

Please contact Tawanna Bates, registrar, at tjbates@fcps.edu if you are having difficulty accessing SIS ParentVue.

Free Clinic information

Mason and Partners

Telephone 703-993-5880

Medical/Dental Clinic Free Services

Pediatrics, Well-Child visits, adult medicine, Medication Assistance, Lab Services, Dental, Mental Health. Please call to make an appointment

Mason and Partners

Telephone 703-993-5880

Low-Cost Clinic information

Neighborhood Health

Telephone 703-535-5568

Medical/Dental Clinic Services

Pediatrics, Well-Child visits, adult medicine, Medication Assistance, Lab Services, Dental, Mental Health. Please call to make an appointment

Important Dates 

Sept 17 - Back to School Picnic 4-6pm @ Cameron

Sept 22 - AAP Parent Meeting 9am @ Cameron in the Library

Sept 26 - Student Holiday - Rosh Hashanah 

Sept 30 - SR&R form due

Oct 5 - Holiday - Yom Kippur

Oct 10 - Student Holiday - Indigenous People's Day

See the complete 2022-2023 school year calendar