School Counselor
Kris Widmann, MS
Information about the GVS Counseling Program
Questions? Please contact me at 603-863-1681
The GVS counseling program is based on guidelines set forth by the American School Counselor Association and recommendations from parents, students, and staff members.
A comprehensive school counseling program focuses on supporting all students in the following skill areas:
- Academic support, including organizational, study and test-taking skills
- Goal setting and decision–making skills which help with planning for the future
- Skills in communication, social situations, problem-solving, and conflict resolution
The Grantham Village School counseling program focuses on being proactive and developmental. We emphasize early development of a healthy self-concept and a respect for the feelings of others in an effort to prevent more serious problems in later school years. Throughout the year, I will be in the classrooms teaching about problem solving, social skills, and other issues as needed. I also meet with students in small topic based groups, lunch bunches, and individually. If you think your child would benefit from being in a counseling group or meeting with me individually, please contact me. You may also visit our Parent Resource in the Grantham Village School Library for additional information on parenting concerns.
If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact me. It is our goal to make each day the best possible for your child at Grantham Village School.
Community Resources
- LISTEN Community Services are available for help with many crisis type situations. Please call 448-4554, for more information.
- LISTEN’s food pantry is open to everyone. They provide one to two weeks worth of groceries, and personal care items. You may visit the food pantry once every 30 days. Food Pantry Location: 60 Hanover St, Lebanon, NH 03766
- LISTEN provides small grants for housing and rental assistance.
- If you have an electric disconnect notice, or are you in need of fuel assistance, LISTEN can help. They can help pay for a minimum fuel delivery, prevent a disconnection, or refer you to other resources.
- Listen Community Services offers dinners which are free to everyone and are served Monday through Saturday at 5:00p.m. at 42 Maple Street in White River Junction, VT. October’s menu is included. You will find future menus here: http://www.listencs.org/community-dinners
- The Grantham Community Crisis Fund has been set up to respond to those in financial crisis in the Grantham community. Call Deborah Cheever 863-5946, Kris Widmann 863-1681, or Cindy Towle 863-3156 for assistance.
- For information on food banks located in Newport call 863-3411 or in Lebanon call 448-4553.
- Turning Points Network provides support with domestic abuse and has a 24 hour crisis and support line, emergency shelter, court advocacy, peer counseling ,and an economic independence program. Call 863-4053.
- 211 NH is the connection for New Hampshire residents to get the most up to date health and human service information and find out about available resources in our area. 211 NH is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Multilingual assistance and TDD access is also available. To access this resource and referral database call 211 or access online at https://www.211nh.org
Lunch Bunch News
Students have the opportunity to eat lunch with me and their classmates once a week or once every other week. During lunch bunch we read books with social/emotional themes and have time for discussion. If you would like your child to participate in a Lunch Bunch, please send me an email.
Some of Lunch Bunch books and topics:
- Rules by Mary Kelley - Why do we have rules?
- My Mouth is a Volcano by Julia Cook - Being aware of interrupting
- Personal Body Space Camp by Julia Cook - Respecting personal space bubbles
- Tattle Tongue by Julia Cook - learning the difference between tattling and reporting when something is dangerous
- I Can' Believe You Said That by Julia Cook - using a social filter
- Wilma the Worry Machine by Julia Cook - anxiety
- Lying Up a Storm by Julia Cook - telling the truth
- But It's Not My Fault by Julia Cook - taking responsibility
- I Like Myself by Karen Beaumont - positive self-concept
- You Will Be My Friend by Peter Brown - friendship
- Can I Play Too by Mo Willems - friendship
- Why Should I Share? by Mike Gordon - friendship and empathy
- How Full Is Your Bucket? for Kids by Tom Rath and Mary Reckmeyer - friendship and empathy
- Bucket Filling From A to Z by Carol McCloud and Caryn Butzke - friendship and empathy
- The Quarreling Book by Charlotte Zolotow - how we impact other people's feelings
- Scaredy Squirrel Finds a Friend by Melanie Watt
- Howard B. Wigglebottom Learns We Can All Get Along by Howard Binkow
- Howard B. Wigglebottom Learns to Listen by Howard Binkow
- Howard B. Wigglebottom Learns It's OK to Back Away by Howard Binkow
Helping Your Children with Anxiety
A great new book:
Anxious Kids Anxious Parents by Lynn Lyons