Myakka Elementary School
37205 Manatee Avenue
Myakka City , Fl. 34251
941-708-5515 (ex 68038)
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"Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all" ~ Aristotle
MRS. VELDKAMP'S COUNSELING CORNER
Be sure to get to know your school counselor, your biggest advocate!
School Counseling at Myakka City Elementary School is a comprehensive (available to all students) developmental (age-appropriate) program designed to ensure that today's students become productive, well-adjusted adults of tomorrow. The program is proactive and preventative in nature with a focus on academic achievement, character development, college/career awareness, and the social/emotional growth of all of our students.
Welcome,
Debbie Veldkamp
ABOUT ME
Hello and thank you for taking the time to browse my website. My name is Debbie Veldkamp, and I am honored to serve as the School Counselor at Myakka City Elementary School. I am a graduate of Florida State University (M.S. Elementary Education), a graduate of Argosy University (M.A. School Counseling K-12), have earned my ESOL endorsement, and am currently certified in ESE. It has been a pleasure to serve students over the years as a classroom teacher, ESE teacher, ESE Liaison, ESOL coordinator, and School Counselor. I am an active member of the American School Counselor Association (ASCA), the Florida School Counseling Association (FSCA), and I currently serve as President of the Manatee School Counseling Association (MSCA). I am committed to ongoing professional growth and enjoy attending conferences and trainings to stay current in best practices. Since 1991, I have taught in a variety of schools, taking time off throughout the years to raise my five children, who are now ages 34, 32, 27, 22, and 19. My husband and I are also blessed with six adorable grandchildren (another one on the way) and cherish every opportunity to spend time with our family.
I have a deep love for children of all ages and a passion for helping them grow socially, emotionally, and academically. As the school counselor at Myakka City Elementary, my job is to advocate for children and help them develop the skills they need to solve problems and overcome barriers that may impede their ability to learn.
MISSION AND VISION
Vision
Belief Statements
* Every student is unique and has the potential to be successful.
* Every student has worth and deserves to be treated with dignity and respect.
* Every student is capable of learning and has the right to high quality educational opportunities.
* Every student has the right to a safe and supportive learning environment that supports and enhances academic achievement as well as social and emotional well-being.
*Every student has the right to a school counseling program that provides opportunities for career exploration, allowing them to explore various options and build skills needed for future success.
* Every student has the right to participate in a developmentally appropriate comprehensive school counseling program, provided by a professional school counselor, that is designed to assist all students in attaining their maximum potential in academic, career, and personal/social development.
The mission of the school counseling program is to equip students with the academic, social-emotional, and career readiness skills needed to become lifelong learners who thrive academically, socially, and emotionally and are prepared to achieve success today and tomorrow.
Mission
The vision of the Myakka City Elementary School Counseling program is to empower all students with the academic, social-emotional, and career readiness skills needed to become resilient lifelong learners who are prepared to thrive globally in our diverse and ever-changing world.
DEVELOPMENTAL NEEDS OFELEMENTARY SCHOOL CHILDREN
The elementary school years are crucial for children to build the attitude, knowledge, and skills needed to become healthy, confident, and successful learners. During this time, they start developing important life skills and academic abilities that will help them become responsible citizens and lifelong learners
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What Bullying IS
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Bullying is behavior that is:
· Repeated
· Intentional
· Deliberate abuse of power
Bullying can be:
· Physical – hitting, punching
· Verbal- teasing or name-calling
-Social - excluding someone intentionally, telling others not to be friends with someone
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What Bullying IS NOT
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It is important for both parents and students to understand that one act of aggressive behavior is NOT bullying.
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BE A BUDDY, NOT A BULLY
BULLYING
Check out these helpful links
Cyber Safety for Kids
Do:
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Create a Parent-Child Technology Agreement
Set clear rules and expectations for using devices and the internet.​​ -
Keep personal information private
Never share your address, phone number, school name, or other identifying details online. -
Remember: Everything online is traceable
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Your actions leave a digital footprint—be responsible and respectful.
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Think before you type
If you wouldn’t want it on the front page of a newspaper, don’t post it online. -
Speak up if something feels wrong
Tell your parents or a trusted adult if you experience cyberbullying, harassment, or anything that makes you uncomfortable.
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Don’t:
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Never share your password
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Keep your passwords private—even from friends.
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Only your parents or guardians may need to know them.
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Don’t share personal information with strangers
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This includes your full name, address, phone number, school name, and photos.
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If someone online asks for this, tell a trusted adult right away.
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Avoid unsafe or uncomfortable websites
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If a website looks suspicious, has inappropriate content, or makes you feel uneasy, leave immediately.
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Talk to a parent, teacher, or trusted adult about it
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BULLYING RESOURCES FOR STUDENTS
Robbie White
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Riley Jones
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Payton Hillman
Family Links and Resources
ADHD
Nationally recognized authority on ADHD
Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD)
What is ADHD?
Dyslexia
A non-profit organization dedicated to helping individuals with dyslexia,
their families and the communities that support them.
The International Dyslexia Association
Students with Special Needs
PHP's mission was developed in response to the need in our community for
information, training, and support services for families who have children
with special needs and the professionals who serve them.
Parents Helping Parents
Worry and Anxiety
Worry Wise Kids
Social Media Apps
Parent's guide to social media apps
Social Media Acronyms
The 411 on social media and trending acronyms
Internet Safety for Kids
Hidden Apps
Counseling Services
Jewish Family &Children's Service is a multi-function family agency
serving the Suncoast of Florida. The services are based on the premise that
personnel trained in understanding the behavior and environments of individuals,can help them with crises, problems, and growth issues to improve the quality of their lives.
Centerstone
Free assessment and referral services, and assists with mental and
substance abuse issues (alcoholism, drug abuse) affecting children and adults.
Emergency Crisis- 941-747-1628
Outpatient Services - 941-782-4150
Suncoast Behavioral Health
Suncoast Behavioral Health Center’s medically supervised inpatient child & adolescent program provides psychiatric evaluation and treatment for children (5-12) and adolescents (13-17) who need 24 hour care. Call 941-251-5000
Blue Butterfly - Tidewell Hospice
Grief Support for Families
Whole Child Manatee
The Whole Child Connection is a comprehensive web-based service delivery
system that helps Manatee County families access the services they need to
enhance their quality of life or often simply make ends meet.
Florida Multi-Tiered System of Support
Academic and behavior supports reflecting the need for students to have fluid access to instruction
MTSS-Response To Intervention
Early intervention strategy within general education
Behavior
What you do to change behavior
Empowering Parents
Connects families with actionable tips, tools, and child behavior programs to help resolve behavior issues in children ages 5-25
We Care
This agency prequalifies low income citizens to receive specialized medical care.
Phone: 941-755-3952
Autism
The Center for Autism & Related Disabilities at USF is a community-based project that provides information and consultation to individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders and related disabilities. CARD-USF offers instruction and coaching to families and professionals through a
training and assistance model.
Florida KidCare
Health Insurance for Children
Anger Management
Anger management tips and techniques to decrease anger
High quality internet resources
Legal Aide Manasota
Free legal services to low income individuals and families in Sarasota and
Manatee counties who cannot afford to pay an attorney.
Growing Up Drug Free
A parent's guide to prevention
Understood -
Provides resources and support so people who learn and think differently can thrive.
Kids Kids
Health is the #1 most-trusted source for physician-reviewed information and advice on children's health and parenting issues
KidSmartz
Learn how to keep your child safe
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Resiliency Skills
Equipping Students with Skills for Life
August - Responsibility and Responsible Decision Making
September - GRIT
October - Self-Awareness and Self-Management
November - Citizenship (Respect)
December - Gratitude
January - Empathy
February - Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
March - Honesty
April - Perseverance
May - Mentorship and Courage
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Julia Cook Books:
A Bad Case of Tattle Tongue
My Mouth is a Volcano
Personal Space Camp
Cliques Just Don’t Make Cents
The Worst Day of My Life Ever (Listening and Following Directions)
I Just Don’t Like the Sound of No! (Accepting No for an answer/disagreeing the right way)
Bully Beans
Study Skilled...Not!!!
Lying Up a Storm
Wilma Jean and the Worry Machine
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Wilma Jean and the Worry Machine Activity and Idea Book
Bubble Gum Brain (Growth Mindset)
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Bubble Gum Brain Activity and Idea Book
SodaPop Head (Anger Management)
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Soda Pop Head Activity and Idea Book
Making Friends is an Art
I Just Want to Do It My Way! (Staying on task and asking for help)
Decibella and her 6-inch Voice
But It’s Just a Game (Video Game Addiction)
The D Word (Divorce)
Ricky Sticky Fingers
Baditude What to Do When Your Life Stinks!
I Can’t Believe You Just Said That
Rumor Has It
The Judgmental Flower
I Have Ants in My Pants
Hygiene You Stink
Be Where Your Feet Are!
What Shoes Will You Wear? (Career)
Smarter that the Scoopers (Keeping kids safe from predators)
That Rule Doesn’t Apply to Me!
My Fantabulous Brain
The Anti-Test Anxiety Society
Getting Yourself Together When your Family Falls Apart
Don’t Be Afraid to Drop (courage)
The I in Integrity
I’m Stretched
The Great Compromise
I Got This! I Have Bounce Back Superpowers
Little Spot Series by Diane Albert
Books Resiliency Skills:
Death/Grief
Chester Raccoon and the Acorn Full of Memories
A Child’s Simple Guide though Greif
One Wave at a Time
Lifetimes
The Invisible String
The Invisible String Workbook
The Next Place
Tear Soup
When Someone Very Special Dies
You Weren’t With me
Ghost Wings
The Boy and the Gorilla
The Next Place
Saying Goodbye to Lulu
The Invisible Leash
When Sadness is at Your Door
Riley and Milo
A Terrible Thing Happened
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Anger
Angry Octopus
Hunter and his Amazing Remote Control
Zach gets Frustrated
When Sophie Gets Angry… Really Really Angry…
Crankenstein
The Amazing Remote Control
The Bad Seed
What Where You Thinking?
Incarceration
My Daddy is in Jail
Social Skills
Superflex
SuperflexA Superhero Social Curriculum
You are a social Detective!
Testing
Testing Miss Malarkey
Tyler Tames the Testing Tiger
Feelings
The Color Monster, a story about emotions
The Jester Has Lost His Jingle
The Way I Act
The Way I Feel
The Grouchy Ladybug
Lots of Feelings
What were you Thinking?
My Inside Weather
Glad Monster, Sad Monster
On Monday When It Rained
Have you Filled Your Bucket Today?
Enjoy The Ride A Book to Help Understand and Cope with Feelings
Quick as a Cricket
My Many Colored Days
Mootilda’s Bad Mood
Sometimes I’m A Pillow
The Adventures of Curious the Dragonfly
The Magic Coloring Book of Feelings
In My Heart
Friendship
The Good, The Bad, And the Spooky
The Crayon Box that Talked
Tobin Learns to Make Friends
A Big Guy Took My Ball!
Stick And Stone
Stick and Stone Best Friends Forever
What’s The Recipe for Friends?
The Great Eggscape
The Not So Friendly Friend
Enemy Pie
Behavior
Interrupting Chicken
The Pout-Pout Fish in the Big-Big Dark
David Goes to School
The Bad Seed
The Rainbow Fish
Do Unto Otters
Howard B. Wigglebottoms Learns to Listen
The Worst Day of My Life Ever!
Rules
Know And Follow the Rules
Join in and Play
Hooty Learns What’s Right
A Childs Book of Manners
Kevin Knows the Rules
Drama
The Drama Llama
The Drama Llama Activity Guide
Trouble Talk
Bullying
Pretty in Me
King of the Playground
Bullies Never Win
The Ant Bully
The Juice Box Bully
Chester Raccoon and the Big Bad Bully
The Recess Queen
Kindness
Pete The Cat’s Groovy Guide to Kindness
A Little Spot of Kindness
At School, Kindness Starts with You
Ripple’s Effect
Be Kind
Have You Filled a Bucket?
What Does It Mean to Be Kind?
It Will Be OK
Each Kindness
Integrity and Honesty
The “I” In Integrity
The Empty Pot
Howard B. Wigglebottoms and the Monkey on His Back
Worry
The Worry Box
Worry Too much
Wilma Jean the Worry Machine Activity and Idea Book
Hey Warrior
The Worrywarts
Stressy Jessy
A Little Spot of Anxiety
Worry Says What?
The Huge Bag of Worries
Ruby Finds a Worry
What to do When you Worry Too Much
A Kiss Goodbye
The Whatifs
How to Tame My Anxiety Monster
Perseverance
Ricky The Rock that couldn’t Roll
Leo The Lightning Bug
After the Fall
What Do you Do with a Problem?
The Thing Lou Couldn’t Do
What Do You Do with a Chance?
The Boy Who Makes a Million Mistakes
Grit
Gen The Grit in I Quit
Thank You, Mr. Falker
Courage
A Color of His Own
Don’t Be Afraid to Drop
Fiona Flamingo
Stand Tall Molly Lou Melon
Stick And Stone Best Friends Forever!
You Look Ridiculous
Chrysanthemum
The Big Umbrella
The Mixed-Up Chameleon
The Good Egg
The Cool Bean
The Empty Pot
The Invisible Boy
Spaghetti In a Hot Dog Bun
A Little Bit Different
Speak Up, Molly Lou Melon
Don’t Be Afraid to Drop
Howard B. Wigglebottom Learns about Courage
I Am Courage
I Am One
You Be You
Respect
Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters
Choices
The Couch Potato
What Should Danny Do?
Cooperation
Swimmy
The Little Red Hen
The Little Red Pen
An Operation of Cooperation
Empathy
It will Be Ok
Stand In my Shoes
How do I stand in your Shoes?
The Giving Tree
The Invisible Boy
The Buddy Bench
The Cool Bean
Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughter
The Rainbow Fish
Mindfulness
Master Of Mindfulness
Be Where your Feet are!
What Does it mean to be present?
I Can Handle It!
I Can Do Hard Things
Mind Bubbles
Career:
What Shoes Will I Wear?
Growth Mindset:
The Boy Who Makes a Million Mistakes
Your Fantastic Elastic Brain
I Can’t Do That Yet!
Giraffes Can’t Dance
Meet the Counselor
Mrs. Joyce Gives the Best High-Fives
Alexander and the terrible Horrible No Good, Very Bad Day
Even Superheroes Have Bad Days
Creativity
The Dot
The Day the Crayons Quit
Impulse Control:
Catching Thoughts
The Most Magnificent Thing
The Pout Pout Fish in the Big Big Dark
The Smart Cookie
Regulation:
Tyler’s Storm
Bullying Books:
The Juice Box Bully
Bullies Are a Pain in the Brain
Bully Beans (Julia Cook)
King of the Playground
The Aunt Bully
Chester The Racoon and the Big Bad Bully
The Recess Queen
Bullies Never Win
The Pretty in Me
One
Critical Thinking/Choices/Decision Making:
Think Like a Detective
What Should Danny Do?
The Couch Potato
Responsibility:
Think Like a Detective
Resiliency:
I Got This! I Have Bounce Back Superpowers
My Brilliant, Resilient Mind
The Hugging Tree
The Optimistic Seed
Resilience
Gratitude:
The Sour Grape
Sylvester and the Magic Pebble
Community:
The Breaking News
I am Me
The Potential in All of Us:
The Good Egg
Maybe
Resource Books:
Monthly Motivating Classroom Guidance Lessons K-5
Study Skills, Conflict Resolution, Resolving Problems, Kindness & Goodwill, Making Responsible Decisions, Anger Management, Bulying, Listening and Focusing Skills, Test Taking & School Success, Setting & Achieving Goals.
Why Did You Die?
Social Skills Activities for Kids
Building Everyday Leaders
Games:
Ready Set Respond – Encouraging Flexible Thinking
Kids Count- Social Skills and Self Esteem
No Temper Treasure Island – Anger Management
Keep Your Cool – Anger and Attitude
The Scoop on Good Behavior
Totika - Self Esteem – Resilience - Anger
School Counseling Resource Books
