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February 6, 2025 By Jessica Chamoun, Intervention Specialist Traveling for work or other reasons has become a normal part of our everyday lives. Many working parents today travel because of work demands or family commitments. As such, being away from our children for a certain period of time may be common and inevitable. Children may react to their parents' absence by experiencing some anxiety, clinginess, or by feeling sad or angry. Such emotions are typical, and a parent's brief departure gives kids the ideal chance to practice adjusting to separations. Here are some tips on how to help your child cope when you travel: Inform your child about your travel plans at the appropriate time. Using shorter time frames when informing children about your traveling plans can be helpful so that they worry less. Check- in with your child when you are away. Stay in touch with your child every day. If you are gone for several days, scheduling a daily phone call or video call as a part of your travel routine can be beneficial. Stick to Routines. Try to maintain family routines and be creative with long distance family time (for example: using technology to read a bedtime story to your child when you are away). Make an itinerary and give your child details. Use a fun colorful calendar to mark events such as your departure date, return date, and check in times. Provide children with visuals (such as pictures or a map) to give them transparency about your plans and about where you will be. Leave them notes. Leave your child notes in places they least expect (such as their lunch box or backpack) as a way to stay connected. Discuss feelings. Keep the lines of communication open and let your child know that it's appropriate to express their emotions. Normalize their feelings and reassure them that you will be back soon. Encourage social interaction. Arrange playdates with friends or family to help your child cope with your absence and keep busy. Arrange for some quality time together to catch up. Make your reunion a special one. Plan an activity or a fun outing you and your child can do together when you return. Include them in the decision- making process, so they have something to look forward to upon your return. Click here for additional resources.

It's thrilling to welcome a new baby into the family, but it can also be a very stressful and worrying time for both parents and kids. Although it's impossible to know in advance how your older child will react to their new baby brother or sister, having big emotions can be very common. It is normal for children to feel a little jealous when the family dynamics change. Older siblings may act out, possibly making the transition a little more challenging. As a result, it is essential to make the change as easy as possible by preparing your child beforehand and including them in the process. Here are some practical suggestions to help your child adjust to a new sibling: Be patient and give it time. Much like any adjustment, remember that the process of accepting a new sibling takes time. Your elder child will ultimately adjust with your acceptance and support. Involve your child in the planning process. Include your child in the practical preparations for the new baby such as decorating the room and purchasing baby supplies. Establish a ritual. Try to spend one-on-one quality time with your child. Start the ritual before the baby is born and keep it a routine till after the baby arrives. Read stories about babies. Stories can facilitate a conversation about how your family is growing and about your older child’s new role. Give your child reassurance. Talk to them about their worries and assure them. Let them know that they will always be important, they will always be loved, and how that won’t change after the baby is born. Give them roles. Give your older child some responsibilities to help with the baby around the house. Praise them when they are loving and compassionate around the baby. Click here for additional resources.

By Jessica Chamoun, Intervention Specialist The holiday season is a time for joy and celebrations. However, for many children, the changes in routine may elicit anxiety and stress. The holidays can also cause overstimulation in children, who may feel overwhelmed by all the various events taking place. Parents may see increased meltdowns, withdrawal from activities, or even changes in behavior, and children may need extra support during this busy time of the year. Here are some ways you can support your child’s mental health during the holiday season: Keep routines. With exception to special occasions, such as Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, try to keep routines as consistent as possible. Strive to maintain eating and sleeping schedules like those your child follows during the rest of the school year. Limit screen time and social media. Before the start of the holidays, establish rules regarding when and how your child can use screens during the break. Set limits on how much screen time your child can have access to throughout the day. With vacation downtime, it can be easy for children to fall into the habit of using their screens more frequently. Get outside. Plan outdoor activities that the whole family can enjoy. This can help minimize screen time, foster more family time, and create meaningful experiences and memories. Encourage downtime. Scheduling quiet time for your child can reduce overwhelming feelings. Ensure that your child has time to relax and unwind by reading, listening to music, or even engaging in calming activities. Practice gratitude. Have your child focus on the positives in their lives by practicing gratitude. Encourage them to notice and write about the things they are thankful for this holiday season. Gratitude charts or Gratitude jars are great activities that can be used at home to help your child express gratitude and promote family discussions about what you are grateful for (click on the gratitude links for resources). Click here for additional resources.

WASHINGTON — Saint Peter School (SPS) students gathered on November 14 to participate in the 37th Annual Greg Gannon Canned Food Drive. At final count, 186 boxes of food were loaded onto the truck destined for The Father McKenna Center. Donations were gathered from SPS families and neighbors as well as parishioners from St. Peter’s and St. Joseph’s churches. “The Greg Gannon Food Drive is consistently one of our students’ favorite service activities, and their commitment grows with each school year,” said Saint Peter School Principal Karen Clay . “Greg Gannon’s mission has encouraged generations of SPS students to put their faith into action. We are humbled and grateful for the opportunity to participate once again and look forward to continuing this meaningful collaboration for years to come.” “The relationship between St. Peter and the Greg Gannon Food Drive goes way back to when my father and all of his siblings went to St. Peter back in the 40s,” said Greg Gannon Canned Food Drive Executive Director Rick Gannon . “It is truly fitting that their efforts to collect the food to help those in need is a great one, with the food ending up at the Greg Gannon pantry at the Father McKenna Center. Thank you to St. Peter School for your continued efforts and supporting our fight against food insecurity.” For more information about St. Peter School community engagement and academic offerings, visit stpeterschooldc.org . # # # EDITOR’S NOTE: Click here for photos available for publication .

By Jessica Chamoun, Intervention Specialist Research has consistently demonstrated the effectiveness of mindfulness activities in enhancing focus, lowering stress and anxiety symptoms, as well as improving wellbeing. Moreover, studies have shown that mindfulness techniques, such as mindful breathing, can effectively improve concentration, memory, compassion, and positive feelings. Engaging in mindfulness practice can help children concentrate on the here and now. Mindfulness can also assist children in recognizing negative thoughts and focusing on their current actions or emotions. Kids may be able to discover new emotional balance with the help of easy mindfulness practices. Below are some mindfulness exercises for children of all ages ( you can click on the title of each exercise to access a sample resource ). Mindful Breathing . The goal of mindful breathing is to encourage your child to take a deep breath inward followed by a deep breath outward. Teaching your child easy breathing exercises that they are more likely to engage in, such as finger breathing, can be helpful. 5,4,3,2,1 Grounding Technique . This exercise can help your child become more grounded and focus on the here and now. Have your child name five things they can see in the room, followed by four things they can feel, three things they can hear, two things they can smell, and one thing they can taste. Mindful coloring . Another popular mindfulness technique for children is coloring. Mandala coloring sheets are great mindfulness exercises that can benefit your child when they are having strong feelings and need a little break. Download Mindfulness Apps. Use screen time as an opportunity to practice mindfulness. Look for applications that support breathing, body scans, progressive muscle relaxation, mindfulness meditation, and guided imagery. Some recommended Mindfulness apps include Calm, Cosmic Kids Yoga, Moshi Kids, Smiling Mind, Breathe, Think, Do with Sesame, and Headspace . Click here for additional resources.

WASHINGTON—Saint Peter School (SPS) will host two Open Houses this fall for prospective families on Thursday, November 7 and Friday, December 6, 2024, from 9-10:30 a.m., at 422 3rd Street SE. Families considering SPS for elementary or middle school will have the opportunity to learn more about the school’s teachings and academic offerings; meet some of the school’s current families, faculty, and staff; and tour the school. RSVP is helpful but not required. Remarks begin at 9 a.m. with a tour to follow. “Saint Peter School has the distinct privilege of serving families steps from our nation’s capital by providing high-quality Catholic education centered on academic excellence and faith formation,” said Saint Peter School Principal Karen Clay . “Not only do our students matriculate into the region’s preeminent high schools, they do so with great humility, grounded in their love of God and community.” The cornerstones of Saint Peter School’s teachings include the following: Faith Formation : Saint Peter School students regularly celebrate Mass and come together for events to mark the special liturgical seasons of the Catholic Church. Academic Excellence : In 2019, Saint Peter School was honored as a National Blue Ribbon School, as one of 50 non-public schools in the country to be recognized as "Exemplary High Performing,” and our award-winning faculty and staff underpin this success: On May 12, 2023, Pre-Kindergarten Teacher Jean Zwald won the Archdiocese of Washington as a Golden Apple Award. On October 13, 2023, Principal Clay was named The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington’s Distinguished Principal of the Year. Community Service : Saint Peter School follows the Seven Themes of Catholic Social Teaching through its Student Council and Student Families program.  The application deadline for the 2025-26 school year is Friday, January 31, 2025. Decision letters are mailed on Friday, February 14, 2025. For more information about the admissions process, visit stpeterschooldc.org or contact Admissions Coordinator Jeanette Trujillo at jtrujillo@stpeterschooldc.org or 202-544-1618.

By Jessica Chamoun, Intervention Specialist A common form of performance anxiety that affects students of all ages is test anxiety. This occurs when students fear they won't do well on an assignment or test they consider crucial. Test anxiety is a common learning challenge that students may face and often has the potential to negatively impact performance. It can be brought on by high expectations, a fear of failing, performance pressure, or perfectionism. Here are some tips on how you can help your child cope with test anxiety: Preparation is key. Help your child develop good study habits that include scheduled study time for each day. This will help your child stay on track and avoid procrastinating, ensuring that they are well prepared. Children feel more confident walking into a test when they have prepped thoroughly. Study in chunks. During study sessions, help your child concentrate on smaller, more manageable portions of content, rather than studying intensively to absorb large amounts of information in a short amount of time. Teach your child to have a positive attitude. Instead of thinking of the worst-case scenario, teach your child to visualize themselves being successful. Moreover, encourage your child to use positive self-talk. Children can benefit greatly from reframing as a coping mechanism for their anxious thoughts. By teaching them to replace positive thoughts for negative ones, we can help them improve their feelings. Examples of positive self-talk include: “I can do it,” or “I’ve got this.” Practice calming strategies. With your child, brainstorm different calming strategies that might be helpful to use before, during, and after an assessment. Calming techniques such as belly breathing, counting to ten (either forwards or backwards), or mindfulness exercises, such as the five senses grounding technique can help your child be more aware of their surroundings and decrease anxious feelings. Debrief after the test. Have a conversation with your child after their test or after they receive their grade. Inquire about their feelings and how they think they could do better the next time. Remind them of the supports they have at school. Remind your child of the support they have at school and to ask their teachers for help when needed. Encourage your child to reach out to his or her teacher for tips on how to improve their study skills. Click here for additional resources.

By Jessica Chamoun, Intervention Specialist The transition from summer to school can be stressful for some students for several reasons, including academic pressures, high expectations, and heavy workloads. It is crucial to instill healthy study and homework habits early in the school year so children can form a solid routine. Introducing an after-school schedule into your child's day can aid in maintaining focus and preventing burnout. Here are some tips and suggestions on how you can help your child develop good homework and study habits: Create a schedule. Set a daily schedule which includes homework time for each day. This will help your child stay on track and avoid procrastinating. In addition, your child can visualize what to anticipate throughout the school week. Schedules can include assigned homework time, movement breaks, any extracurricular activities, packing and organizing materials for the next day, and bedtime. Ensure a quiet workspace. Provide your child with a consistent designated homework space that encourages learning. Make sure the assigned location is quiet, free from distractions, and well equipped with all their necessary materials. Remove all distractions. Make it a consistent rule that during homework time, all electronic devices should be turned off. Ensure that your child completes homework assignments before having access to “limited” screentime. Help your child stay organized. Together with your child, come up with a suitable system for managing their schoolwork, such as using a planner or a checklist to keep track of their homework, completed assignments, and any upcoming deadlines. Establish a good sleep routine. Maintain a consistent bedtime for your child and ensure they get enough sleep. Adequate sleep is linked to children’s success in school; getting enough sleep increases focus in the classroom and enhances mood. Ask for assistance. Remind your child of the support they have at school and to ask for help when needed. Encourage your child to communicate with their teacher when they have difficulty understating certain concepts and assignments, or how to complete them. Click here for additional resources.

By Jessica Chamoun, Intervention Specialist  The end of the school year is just around the corner, and the countdown for the summer vacation has begun. While finding entertaining activities for kids is important, it's equally crucial that kids have access to relaxation and rest and take a much-needed break from the demands of the school year and technology. For some children, on the other hand, the summer break might be overwhelming due to the lack of structure and schedule. Here are some ways you can support your child’s mental health and social emotional skills over the summer: Stick to a routine. It can be helpful to maintain some structure throughout the summer days. Sticking to a routine can help kids feel more secure in general. To ensure that, try to establish regular bedtimes, mealtimes, and chore schedules. Limit electronic use. Excessive screen usage can have a negative impact on your child's emotions. It can cause stress and worry, or even disrupt sleep. Limit and restrict screen time to one hour a day and ensure that your child is using it responsibly. Spend time outdoors. Ensure that your child is getting less screen time and more time outside. Physical activity, exposure to nature, and engaging in hobbies and summer camp activities can improve your child’s emotional wellbeing and strengthen their social skills. Journaling. Have your child express gratitude, write stories, or even explore their emotions, through journaling. Journaling can provide children with the opportunity for expression and fosters emotional control and self-awareness, giving them the tools they need to successfully manage their emotions. Connect with friends and family. Set up play dates and meetups at homes or outdoors. Kids can reconnect with their friends and spend more time with their family throughout the summer. It's crucial that they maintain relationships with the people they care about, and the summer offers a wonderful opportunity to do so. Schedule emotional check- ins. Check in with your child daily and ask them to express their feelings and what events during the day contributed to their feelings. Click here for additional resources.