Tim Croft, MSW, LGSW Lower School Counselor 301-774-7455, ext. 118 tim.croft@ssfs.org

Academic Year 2007-2008

Recent and Current Events

Recently, several students and their families have experienced losses within their families. As we hold these families in the Light, children may have questions relating to death. I offer here an article written by Jen Cort, Director of Studetn Support Services, that outlines how to deal with grief and loss as it pertains to children. Grief and Loss

On January 29th, 2008, parents are invited to participate in a Preadolescent Workshop presented by Tim Croft, Lower School Counselor, and Lauren Keller, Middle School Counselor. For your convenience, notes from a previous workshop held in 2006 is provided here Notes from Preadolescent Workshop.

On November 14th, 2006, the Parents Association sponsored a workshop with the SSFS Counseling Department entitled Can We Talk? The counselors facilitated a discussion with parents on difficult issues to talk to children about. Notes from Can We Talk workshop.

Community Support for Parents:

Parent Encouragement Program in Kensington, Maryland, offers several courses for parents ranging from Babies and Preschoolers to Consequences to Anger Management. For a full listing of courses click the link above.

About Counseling in the Lower School

As the Lower School Counselor, I am constantly moving between the classroom, playground and dining hall assisting students with friendship skills and personal issues. I enter the classrooms with a wellness curriculum aimed at teaching friendship skills, conflict resolution skills and communications skills. As the Lower School's counselor, I am available to students for individual and group discussions on ways to solve conflict and friendship woes. In addition, I am available to parents and faculty to find ways to support the social and emotional needs of SSFS students.

Introductions

Hello, my name is Tim Croft. I started ay Sandy Spring Friends School, officially, in August 2004. Prior to coming to SSFS, I was a child welfare worker in DC with children in the therapeutic foster care system. I have worked in the human service field for over ten years. My work with children has ranged from Assistant Director of an after-school program for K-12 to being a camp counselor year-round for an international leadership camp. When I am not on the glorious campus of SSFS, I am usually playing ultimate frisbee, playing guitar and dancing with my 4 and 1 year old daughters or doing yard work with by best friend/wife.

Wellness Curriculum

As the Lower School Counselor, I visit each classroom throughout the year with a Lifeskills Curriculum designed to teach friendship, communication and decision making skills. Each lesson is designed to address the specific developmental stages of the grades I visit. I have included here an overview of the curriculum I bring to the classroom.

Pre-K
Kindergarten
1st Grade
2nd Grade
3rd Grade
4th Grade
5th Grade

From Recent Friday Bulletin

Tips on Playdates with Young Children
Morning Routines

Health and Wellness:
Healthy Living for Kids
Healthy Living for Adults
Reference List
Administrators Ideas for Health and Wellness Week

H³ (Hopefully Helpful Hints)
Personal Safety
LS Decision Making on Size of Problem and Type of Help Needed
Back to school night on the preadolescent
Back to school night flyer on transitions and change.
Talking to Your Children About the Asian Ocean Disaster

Home & School Connection
Click here to view Back Issues

Other members of the SSFS Counseling Department

Lauren Keller, Middle School Counselor
Ilene Lees,Upper School Counselor
Nancy Preuss, Residential Counselor
Jen Cort, All School Counseling Department Head

Useful Links
Go back to the SSFS Main Page
National Association of School Psychologists http://www.nasponline.org
Television Ratings Guide http://www.mediafamily.org/
Freedom from Chemical Dependency www.fcd.org
Jen Cort's Parenting Information