Please join us virtually on Tuesday, October 5th at 7:00 pm for our first general PTA meeting of the 21/22 school year. Login information will be sent via email.
The meeting will begin with a brief Principal's Report to be followed by our guest speaker and former Wood Acres teacher, Samantha Hetchkop, LGPC.
Ms. Hetchkop will be presenting Social and Emotional Well Being of Elementary Age Children (Covid Edition). School is back in session, which can be nerve-racking even under normal circumstances. But as we head into the second year of this pandemic, the anxieties of teachers, admin, parents, and particularly students are even more heightened. Questions and concerns remain regarding how to logistically and emotionally navigate the world of education in 2021.
Even though the kids are back in the classroom after a year of remote learning, adjusting to a schedule and reality modified with masks, social distancing, and mixed messages regarding screen time may still be jarring for them.
This presentation will cover the social-emotional well-being of elementary age children during this difficult time and possible strategies for managing behaviors.
Samantha Hetchkop is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor at Bethesda Counseling Services.
Samantha went to undergrad at the University of Rochester where she earned her BA in Psychology. She has a Masters in Early Childhood Education from George Mason University and a Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Johns Hopkins University.
Prior to becoming a mental health therapist, Samantha was an elementary school teacher ( 1st, 2nd and 4th grade) in MCPS and DCPS and she taught right here at Wood Acres. Beyond the classroom, Samantha is an athlete and former girls' soccer coach in Montgomery county for teams ranging from elementary through high school.
She currently works with children, teens, and adults who deal with anxiety, depression, ADHD, mood disorders, self-esteem, peer-relationship and behavior issues. Her purview includes parenting work as well. She practices Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) and integrates other therapy forms.