Guidance

Play Learn and Grow Together
“Today’s young people are living in an exciting time, with an increasingly diverse society, new technologies and expanding opportunities. To help ensure that they are prepared to become the next generation of parents, workers, leaders and citizens, every student needs support, guidance and opportunities during childhood, a time of rapid growth and change. Children face unique and diverse challenges, both personally and developmentally, that have an impact on academic achievement.

– “Toward a Blueprint for Youth: Making Positive Youth Development a National Priority,” U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

 The elementary years are a time when students begin to develop their academic self-concept and their feelings of competence and confidence as learners. They are beginning to develop decision-making, communication and life skills, as well as and character values. It is also a time when students develop and acquire attitudes toward school self, peers, social groups and family.
Castlen Elementary's comprehensive school counseling program provides education, prevention and intervention services, which are integrated into all aspects of children’s lives. Early identification and intervention of children’s academic and personal/social needs is essential in removing barriers to learning and in promoting academic achievement. The knowledge, attitudes and skills that students acquire in the areas of academic, career and personal/social development during these elementary years serve as the foundation for future success.
Castlen Student Needs Assessment

Hurricane Assistance Resources 

Links


COVID-19 Resources

MCPSS Coronavirus Updates - Mobile County Public School System offers important updates concerning coronavirus and your child's education.

Community Resources - This 211 guide includes a wealth of information concerning testing sites, closures, agency phone numbers and much more.

Mental Heath Resources - Information concerning current plans for children and adult mental health services amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Talking to Kids About the Coronavirus - An article and video discussing how to talk with children about this difficult time.

CDC Caring for Children - Tips on how to keep children safe and healthy while school is out.

 

Parent/Guardian Resources

2-1-1 Connects Alabama

Are you facing difficult times and don’t know where to turn? Are you looking for help with everyday needs? Are you wanting to volunteer? Dialing 2-1-1 is your first step. 2-1-1 is a free, easy to remember number to dial for information about health and human service organizations in your community. By dialing 2-1-1, information is much easier to find.

211 Can Help Callers Access the Following Types of Services:

    Basic Human Needs Resources: food banks, clothing, shelters, rent assistance, utility assistance
    Government information: City, County, State services and programs.  Many people are not sure what government office to contact and so 211 helps point them in the right direction.
    Health and Mental Health Resources: health insurance programs, maternal health, medical information lines, crisis intervention services, support groups, counseling, drug and alcohol intervention and rehabilitation
    Employment Support: financial assistance, job training, transportation assistance, education programs
    Support for Older Americans and Persons with Disabilities: adult day care, congregate meals, Meals on Wheels, respite care, home health care, transportation, homemaker services
    Support for Children, Youth and Families: child care, after-school programs, Head Start, family resource centers, summer camps and recreation programs, mentoring, tutoring, protective services
    Volunteer Opportunities and Donations: community involvement, volunteer centers, disaster relief
    Military and Family Support: programs that serve veterans and their families, community resources, mental health resources, counseling
    Hobby groups and civic/service clubs: for people who have similar interests (gardening clubs, square dance groups, astronomy clubs, etc) or are united by a common cause (political groups, Lions, Rotary Clubs, Kiwanis, etc.)


http://www.211connectsalabama.org/

Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration

SAMHSA's mission is to reduce the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on America's communities. This website offers multiple hotline numbers and a treatment program locator. SAMHSA also provides data and information concerning substance abuse, suicide prevention, and mental health.
https://www.samhsa.gov/find-treatment

AltaPointe Health Services

AltaPointe Health Services provides many various services to families including Access to Care information. AltaPointe Health Systems plans and facilitates a comprehensive, behavioral healthcare system that promotes the wellness and recovery of people living with mental illness, substance abuse and developmental disability.
http://altapointe.org/

Inspire My Kids

Sometimes children need a little inspiration. Here is an awesome website that will give some great stories to share with your children to encourage them to push themselves into greatness. Hopefully they will be inspired... and you will too.
http://inspiremykids.com/

Center for Parent Information and Resources

Find resources of interest through quick-find links including information on child behavior at school and at home.
http://www.parentcenterhub.org/resources/

Net Smartz Workshop

This website offers parents ways to keeps students safe while using the web, cell phones, online gaming and more through easy to follow tabs.
http://www.netsmartz.org/Parents

Health Help Guide

A website stocked full of information concerning many mental, emotional, and social health concerns and how to handle them.
http://www.helpguide.org/

Helping Your Child With Homework

 Solid assistance from the US Dept. of Education to guide parents of elementary and junior high school-aged children when deciding how to help children with homework.
http://www2.ed.gov/parents/academic/help/homework/index.html

Childhood Grief Resources

The NCTSN has many CTG resources and materials to help parents and caregivers understand the signs that their child may be having traumatic grief reactions, tips for helping him or her, and guidance for locating a mental health professional.
http://www.nctsn.org/trauma-types/traumatic-grief/parents-caregivers

Lifelines Counseling Services

The goal of Lifelines in Mobile is to help people find real solutions to real problems through a variety of assistance and counseling programs locally. They offer many resources on the website as well including a budget calculator, spending form, and crisis links.
http://www.lifelinesmobile.org/index.php

MCPSS Parent Resources

Links to resources in your local area and across the country that can provide support and guidance on topics that interest you including INOW Grades and parent videos.
http://mcpss.connectwithkids.com/additional-resources/

Student Links

Homework Help Tips

This Family Education Website can help your child complete assignments and improve study skills and grades with new strategies and methods for homework success.
https://www.familyeducation.com/school-learning/helping-homework

Homework Center

Fact Monster's homework center can help students find almost anything they want to know on this fact-packed site, with entries on everything from Greek and Roman mythology to multiplication tables to world capitals.
http://www.factmonster.com/homework/

Career View

Learn about different jobs while playing Career Town, use a kid career search engine and play puzzles and games.
http://vacareerview.org/k5/

Career Website

A very cool site from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.  Click on your favorite academic subject (math, social studies, etc.), and it'll show you information about jobs, salaries, educational requirements, and lots of additional information!
http://www.bls.gov/k12/index.htm

Pacer Center's Kids Against Bullying

Learn all about bullying and what you can do to stop it through games and cartoon webisodes.
http://www.pacerkidsagainstbullying.org/kab/

K-2 Survey
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe134nyPUooERTfV4z62_0EUTw0YWA-sXEH4ANUTclczR1jAA/viewform

3-5 Survey
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc09k9EObOQTiFFtmFd1HY5hHd2YC0-q-biYD0HoM-fJGL7PA/viewform