On this page, we are collecting resources from Marion Community Schools' social workers to help you during this difficult time! We are all working together to stay connected while we are apart. Check out the following links:
Contact us:
We are available via email to assist families with any concerns or needs they have during this time!
- Click here for the staff directory to find the email for your school's student support / social service specialists
>> Click to view our local community resource guide (food banks, childcare, financial help, and more)
Other resources:
- Coping During COVID-19: Resources for Parents
- Self-care tips for parents & resources for supporting children
- COVID-19 Lockdown Guide: How to Manage Anxiety and Isolation During Quarantine
- Talking to Kids About the Coronavirus
- ISDH: Helping kids and teens cope during this time of many changes
- Marion Community School of the Arts presents Craft time with Miss Madison - explore social and emotional learning through crafts, plus storytime!
- Mental Health And COVID-19 – Information And Resources
- National Child Traumatic Stress Network's pandemic resources
- Parenting Toolkit
- Free mindfulness classes for kids
- Social / emotional lessons for students at home
- Disaster Distress Helpline (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration): Call 1-800-985-5990 OR text TalkWithUs to 66746
Easy calming exercises:
- Mindfulness and "5-finger breathing" to help you bring yourself back to calm, from Allen Elementary's Miss Caroline
- Five-sense grounding with Miss Caroline
- Spiderman and Darth Vader breathing exercises with Miss Caroline
- Mindfulness with Family Service Society's school-based team
- Allen Elementary's Miss Hannah leads you through an exercise to recognize and name the emotions you're feeling
- "My Calm Space" from Riverview Elementary's Miss Brattain
- Making a Zone Cootie Catcher with Miss Hannah
- DIY Sensory Bottle with Miss Caroline
App suggestions:
These are external apps that have been recommended by our staffers. Please note these are not MCS apps; read app documentation for more information.
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Mindful Powers: This app teaches students various ways to self regulate as they help a Flibbertygibbet learn how to be more mindful (Android & Apple link)
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Breathe, Think, Do with Sesame Street: Your student can help a Sesame Street character calm down in English or in Spanish (Android link) (Apple link)
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Antistress: This app offers a variety of virtual fidgets and calming sensory items (Android link) (Apple link)
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Breath Ball: Customize a ball to be whatever color you would like and breathe with it (Android & Apple link)
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Gravitarium: Music plays in the background while you draw (Apple only)
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Headspace: The free version offers mindful meditations (Android & Apple link)
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Stop, Breathe, Think: This app allows students to identify how they are feeling and recommends mindful meditations specific to how they are feeling (Android & Apple link)