September 9, 2008

 Dear Parents,

Our RAINBOWS Program will be starting the week of September 29^th.  RAINBOWS is a school support program for children who are experiencing a loss due to death or divorce in their life. Children who lose a parent through divorce or death go through the same grieving stages as their parents, but on their own level. The impact of divorce or death greatly affects each family member. Children often have a difficult time putting their feelings into words.

Adults, who are not therapists, but who have received special training, will be serving as facilitators at St. Ignatius. Working in small groups, the facilitator can help guide the children into verbalizing his/her own feelings. The school setting provides the guidance of nurturing and caring adults, peer support and a secure place for sharing, so that healing and acceptance can take place.  For these reasons, RAINBOWS has been created.

RAINBOWS is held at St. Ignatius during the school day, once a week for six weeks in the fall and six weeks in the spring. We also have a CELEBRATE ME DAY, one afternoon in the spring to conclude our activities for the year. Group sessions are 30 minutes for grades 2-3 and 45 minutes for grades 4-8. There are no special fees for participating in the program. Each individual support group has three to seven children who share an activity and discussion that focuses on a particular topic that pertains to the change in their families.

Children who participate are asked to agree to confidentiality about members in their group. They are told they may share anything about themselves that they choose with anyone they choose, but to refrain from sharing what others say about themselves in the group. This awareness teaches them self-responsibility and keeps them focused on themselves. 

I look forward to having your child participate in the program. If you need any further information, please feel free to call me at 445-0288.

Sincerely,

Tonya Sciple

Counselor