Mrs. Newton
School Psychologist
Grades 6-8, Preschool
(847) 251-3138 ext. 175
[email protected]
About Me:
I serve as the School Psychologist for Marie Murphy School and the Avoca Community Preschool. I began working for Avoca School District 37 at the start of the 2015-2016 school year. Prior to working at Avoca, I have worked in public school settings with students ages preschool to high school. I earned my Bachelor's degree in Child Development from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and my Master's and Educational Specialist degrees in Educational and School Psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. I am an Illinois Licensed and Nationally Certified School Psychologist.
Statement of Philosophy:
"Kids do well if they can."-Ross Greene
I believe that all students have the ability to learn and grow at school. When students experience challenges with academics or social and emotional growth, it is our job as educators and parents to work in collaboration with the student to identify barriers and implement supportive strategies. I collaborate with parents, teachers, students, support staff, and administrators in order to both implement effective school-wide programming and problem solve for small groups or individual students who may benefit from additional academic, behavioral, or social emotional support. I also work directly with students to teach skills in the areas of self-awareness, self-regulation, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision making. I work to increase students' independence with these skills in order to help them experience success at school, at home, and throughout life.
Support for Students:
I work with students directly in individual and group settings who may be experiencing behavioral or social emotional challenges that are impacting their functioning during the school day. I also provide consultative services to school staff. Areas of focus for student support at the middle school level include: identifying and managing emotions, developing positive coping strategies, managing stress, developing social skills and social problem solving, managing peer relationships, developing self-advocacy skills, building empathy, perspective taking, developing executive functioning skills, goal setting, and self-monitoring.
Students may access social emotional support through an Individualized Education Plan, a 504 Plan, or through a parent, teacher, or student referral. The decision to provide services is made in collaboration with parents, school staff, and students.
Our student services team is available to students throughout the school day. Any student may make an appointment by stopping by the student services office, talking to one of their teachers, or sending an email to myself or our Social Worker, Jill Silverman.
My office is a safe space for students to share their feelings, thoughts, and experiences. In order to build trust and promote open communication, things shared in sessions will remain confidential. Exceptions to confidentiality include instances when a child's safety may be at-risk (e.g. when a student reports thoughts of harm to themselves or others or when a student reports that someone else is causing them harm).
Helpful Resources for Parents and Caregivers:
Click on the "Useful Links" bar on the lefthand side of this page for helpful information on a variety of topics including: Special Education and IEPs, Section 504 Plans, children and adolescent mental health, and other relevant issues.
Crisis/Emergency Information:
If there is an immediate emergency (if you are concerned about your child and they are at risk of hurting themself, others, or they are being harmed in any way) outside of school hours, please contact their physician/therapist, dial 911, or go to the nearest emergency room.
If there is an immediate emergency (if you are concerned about your child and they are at risk of hurting themself, others, or they are being harmed in any way) during school hours, please call our student services office at 847-251-3138.
Crisis Hotlines:
Emergency: 911
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 988
Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 to connect with a Crisis Counselor
Safe2Help Illinois Helpline: https://www.safe2helpil.com/