08-12-2023
Dear Parent,
When something significant happens in a family, the entire family is affected. Even though death or divorce appears to be only a grown-up problem, it does have a profound effect on the children that it touches. If a parent dies or a divorce occurs, not only do the parents grieve, but the children do also. Because of their age and short life experience, children find it extremely difficult to verbalize those feelings.
We have some very beautiful, sensitive, caring, trained adults who have said “yes” to helping these children put their feelings into words, work through their grief, build a stronger sense of self-esteem, and begin to accept what has taken place in the family. In past years we have had up to 80 participants and 16 trained facilitators working together to support one another.
I am proud to announce that the Rainbow program will once again be incorporated into our St. Francis curriculum.
RAINBOWS FOR ALL GOD’S CHILDREN is a peer-support program designed to help students from kindergarten through eighth grade, who live in one-parent or reconstituted families, to deal with initial grieving and on-going coping in their particular situations.
HOW DOES IT WORK? Students meet with 3-6 other children their own age, together with a trained adult, in an atmosphere of confidentiality. As they share experiences and feelings, group members discover that they are not alone in their situation, nor are they responsible for it. As they support and help one another, each one grows in self-esteem and self-confidence.
WHEN ARE THE MEETINGS? Twelve 30–40 minute meetings are held during the school day. In completion of the program, participants will have the opportunity to re-emphasize the values of self-worth, family, and trust in God, values which are basic to Rainbows For All God’s Children. The program may also include a breakfast for parents and children involved in Rainbows.
CAN A CHILD JOIN MORE THAN ONE YEAR? Students who have already been in “Rainbows” are welcomed to repeat the program at different stages of development, or as changing family circumstances warrant.
IS THERE A COST? St. Francis School asks that each family involved in Rainbows contributes a $10.00 donation for workbooks and other supplies.
PLEASE NOTE: This is NOT a counseling or therapy program. Be assured, also, that CONFIDENTIALITY in this context is explained to the children as “privacy”. They are free to tell about what they said or did, but not about what another group member said or did. Confidentiality applies also to the adult facilitators.
If your child is part of a single-parent family, a step-family, has experienced the death of a loved family member, friend or sibling, or struggling through a painful experience, this will be an opportunity for him/her to share on the outside what is happening on the inside.
Please SIGN AND RETURN the following permission form, if you would like your son or daughter to be included in the Rainbow program.
If I can be of further assistance to you or your child, please do not hesitate to email or call me.
Jacqueline Gelardi, MA,LMHC,NCC
Saint Francis School Counselor
Rainbow Registered Director
[email protected]
