Gina Courtois, social-emotional learning coordinator for Warsaw Community Schools, addresses a crowd. Photo provided.

Press Release

WARSAW — A back-to-school seminar to prepare educators and support staff for the unique challenges of returning to school this year will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, July 30, at the Winona Lake Grace Brethren Church.

This free seminar will also offer two Professional Growth Points (PGPs) to Warsaw Community School teachers. Additionally, the first 30 participants to register will receive a free copy of “Fostering Resilient Learners: Strategies for Creating a Trauma-Sensitive Classroom” by Kristin Souers.

Presenters are Darren and Stacey Gagnon of Trauma Lens Care and Lost Sparrows, Inc.; and Gina Courtois, social-emotional learning coordinator for Warsaw Schools. The agenda will address questions such as:

• How can we be prepared to successfully support our kids as they return to the classroom?
• What issues can we predict we will have to deal with in the first days back at school?
• What are the most important things for teachers and support staff to focus on in the early days back to school during the pandemic?

Designed to help teachers and staff return to school during COVID-19, this training will focus on helping students overcome stress and anxiety through quality relationships; understanding the effects of stress through the stress model; recognizing symptoms of vicarious trauma and secondary traumatic stress; setting up the classroom to help alleviate stress and regulate the brain; and avoiding teacher burnout through collaboration and proper supports.

Registration is required and limited. To reserve a spot, click here.