Upcoming Webinars and Chats

(listed closest to furthest)

Past Webinars from 2020

Preparing K-12 International School Staff, Students and Parents for        the Reopening of Schools  ISCA Member Virtual Event  August 25, 2020 at 13:00 GMT (Check your time zone) COVID-19 resulted in almost all K-12 International Schools going virtual in March 2020 and created unprecedented times for educators. School staff and especially school counselors did extraordinary things to stay connected with  their students. School staff, parents and students all experienced high levels of stress, fear and anxiety as a result of the pandemic. It is hoped that the majority of students and their families adjusted well to being quarantined during the pandemic but that will not  be the case for every student. It is important to know if any students lost a loved one to COVID-19.  Resuming school whether it be virtual only, or a hybrid approach with some students on campus a few days a week or a return to campus daily for all students will create many challenges for attending to the safety, social and emotional needs of students.  Many staff, students and parents will have anxiety about returning to schools regardless of the format and self-care strategies for everyone are very important. This session by Dr. Scott Poland, a former national school crisis team leader, will focus on helping staff, parents and students with their anxiety about school resuming. School counselors have expertise in helping all concerned manage emotions and need to play a critical role in the planning. This webinar provides action steps for managing anxiety concerning the reopening of school.  All ISCA attendees will receive a “Teachable Moment Lesson Plan” that outlines how to conduct discussions with students to restore a sense of safety and security as they resume school in the fall semester of 2020. United in Diversity: Counselors as Allies Part 2:  Creating Safe Spaces for LGBTQIA+ Students in International Schools  June 17, 2020 @ 9:00am-10:30am U.S. EST (Check Time Zone) We invite everyone to be a part of the conversation.  If you are not able to join us for the live event, we will be recording the event; if you want to receive a link to the recording along with presentation slides and other materials, we ask you to register.  Areas of Discussion for Part 2 of our Series Reviewing Ethical Responsibilities as a School Counselor Continuing our conversation about allyship Overview of Intersectionalities and identities Overview of LGBTQIA+ Gender Language Understanding the Risk Factors and Vulnerability of LGBQTIA+ Youth Understanding laws and understandings in countries around the world How School Counselors Can Create Safe Spaces What this event is? The beginning of a journey exploring how counselors can support themselves and their communities in discussing issues related to race, diversity, equity, inclusion Defining ally and centering conversation around that A space to process our own feelings connected to the work A step towards understanding our own intersectionality - knowledge of self (as described by Dr. Ken) What this event isn’t? This is not a space to debate what is right vs. wrong Helpful Resources ASCA Ethical Standards Laws by Country Suicide Prevention for LGBTQ Youth (Recorded) from American School Counselor Association Safe Zone Training United in Diversity: Counselors as Allies Part 1 - June 10, 2020 - 9am-10:15am U.S. EST How the brutality of the George Floyd murder (and others) affects our work as counselors in international schools  Why is the world protesting? What is an ally? How can we support our students? Counselor Chat:  When is Your School Re-Opening? What is the Plan? What Can Counselors do to Support Students? May 12, 2020 9:00-10:00am US EST (Check your time zone) As schools re-open, what can we learn from our colleagues around the world who are back in the building. During this Counselor Chat we will hear from colleagues around the world who have transitioned back to school after stay-at-home orders and virtual school.  We will discuss:  A New Normal (Processes and Routines) Actions for Counselors Considerations Counselors will share some insights and afterwards we will open up the conversation to all participants.   Have a read of this article written by Andrew Palmer, an ISCA Task Force member and Director of Counseling and High School Counselor in China: Maintaining hope during indefinite closures: Observations from schools re-opening in China. Part 1 --  August 11, 2020 at 12:00 GMT (Check your time zone) This event is a free event Counselor Chat:  Managing Transition Season during the Pandemic May 8, 2020 9:00-10:30am US EST (Check your time zone) 9:00-10:00am EST: K-12 Counselor Chat Come share and gather ideas about your transition activities during the pandemic. This will be a live conversation among counselors addressing:  What are you doing for your grade 5-6 transition?  What is your school doing for graduation? And promotion ceremonies? Students leaving. What will you do to support students and parents?  Teachers leaving. What will you do to celebrate and recognize teachers leaving your schools?  10:00-10:30am EST: A Focus on Seniors with Susie March: Potentially unprepared for the realities of adulthood, our transitioning Seniors will leave school in the coming weeks: What can we do to help them?  The last months at school are often a time for consolidating previous Social Emotional and Life Skills classes. Many of us planned to build on previous discussions around attitudes and positive values. This would have included conversations that prepared young people for life within a new country’s culture, at college or university, and far from their families. How can we ensure our Seniors have acquired the skills that will contribute to safe, healthy and positive relationships - ones that shape their attitudes for their new adult lives?  Join Susie March for a chat on ‘Signposting’ – a session about directing people to the right information on services or self-care resources that young people can access independently. Susie will provide links to resources that international school counselors can evaluate for their own students and parents. The discussion to follow will focus on maintaining cultural sensitivity, but still meeting the essential needs of young adults as they leave home. LIKE Movie Screening and Conversation with the Filmmaker May 7, 2020 9:00-10:30am EST (check your time zone) LIKE is an IndieFlix Original documentary that explores the impact of social media on our lives and the effects of technology on the brain. The goal of the film is to inspire us to self-regulate. Social media is a tool and social platforms are a place to connect, share, and care … but is that what's really happening? View the LIKE trailer

Scilla Andreen is an award-winning Producer, Director, Emmy nominated Costume Designer, Author, CEO & Co-Founder of IndieFlix Group Inc., a global, streaming and offline screening distribution service that focuses on content for a purpose. Her work has been covered by such publications as The New York Times, and Good Morning America to the South China Morning Post. She’s produced and/or distributed social impact films, Nevertheless, Screenagers, Angst, and Empowerment Project. 

Scilla directed and distributed two feature documentaries; one about the impact of social media on our lives, LIKE (2019), and the other about cyber-bullying, The Upstanders (2020), which shares stories about resilience and the power of connection to end bullying. Scilla is Included in Screen International’s Women to Watch, Variety’s Women’s Impact Report and PSBJ Woman of Influence. She is a popular speaker at Sundance, Cannes, CES, SXSW, BeBold and Women in Film. Scilla is also the Founder of IndieFlix Foundation.  Scilla is on a mission to change the world with film. IndieFlix.com

Upskill Your Tech Skills: Tools for Delivering Social Emotional Curriculum During Virtual Learning 

April 23, 2020, 9:00-10:00am U.S. EST (check your time zone)

Counselors: Are you looking for ways to connect with your students, check in with them whilst delivering preventative social emotional content?  We have two great tools that are free to schools who are closed with Covid-19. In this webinar, Sarah will walk you through the use of EdPuzzle and Flip Grid, showing you how to set them up and utilise them in a way that both empowers your students with social emotional education and provides you an insight into how your students are doing.

These tools are best used with students in 3rd grade through to High School.

Sarah Carpenter is currently the upper school counselor at Chadwick International in Songdo, South Korea.  In a previous life she worked as a classroom teacher, music specialist and before moving to counseling, spent many years as a technology coach for K-12 at her previous school.  She has taught at all levels of the school.

Wednesday Wellbeing: Meditate with MindWell

Starting: April 29, 2020, 7:00-7:30am U.S. EST (check your time zone)

FREE weekly online guided meditation and sharing space led by MindWell. No experience necessary - drop in anytime!

When: Starting Wednesday, April 29th, 2020 7:00 - 7:30am US EST. 

Planning for and Responding to Grief and Loss

during a Pandemic

April 21, 2020, 8:00-9:00am U.S. EST (check your time zone) 

During this 60-minute webinar, a panel made up of several members of our ISCA Task Force, who are all practicing school counselors and psychologists, will provide the following: 

• An overview of grief and loss during a pandemic 

• Resources for creating a virtual response team at your school 

• Sample protocols and tools for responding to the death of a student, parent or staff member

• How to nurture hope in these difficult times

Following the presentation, there will be a Question and Answer period with participants.

ISCA Panel includes: Chrystal Kelly, Jen Hammonds, Shira Fisher, Elizabeth Mohr and Sarah Pearlz

What is Happening!?Can Mindfulness-Based Wellbeing Really Help in a Global Crisis?

April 16, 2020, 9:00-10:30am U.S. Eastern Standard Time 

How can we deal with a global pandemic, stay home on lockdown, support our students, teachers and parents as well as our own families AND stay sane?! 

Following on from the recent ISCA webinars on dealing with mental health and anxiety, Kevin Hawkins and Amy Burke from MindWell would like to offer ISCA counselors and educators a chance to consider some practical ways of supporting teachers, students and ourselves during this time of extreme disruption. 

Drawing on their experience of working with wellbeing in school communities around the world, Kevin and Amy will lead a 75-minute experiential webinar, exploring ways in which Mindfulness Based Wellbeing can be helpful at this most challenging of times.This webinar will include Q & A and the possibility of further follow-up sessions for the ISCA community and for groups of counselors interested in deepening their understanding of how to support their school communities through Mindfulness Based Wellbeing.

Kevin Hawkins has worked with adolescents and young people in various contexts for over 30 years - as teacher, school head, and social worker in the UK, Africa, and Europe.  Kevin trained in mindfulness in Europe and the USA and he has taught mindfulness to students, teachers and parents since 2008.  In 2012 he co-founded MindWell, which supports educational communities around the world in developing wellbeing through mindfulness and social-emotional learning. Kevin is a Senior Trainer for the Mindfulness in Schools Project (UK) and a facilitator of the evidence-based CARE program (Cultivating Awareness and Resilience in Educators).  He is a regular speaker, writer and presenter on the topics of wellbeing, leadership, mindfulness and social and emotional learning in education.  His first book, Mindful Teacher, Mindful School: Improving wellbeing in teaching and learning, was published by SAGE in July 2017.  Kevin is currently working on a second book, also for SAGE/Corwin with Amy Burke which will be published in early 2021.

Amy Burke is an educational consultant who spent 15 years as a high school teacher and guidance counsellor in Canada and The Netherlands. She holds a Masters Degree in Contemplative Education from Naropa University and in 2012 she co-founded MindWell whose aim is to support educational communities in fostering wellbeing through mindfulness and social-emotional learning. She is a lead teacher trainer for the Mindfulness in Schools Project (UK) and has completed curriculum training with Gina Biegel (MBSR-T) and Dr. Amy Saltzman (Still Quiet Place). Amy is also a facilitator for the CARE program (Cultivating Awareness and Resilience in Educators) from the Garrison Institute and supports the Community of Contemplative Education through Mind & Life Europe. She is also a Mentor for Inward Bound Mindfulness Education (iBme, UK) teen retreats. Amy works internationally in schools and universities providing workshops and retreats for educators, students and parents with a focus on self-care and stress management.

"Angst" Movie Screening and Conversation with the Filmmaker

April 2, 2020, 9:00-10:00am U.S. Eastern Standard Time 

This webinar will not be recorded; to view the movie, participants must attend the live webinar.  To verify the time in your time zone, check this website. 

The Angst Webinar is intended for counselors and educators. This webinar should not be screened for a large audience, shared with students in this format or the wider school community.

During this anxiety provoking time, ISCA and IndieFlix are bringing you a special opportunity! Join us on April 2, 2020 to watch Angst and speak with the filmmaker, Scilla Andreen. 

Angst is a powerful 56-minute film that explores anxiety, its causes, effects and what we can do about it. Scilla’s goal is to have a global conversation and raise awareness around anxiety. Angst features candid interviews with kids and young adults who suffer, or have suffered, from anxiety and what they’ve learned about it.  The film includes discussions with mental health experts about the causes of anxiety and its sociological effects, as well as help, resources and tools.

This free webinar will include: viewing the movie and a Q&A with Scilla Andreen. Scilla will share with viewers the program and curriculum they have developed on anxiety, digital wellness, effects of social media, sexual harassment and mental health, which includes interactive “test-your-knowledge” quizzes, digital pre-taped and live Q&A’s, as well as discussion guides and tip sheets. Their programs are easy to implement and can help schools reach students and parents in meaningful ways.

Watch the trailer: https://angstmovie.com/trailer/

Scilla Andreen is an award-winning Producer, Director, Emmy nominated Costume Designer, Author, CEO & Co-Founder of IndieFlix Group Inc., a global, streaming and offline screening distribution service that focuses on content for a purpose. Her work has been covered by such publications as The New York Times, and Good Morning America to the South China Morning Post. She’s produced and/or distributed social impact films, Nevertheless, Screenagers, Angst, and Empowerment Project. 

Scilla directed and distributed two feature documentaries; one about the impact of social media on our lives, LIKE (2019), and the other about cyber-bullying, The Upstanders (2020), which shares stories about resilience and the power of connection to end bullying. Scilla is Included in Screen International’s Women to Watch, Variety’s Women’s Impact Report and PSBJ Woman of Influence. She is a popular speaker at Sundance, Cannes, CES, SXSW, BeBold and Women in Film. Scilla is also the Founder of IndieFlix Foundation.  Scilla is on a mission to change the world with film. IndieFlix.com

Understanding and Communicating Your Role as a School Counselor in an Online  Learning Environment

March 19, 2020 9:00-10:00am U.S. Eastern Standard Time 

Appropriate roles for school counselors across the globe is often a topic of debate and is often dictated by necessity, school history, or past experiences of school administrators.  The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic; having forced many schools to close and offer programs online has only added to the confusion surrounding appropriate roles. Given the anxiety faced by students, teachers, administrators, and counselors alike, it is perhaps more important than ever for school counseling services to remain intact, providing social-emotional support, college and career guidance, as well as mental health support when appropriate. 

This webinar will address how to maintain a robust school counseling program in an online environment as well as discuss some of the potential dilemmas associated with working in this environment.  We will discuss issues such as maintaining confidentiality, setting appropriate boundaries and expectations, and responding to administrator requests. Time will also be set aside for audience questions. 

When: Thursday, March 19, 2020 @ 9:00 - 10:00am U.S. Eastern Time (Convert to your time zone here). Registration is limited. Sign up now. 

Listen to the Recording Here

An article will follow the webinar to be shared with counselors. Counselors should continue to follow our COVID-19 Resources page for additional resources and guidance. 

Who:   Dr. Stuart Roe is an Associate Professor and Chairperson of the Department of Counselor Education at The College of New Jersey (TCNJ). He earned his B.A. in Biology from Lycoming College, his M.Ed. in School Counseling from The Pennsylvania State University, and his doctorate in Counselor Education and Supervision from The Pennsylvania State University.  At TCNJ, Dr. Roe teaches courses in School Counseling, Multicultural Counseling, Prevention, and Research and Statistics and Co-coordinate TCNJ’s International School Counseling program in Lisbon, Portugal. His research is devoted to advocating for the needs of underserved populations including English Language Learners, students of color, and LGBTQ youth.  He has a variety of experiences within community and school based educational settings including working as a school counselor, teaching in high schools, administering a family literacy program, completing a year of AmeriCorp service, teaching GED classes, and teaching abroad. In addition to his work at the college, he also works as a consultant, providing program evaluation and technical assistance to social service agencies. 

Earn your Master of Arts in School Counseling in Portugal

The College of New Jersey offers an award-winning, Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs-accredited program of study in School Counseling with a focus on experiential learning. You can earn your M.A. in two academic years, plus summers—or you can take up to nine credits of summer graduate courses to transfer to your current program. Affording you the opportunity to study from any location during the academic year, with summer courses held on campus in Lisbon, Portugal.  Learn more at https://offsitegrad.tcnj.edu/locations/lisbon-portugal/