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    Hello Lincoln Family,

    My name is Mr. Nicholson, I am the School Social Worker assigned to Lincoln Ave School. I have been a social worker for over 28 years, and most of my experience has been in educational settings. My primary goal as the social worker is to be a social, emotional and learning support for students.

    As you are aware, students come to school with a myriad of things on their mind, and learning (in those moments) is not always their number one priority. Many of their concerns are related to peer-to-peer relationships, confidence,  fitting in, being liked, academic motivation, just to name a few. As a social worker I address these things primarily through non-therapeutic one-on-one, and group counseling. If my interactions with students are successful, they return to the school community more focused, and better prepared to learn.

    Most social workers in educational will agree that it is vitally important to have good relationships with the students that you serve, as these relationships will help to facilitate a foundation of trust, and mutual respect. Some of the keys to earning a student’s trust and respect are as follows: 1. Getting to know, and caring about, what students go through in their daily lives 2. Taking an interest in what students are interested in (i.e. gaming, sports, fashion, anime etc.) 3. Gaining insight into how students communicate 4. Taking the time to really listen to young people when they come to you for support 5. Having some understanding of the community that they navigate to and from school every day, and 6. Being consistent compassionate, and empathic.

    As it relates to my supporting faculty and staff, I often refer them to the items above as a place to start when they are attempting to connect with students, especially the older students, who are in my grade-band (Grades 5 through 7).

    Along with having several guidance related responsibilities, I serve on the following Teams/Committees: 1. Intervention and Referral Services Team (I&RS) 2. Attendance Committee 3. School Leadership Team (SLT) and 4. AVID Committee

    Also, as a member of the Lincoln Ave. School community, I serve as the Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying (HIB) Specialist - Grades 5 through 7, and as the Test Coordinator for the New Jersey State Learning Assessment (NJSLA) - Grades 5 through 7.

    Lastly, it is my hope that this information helps to give you some insight into who I am, and what it is that I do at Lincoln. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to me.

    Sincerely,

    Mr. Donald G. Nicholson, BSW, MSW, LSW

     

    Office Phone: (973) 677-4000 ext. 15714

    Email Address: nicholdo@orange.k12.nj.us