Give Me Five

WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 4TH, 2023

WELCOME TO "GIVE ME FIVE"...

THIS IS WHERE I'LL GIVE YOU FIVE THINGS EACH WEEK THAT MAY BE HELPFUL TO YOU THE STAFF, THE STUDENT, OR THE PARENT. IT MAY BE INFORMATIVE OR REFLECTIVE. YOU MAY USE SOME OF IT TO HELP AT HOME OR IN THE CLASSROOM. SOME OF THE INFO MAY BE FOR YOU TO PLAN YOUR UPCOMING DAYS OR WEEKS. THE GOAL IS TO GIVE YOU AT LEAST ONE THING YOU CAN USE TO MAKE YOUR LIFE A BIT EASIER.

REFLECTION and THE WEEK AHEAD:

I met with the 6th graders to discuss the upcoming Suicide Prevention presentation that will occur in their classrooms this Wednesday. A letter was sent home via the students on Thursday as we prepare for the presentation. This presentation is required to be completed for all 6th-12th grade students prior to September 15th each year per Kentucky law. Mental health, bullying, stress, anxiety, and coping strategies will be discussed with the 6th graders during our meeting. I'll be presenting information to the faculty and staff at our next meeting as well.

All 4th-6th graders will also be completing the Panorama SEL survey this week. Students who have completed the opt-out form will not be required to complete. More information will be given to these teachers via email.

I met with both 6th grades classes and Mrs. Donnita's 5th grade class on Thursday. Thank you for welcoming me in and letting me introduce myself to your classes. We did an ice breaker activity to allow the students to talk to each other and find out about each other's favorites. Hopefully, I can get into many more classes in the coming days and weeks!

GET MOVING:

As mentioned above, I went into a couple of classes this past week and began each meeting with the following activity.

Play some upbeat music to get the students excited about moving around the room. They should stay silent and move around the room in a non-patterned path to mix up the students and get them away from their neighbors they sit with everyday. Encourage them to dance as they make their way around the room. Once you stop the music, they greet the person nearest them and greet them with the following gestures.

High Five Buddy -- Give one another a high five and say "Hi, High Five Buddy! My name is _______ "

Fist Bump Buddy -- Give one another a fist bump and say "Hi, Fist Bump Buddy! My name is _______"

Moose Antler Buddy -- Place "moose antlers" on your ears and say "Hi, Moose Antler Buddy! My name is _______ "

Each time they met a new buddy, they were given a topic of discussion and told to explain WHY they chose their answer. They were asked to go to level 0 once they were finished and all classes did a great job after each interaction. These conversations were quick and took about 30-45 seconds each topic. Come up with your own topics of discussion AND music. If you're wondering, here were our topics and music for the activity that particular day.

Topics: Favorite food, favorite all-time teacher, the one person they trust in the school

Songs: "Every Little Step" by Bobby Brown, "Everybody (Backstreet's Back)" by Backstreet Boys, and "Walking On Sunshine" by Katrina and the Waves

This may be a fun way for you to get them to partner up quickly in the future. It would be cool if they were to get to work with their "Fist Bump Buddy" occasionally to build upon a relationship that may not have happened otherwise.

SEL FOR EVERYONE:

Do you know the difference in a Learning Brain and a Survival Brain? Check out the video from Jacob Ham about the importance of practicing Trauma Informed Care.

Check out this video: Understanding Trauma: Learning Brain vs. Survival Brain

PBIS FOR EVERYONE:

The BEARS Guideline for Success is the foundation of our education process here at Park City Elementary. We can EVEN use it at home. Check back each week as we dig deeper with our BEARS Guideline for Success and connect it to PBIS as well. Make this part of your daily routine and expectations. Our students and staff start each day by stating the BEARS pledge during morning meeting.

Be Brave in Your Decisions:

At school -- follow instructions, walk at all times, keep your hands to yourself, stay on the bear paws in the hallway

At home -- be confident in what you do, choose video games that teach you something, stick with the task and finish it to the end, complete any assignments with 100% effort

QUOTE OF THE WEEK:

"Kids don't remember what you try to teach them. They remember what you are." -- Jim Henson

CONNECT WITH ME:

I mentioned this form during our faculty meeting AND I have a QR Code outside my office. If you have student that would like to see me OR you have a NON-EMERGENCY referral, fill out this form: bit.ly/pcecheckin

If for whatever reason, you lose the link to the google form, you can scan the QR Code outside my office to get to the form as well.

**Let students know they can fill out the pink card outside my office and drop it in the box too. I check it often and will come get them to discuss whatever it is they would like to talk about.**

WEBSITE: bit.ly/pcbearcounselor

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