Monthly Updates
October: Monthly Update
The Student Service Team gave a Parent Presentation on how the team works together to ensure students are successful in the academic setting! We shared our roles and how each of our roles work together toward the same goal. Please view the presentation below if you missed the presentation. It will also be linked in the CPS Newsletter!
December: Monthly Update
Miss Massa focused her December lesson on conflict resolution. In classrooms, students practiced using “I-Statements” as a way to solve their conflicts with others in a calm and respectful way. There are three parts to an “I-Statement”:
“I feel”: the student states how he/she feels.
“When You”: student states what the other person did to make him/her feel that way.
“Could you please…”: student tells the other person what they could do to make the situation better. This could be as easy as asking for them to stop or asking them to apologize.
Encourage your child to practice using “I-Statements” at home! The more practice, the better :)
Miss Massa will focus her January classroom lessons around friendship. Students will review what it means to be a good friend and the qualities they look for and value in their friendships.
Information refresher! Please read this valuable article that explains the role of an Elementary School Counselor: The Essential Role of Elementary School Counselors
November: Monthly Update
November: World Kindness Day Celebration
Miss Massa did not have classroom lessons this month, instead she focused on a school-wide project to celebrate World Kindness Day. On November 12th and 13th, the story Scribble Stones was read aloud to all students. The students then painted their own Scribble Stone rock and received a World Kindness Day jelly bracelet to help remind them to be kind! The student’s Scribble Stone rocks are now displayed outside the front entrance of CPS to help spread kindness throughout the community.
During the month of December, students are only in school for about 7 days each-- CRAZY! During December, I will focus my lesson on Problem Solving through the use of I-Messages! 😊
October: Monthly Update
October: Identifying Feelings
Miss Massa wrapped up her October classroom lessons this week. October’s counseling lesson focused on the different emotions and how to identify feelings.
This month’s focus will be on kindness. November 13th is World Kindness Day. World Kindness Day is a “global day that promotes the importance of being kind to each other, to yourself, and to the world”. This day has the purpose to “help everyone understand that compassion for others is what binds us all together”. Being kind can improve mental health, too! Read more below:
Why Random Acts of Kindness Matter to Your Well-Being
How Does Kindness Affect Your Mental Health?
September : Monthly Update
Social Emotional Learning-- What does a School Counselor Do?
Hi! My name is Gail Massa and I am the CPS School Counselor. I am so excited to join the CPS family this year! I graduated from Lewis University this past May with my Masters degree in School Counseling. As a School Counselor, I work with students through classroom lessons, small groups, and individual counseling to help them in three domains: academics, college and career readiness, and social/emotional. When I work with students individually, I use a brief, solution-focused approach. Like a school nurse, we are in the school to help with small things that come up. If a student is experiencing severe or chronic social/emotional problems, as a school counselor, I can also refer students to outside community-based counseling services.
I would like to schedule some virtual informational sessions for parents this year. I created a Google Form for families to complete that will provide me with parents' interest in attending a virtual session, which days and times work the best, and the topics most parents are interested in learning more about. Please click "Parent Needs Assessment" below to complete this Google Form.
August: "Meet the Counselor"
