Blog

September!

I'm always happy to usher in September. With September, typically we are able to really settle into our routines and students are becoming more well versed in the expectations. This allows us to really thrive as an Everett Community. (Also, we're hoping for cooler weather to stay with us.)

You'll be getting a message from Mr. Long as September is Suicide Awareness Month. Please look for that message, and reach out as needed.

As a reminder, you can always check the calendar to see more information about events happening (such as Food Market on the 22nd.)

And We're Back!

Goodness, I am late in posting this, but we're back! It's been a fun, busy start to the year.

I think we all agree that having only kindergarten students the first day was a huge success! It was great to welcome them and their families last Tuesday without the hundreds of other students also in the building. Kindergarten students got extra time learning about and practicing our routines like walking in line order in the hallway, recess, and lunch. They also got to meet all four of our specials teachers, and got a mini-lesson with each!

Wednesday, we were happy to welcome all K-5 students! While we're still in the process of adjusting how we organize breakfast (see the email from Mr. Long), it does seem that mornings are going more smoothly overall. Students have also done a great job in our hallways, and at recess and lunch!

We are now fully a week in! Students have had a chance to go through the whole specials rotation, and we're getting deeper into curriculum, rather than just review. Next week, we start MAP testing for 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders. Please work with your students to be ready (well rested, at school, etc.) We're also starting TeamMates and Fitting Futures next week. If you have any questions about those programs, don't hesitate to reach out!

Gratitude!

If you noticed on my calendar tab, this month's classroom lesson was all about gratitude. We talked about it a bit during our March lesson as it can be used as a coping skill if you are feeling upset. This month, we talked more about what gratitude is, why it is important, how we can practice gratitude, and each student was given a chance to identify the things they are grateful for.

Ask your student about the lesson!

4th Quarter?!

It's so hard to believe we're already in the 4th quarter! I've updated the calendar tab with lots of fun things that are upcoming. Check it out!

One important event to note is the upcoming NSCAS testing. You'll notice there are a total of six days, three days one week and three days the next, that 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders will be completing their NSCAS testing. While it is always helpful to come to school on time and rested, it is EXTRA important for these six days.

You may also notice there are some exciting field trips upcoming. In addition, there are super fun events like the strings and band concert, and the school musical. I always look forward to the school musical!

"What Do They Do Anyway?"

Last week, you may have been wondering what LPS staff members were doing on the "District Professional Learning Day." This year, for the first time, there have been six days within the calendar designated as "Professional Learning Days." Four of these days were to be used by the schools for professional learning, and other two were for district professional learning. That's what we were able to do last week.

Last Tuesday, all 130 school counselors that work for Lincoln Public Schools were able to spend half of their day together at Mickle Middle School. We started with some time to remind ourselves of the LPS mission and how we are part of this mission. Counselors were then able to learn from each other in something we like to call "Counselors Teaching Counselors." We have so many counselors with a tremendous amount of knowledge/tips to offer that it is really helpful to learn from each other. I was able to attend a session about the juvenile court system, tech tips, and how to help anxious students. We then finished our morning meeting with our "feeder" schools. This means I had some time to talk with Park Middle School about how we can best serve students who are moving on to middle school.

I think all counselors value this time, but it is especially true for the elementary counselors. Being the only counselor in the building can result in not feeling as connected. Having these times when we can talk and problem solve as to how best help students is very helpful. 

We will have another "Building Professional Development Day" on April 21st. We'll stay in our buildings for that day, and be able to engage with our building staff on, once again, how to best serve our students.

Updates

As we are about halfway through the third quarter, it would be a good time for updates.

A few weeks ago, we were lucky enough to have two super fun events at school. The first was a family reading night where families were able to enjoy hot chocolate and a reading of the book, The Mitten. Another family reading night will be at the end of February. Keep your eyes open for more information to come!

On January 24th, Everett hosted a Glow Dance with help from the Humann Elementary PTA. This event was fantastic! Hopefully, we get to do it again next year.

Students have wrapped up MAP testing for the year. NSCAS testing (the Nebraska standardized testing) will be starting when we return from Spring Break.

Speaking of Spring Break, the week before Spring Break, Everett will host the second semester Teacher Conferences. Again, please be on the lookout for more information. Conferences will be the nights of March 4th and March 6th.

We're Back at It!

We are back in the swing of things over here! Students have been doing a great job coming back and being ready to learn. There have been some super fun things like the third graders visiting Morrill Hall, and are also getting ready for some things that aren't quite as fun like our standardized testing. Thanks so much for all your support!

Just About Halfway There!

We are entering our final school week of 2024! That's bananas! A few reminders heading into winter break. 

School starts at 8:15. This means learning begins at 8:15. Students are actually sent to their classrooms to prepare for learning at 8:08. Please work with your student to make sure they are arriving in time to be ready to learn at 8:15.

Report cards will be coming home a few weeks after we return in January. These grades are a great opportunity to talk with your student about what they've learned and areas they succeeded in! You can also talk about any goals they want to make for the second half of our year.

If you are in need of winter gear for your student, please do not hesitate to reach out. We are happy to team with you to get your student the things they need.

A final reminder is also a plea. Please make sure your student is not on social media. As a reminder, all social media users are to be at least 13 years old as part of the terms and agreement. We have seen so much conflict here at school that started on social media outside of school hours. Please work with your student to understand just how impactful social media can be.

It's Cold Out There!

As I write this, it feels like 16 degrees outside! It was a COLD recess duty! If you need additional winter gear for your student, feel free to reach out, and we'll try our best to make sure students have what they need.

Nebraska School Counselor Association Conference

Last week, I was lucky enough to get to attend the annual Nebraska School Counselor Association Conference. It was in Lincoln, and took place over November 7th and 8th. We had a great number of LPS counselors from all grade levels attend. I was able to attend all sorts of sessions addressing how I, and our school, can best support our students here at Everett. I'm thankful for this opportunity!

Attendance

Did you know each month our assistant principal, Mrs. Paul, sends out a breakdown of the percentage of each grade level's students who were in attendance? We all celebrate when a grade level improves attendance, and especially when they meet our school-wide goal.

Mrs. Paul has also reached out to teachers who have students in the classrooms with more than five absences. If you get an email from your student's teacher about attendance, and need help in that area, do not hesitate to reach out. While we can't solve all problems with a snap of our fingers, there are lots of ideas and solutions we can come up with by working together.

Check In

As we approach the end of the 1st quarter, it is a good time to check in. Conferences are the 23rd and 28th of October, and that can provide a chance for families to check in with their students' teachers. However, you can always check in before then too. No need to wait if there is something you'd like to discuss. We know how fast the conference time can go, so sometimes having pre-conference conversations can be the best use of time.

Now is also a great time to check in on how things are going regarding routine and schedule. Do you find mornings always seem rushed? Has there been problems with after school pick-up? Are you finding important papers in your child's backpack? Perhaps have a family meeting where anyone can bring up something they'd like to change and make a plan for the change to happen. Remember, we're always here to help as needed!

Goals

Did you know each teacher makes two goals a year to strive to complete? Each year, we set a district goal and a building goal. This year, my district goal is to make sure all students receiving an intervention to help their decision-making is documented using a new system we have available. This will serve students as they move up through their years of education, or if they move to another school, everything that has been found to be helpful for the student is documented for others to access.

My building goal is about building community, which leads to a sense of safety for students. I am taking this on by leading classroom circles at least quarterly in classrooms. I'm also part of our PAR Committee (Prevention, Accountability, and Restorative.) In this committee, I'm working with staff to develop additional classroom circles they can lead weekly.

Sickness

Hello! One of the first things I check each morning when I come to school is which students have been called in as being absent for the day. We have had SO MUCH ILLNESS in our students lately. Please help your student stay healthy by making sure they are getting enough sleep and drinking lots of water.

In terms of absences, did you know when a student misses just two days of school a month, that equals 20 days over the year? That means, that by the time they are in 9th grade, they will have missed one whole year of school! That student, if they miss just one day a week, will end up missing 40 days a year, and by the 9th grade will have missed two whole years of school! 

When I read that, it was astounding! We love seeing all the students, and would love to partner with any families who are struggling with attendance. Don't hesitate to reach out!

September!

I am always so happy to usher in the month of September. Even though I've lived in Nebraska my whole life, I still get tricked into thinking September = cooler weather...

As we head into our second month of school, things are in full swing around here! I've been able to get into every classroom to talk about who I am, what a school counselor does, and review our expectations here at Everett. We were also able to find commonalities amongst each other with some community building activities.

I will continue to visit each classroom (all 22 of them!) each month, and incorporate community building circles to make our Everett community as strong as it can be. 

Please never hesitate to reach out!

Anyone Else Exhausted?

The beginning of the school year always just wipes me out! I may or may not have been asleep by 8:30 last night...

It's been so exciting to get to see the students return, and to meet so many new students this year also! Yesterday, I watched as two kindergarteners have a blast waiting for school to start. It made me so happy to see these friendships developing!

Please do not hesitate to reach out if there is anything we, at Everett, can do to help you and your student have a great year. 

Let's Do This!

We, as a staff, have been working over the summer, but especially in the last week to get ready for the school year. We are so excited to welcome all the students back with us today. I can't wait to see everyone and get back into that rhythm of fun and learning.

We are focusing quite a bit on reviewing expectations this year. Please ask your student daily what they learned about expectations. We are also focusing on attendance. As a reminder, students can arrive at school as early as 7:45. At 8:08, the bell rings for students to go to their classrooms. Any students arriving after 8:15 will be asked to check in before going to their classrooms, as teachers are expected to take attendance promptly at 8:15.

We're Back!

As of Monday, staff was back hard at work at school! It's been so exciting to reconnect with each other and plan for a great year. We can't wait to see everyone at Open House on Thursday from 5:00-6:00.

That's a Wrap!

And with that, we've wrapped up the 2023-2024 school year. Believe it or not, we're already deep in planning for next year. See you then!

20 Days...

There are only 20 days of school left. I just had to count again to make sure, but that's it! As we approach the end of the school year, be sure to keep checking email and students' backpacks. There is often a lot of important information that comes out regarding fun opportunities. 

Also, be ready for students to have some anxiety about the school year ending. While summer is often heralded as the best part of the year, many of our students love school! They've also formed strong bonds with teachers and other students, and can feel apprehensive about not seeing them. Keep talking with your student about how we can be excited and anxious at the same time. 

As always, please reach out if you have any questions!

EducationQuest Symposium

Yesterday, I was able to attend the EducationQuest Symposium. While many of the sessions were geared more towards secondary students, there was some great information I will be able to take back with me to Everett. I attended a great session on AI, and how AI can be a very helpful tool in my role. I was also able to hear a keynote and breakout session from Mike Smith. He is the co-founder of the Bay High and was instrumental in the creation of the Bay High School. If you ever get a chance to hear him speak, do it!

I was also able to hear from college advisors just how important things like time management, being able to make friendships, and being a self-advocate are for students coming into college (or any post-secondary training.) As I talk with students about these exact skills (as I've planned for May), I can talk with them about these skills are not only important now, but skills to last a lifetime!

Happy Conferences Week!

This week (on March 5th and 7th), Everett will have their spring parent teacher conferences. Please reach out to your student's teacher if you are unsure of when your conference is.

Coming to conferences is a great opportunity for the family, teacher, and student to all get on the same page about how the year is going and what's coming up ahead. As the conferences are fairly close to the end of 3rd quarter, teachers will have information to share such as test scores. There will also be information about possible upcoming field trips and attendance information.

When to Arrive...

As many of you know, school begins at 8:15. However, when thinking about arrival, 8:15 is when learning begins. Students are actually dismissed to their classrooms at 8:08 to allow them to arrive at their classroom, be greeted by their teachers, hang up coats and backpacks, check in, and get settled in their desks. Thus, as we settle in to the third quarter, please keep this is mind and help all our learners by arriving by 8:08.

New Year!

Happy New Year to all! 2024 has started off on a different note with two snow days first thing! It's thrown us all off as we try to figure out just what day of the week it is!

This month's lesson for all students kindergarten through fifth grade is about determination, perseverence, grit, and goal making. We've noticed a trend in our behavior data that many students struggle to keep going when the work feels too hard or boring. I'm discussing with all grade levels the importance of having a growth mindset that thinks in terms of what we haven't accomplished YET, versus what we feel we'll never be able to accomplish. Next time your student feels like giving up, ask them how they can change their thinking to meet a goal.

Speaking of Resources...

In looking ahead at the month of December, the Food Market is scheduled for Monday, December 18th. This is a system of food distribution that replaced the Food Backpack program a few years ago. How Food Market works is any student who is an only child or the oldest child in a family who attends Everett is able to walk to the gym at an assigned time and go through the line. Volunteers from the food bank help fill the bags with different foods. Please reach out if you have any questions.

Schedule of Events

Have you noticed the "Calendar" option at the top of the webpage? This page not only includes my Annual Calendar where lessons and groups are listed out, but also includes general events such as days when there is no school, PLC days, and other special events. Please note there is a band and orchestra concert on Wednesday, December 13th, at 6:30 pm. Reach out to your child's band or orchestra teacher if you have any questions.

Resources

We have had a few individuals and groups reach out to provide resources related to the Thanksgiving holiday. Please contact our main office or email me as soon as possible if this is something you would be interested in receiving.

Also, with the weather turning cooler, we've had students come to us in need of winter coats. Unfortunately, we haven't had as many donations as in years past. We do have a small, limited number of coats available, and teachers are able to access these as needed. Families are also always welcome to reference MyLNK for resources as well.

October 18, 2023

Second quarter is here! It's been fantastic to welcome students back from Fall Break! As we get back into the swing of things here, it's a good time to review expectations. We'll be reminding students of our expectations (Be Safe, Be Respectful, and Be Responsible), and what that looks and sounds like in different areas of our building. Now would be a great time for families to ask their students questions like, "What does it sound like to be respectful in the classroom?" or, "What does it look like to be safe in the hallways?" Reinforcing those expectations with conversations at home can be a great help!

October 11, 2023

Two more days, and we'll have reached the end of the first quarter of the 2023-2024 school year! That's unbelievable! As we wrap up this first quarter, a few reminders and things to think about.

Conferences started last night, and continue tomorrow night. It's always encouraged to bring your student with you as you visit with their teacher. This allows everyone to hear the same message and be on the same page. Teachers are very flexible in terms of scheduling too. Please reach out if you need to reschedule, and conferences can even be over the phone if that works better!

We are also starting to see a lot of absences. Along with allergies, a lot of students are struggling with colds too. While some of these things can't be avoided, try to help your student be the healthiest they can be by making sure they are drinking water and getting enough rest.

September 29, 2023

When you think of a school counselor, do you picture us pouring over data? Well, we often do! Data is a huge part of deciding what students are needing additional support, and then tracking if those additional supports are working. At the end of each month, I look at who is receiving Check In Check Out, and if it is helping. Who is getting therapy either here at school or outside of school, and if that is helping too! We also form small groups based upon numbers of referrals and Check In Check Out averages. I also share the monthly school-wide data with staff. These graphs include time of day that is hardest for our students, the motivation behind behaviors, etc.

So next time you think of a school counselor, be sure to include an image of them pouring over some numbers!

September 18, 2023

Have you heard of White Cane? This is a community organization that partnered with us starting last year. They provide two outfits, socks, and shoes for students at our school free of charge! We can provide this service to 3-4 students a week. If you are interested, please contact me.

September 14, 2023

Today marks one month of being in school! From August 14th to September 14th, we've all been busy (students and staff!) Remember to keep up with the good habits like ensuring your child is getting enough sleep, getting to school on time, getting homework done, and that you continue to check their backpacks for any important papers that come home. Don't forget also, that you can always reach out to your student's teacher or me, the school counselor!

September 7, 2023

September is upon us! And with it, we've had some cooler weather (although we could do without the smoke!) We are really finding our rhythm here at Everett, and systems are in place. One system I've been spending a lot of time working on is the TeamMates program. As TeamMates facilitator, it is my job to solicit nominations, meet with students about the nomination, meet with mentors when they are assigned to our school, give mentors tours of the school, and set up the times for mentors and mentees to meet. We are up to 10 matches at our school, which is quite a feat! If you are interested in learning more about the TeamMates program, see the link at the top of the page. You can also reach out if you are interested in having your student be part of this program!

August 21, 2023

We're in it now! As we enter our second full week of school, keep up those good routines and habits. Continue to practice early bedtimes, adjusting to maybe even an earlier time if you notice your student to be extra tired or if you are having a hard time waking them up in the mornings. This isn't to be a punishment, but rather a way to make sure students are getting sufficient rest. Also, continue to check your student's backpack for homework, completed work, and/or papers from their teacher. It is always a good idea to make sure your student is aware of what the dismissal plan looks like, and please let the school know as soon as possible if that is changes for the day.

August 14, 2023

We did it! We made it through the first day! It was a whirlwind of getting students to their teachers, checking in with students throughout the morning, getting everyone through the cafeteria, and then it was just about time to go home. As a reminder, we have shortened days with a 1:33 dismissal (our regular PLC dismissal time), the first three days of school.

August 11, 2023

WOW! There were so many friendly faces last night at Open House! It was amazing to see so many students and families come to meet their teachers and see their classrooms. We are still hard at work getting ready for next week, and are excited to share all our hard work with students! As a reminder, students are able to come at 7:45 and enter through Door 8 for breakfast. We also have early dismissal the first three days of school. Our dismissal time on early release days is 1:33. Please have a plan with your student as to what the dismissal plan is.

August 7, 2023

Well it's official! We're all back and almost ready for the new school year. Coming inside Everett this morning, I was AMAZED at all the changes in how the building looks and all the new staff I get to meet. We're hard at work setting up classrooms and spaces for learning, as well as discussing how we can be the best staff for the Everett students! I can't wait to see you at Open House on August 10th, from 5:00 to 6:00.