Hello Everyone!!!! I hope everyone has enjoyed our snow days!!  I am so happy to have you here at Hermitage Springs School and I am excited to finish our school year together.  Please let me know face to face or by email if you need anything. I am available at school on Monday, Wednesday and Fridays :)

Email:  Lsmith@clayedu.com

** Remember, it's ok to have worries.  Talk to someone you trust about how you are feeling!

Please contact me if you have any questions or have concerns about your students.  I am here to help.  Also, if you have a need for the Family Resource Center, we have a food pantry stocked with canned goods, hygiene products and school supplies.  Please contact me for more information.

Parents and Students:

Please see below for an excellent resource for career exploration.  

Virtual Job Shadow Website

Grades 5-8 Log In Instructions

Virtual Job Shadow Junior Website

Grades PreK-4 Log In Instructions

September is Suicide Prevention Month...Please reach out if you or a family member needs help.

National Suicide Prevention Line 1-800-273-8255 (TALK)

Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network http://tspn.org

Dear Parents: 

  My name is Lesley Burton Smith and I am the school counselor in your child’s school.  Many of you may not have had a school counselor when you were in elementary school.  For those of you who did, there is a good possibility that guidance counselors have different functions than they did ten or twenty years ago.

     First and foremost, it is my responsibility to help your child get the best possible education.  A good education includes not only learning to read, write and do math, but learning good social skills as well.  This means, among other things, learning how to get along with other children, making good decisions, controlling anger, accepting responsibility, and being aware of strengths and weaknesses.  Many of these skills are taught at home.  It is my intent to supplement learning that takes place at home with small group and classroom guidance classes.  I will be in your child’s classroom on a monthly basis for a fifteen-minute class session.

     I am also in the building to help students who are facing particular difficulties.  Such family disruptions as an illness, death, or divorce may affect children at school.  If your family is experiencing anything out of the ordinary, please let me know.  If I am aware of any special problems your child might be facing, I can observe your child and help both of you with difficulties that might surface.

     One of my major functions is to be of help to parents.  If you have a particular concern about your child, I welcome the opportunity to meet with you and discuss the matter.

     It is important to remember that school personnel and parents working together is a winning combination for children.  All children deserve to be winners.  Together we can help your child realize this goal.

     If I can be of any help to you, please contact me at Hermitage Springs School (699-2414) or by email at Lsmith@clayedu.com.   I will be at Hermitage Springs School part time this year serving as the counselor and the Family Resource Center Director.  If I am not available, please leave a message.   I will return your call as soon as possible.  I am looking forward to a great school year!

Sincerely,

Lesley B. Smith

School Counselor

Family Resource Center Director

Monthly Guidance Class Themes:

                                             August/September:  Meet the Counselor/"Get to Know You" Activities

                                              October:  Drug Awareness/Healthy Choices/Red Ribbon Week Celebrations

                                              November:  Attitude of Gratitude/Thankfulness

      January:

                                             "Being My Best Self"/Thoughts, Feelings , Actions                                               

Please contact me by email at LSmith@clayedu.com

Grief Information:

It is important to remember that children grieve in many different ways and may be much different from what grief looks like in an adult. Children may not understand completely what has happened and they may be overwhelmed by their feelings.  Some children express grief indirectly through behavior or play.  Allow your child to talk with you about their grief, even if you feel like you don't know what to exactly say.  Most of the time, they just need a safe place to discuss how they are feeling about their loss.  Please contact me if you feel like your child is struggling with grief and loss or if you have any questions.

Quote of the Month: "The meaning of life is to find your gift, the purpose of life is to give it away.

                                                                                                                -William Shakespeare