Counselor's corner

Month of November

This month's updates from your school counseling department!

The Gratitude Game

With Thanksgiving right around the corner, gratitude is a great skill to focus on this month! We all know gratitude for kids is important, right? We encourage them to say thank you to others frequently, and subtly (or maybe not so subtly) elbow them in the ribs when they forget! No?! Just me? Well, we all know that good manners are important, anyway, and showing others that we appreciate them makes them feel happy and loved. But did you know expressing gratitude also has benefits for the person expressing it, and not just for the receiver?

That’s right! There have been numerous studies into the practice of gratitude over the years. Most of these studies have focused on adults, but in recent years, more and more studies have looked at the effects of gratitude on kids. And surprise, surprise, the benefits are pretty similar! So, what are they and how do you teach your children to be more grateful? You can try the Gratitude Game!

SEL LEssons

What is SEL?

Social and emotional learning (SEL) is the process through which children and adults understand and manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions.

Elementary School

Inclusiveness

Inclusion is being a part of what everyone else is, being welcomed and embraced as a member who belongs. It is being a part of what everyone else is, and being welcomed and embraced as a member who belongs. The benefits of inclusion can be tremendous for all parties involved. Through simple activities and tips, children can learn the real lessons of inclusiveness: that inclusiveness means looking in someone’s eyes, seeing their humanity, and understanding their heart. To support the lessons for this month, here are 11 ways you can help teach your child to be inclusive!

Middle School

Week of November 2^nd

6^th grade: Common Types of Bullying

7^th grade: Preventing Harassment

8^th grade: My Path Forward

Week of November 9^th

6^th grade: Celebrating Kindness Day lesson

7^th grade: Celebrating Kindness Day lesson

8^th grade: Celebrating Kindness Day lesson

Week of November 16^th

6^th grade: Recognizing Bullying

7^th grade: Emotions Matter

8^th grade: My Future Self

High School

SEL for High School: November_(Confidence Building)

Purpose: Students discover that they all have personal strengths.

Why do you think it might be important to know your strengths? Each and every one of us have strengths. Sometimes it takes asking others what they feel your strengths are to recognize what they may be. Knowing your strengths can help you keep self-respect. Some of our strengths are shared by others and some are unique.

Activity #1: Use the attached worksheet “Strengths interview” activity to interview 3 to 5 people about what they feel are your strengths. Your task is to find out at least 5 of your strengths.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/12CuX9Gh-FvOkQDZW-SluvLMdhktxJ27M/view?usp=sharing

Post Reflection:

• Were you surprised to find that you have strengths that you maybe didn’t consider?

• Did you learn anything new while you were interviewing people about your strengths?

• How can you continue to use these strengths in your everyday life? Take time to think about other strengths you possess and how you may use them.

Activity #2: Write down your strengths on paper and post them on your bathroom wall, mirror, or your room door as a reminder. Reminding ourselves of our special qualities will help us to persevere when experiencing challenges.

Don't forget to complete the "SEL Check-in/out Form" here!

Bullying Prevention

Elementary School

Into the Cloud™ is NCMEC’s flagship online safety product for children ages 10 and under. Using data from actual CyberTipline reports, each episode focuses on a different element of online safety, from strategies for handling cyberbullying to recognizing and reporting unsafe/inappropriate interactions and content. Into the Cloud™ presents important safety information in an age-appropriate and entertaining manner! Connect your child to their content here, or visit Ms. McGarry's Google Classroom!

College & Career planning

Elementary School

Click here to check out Paws in Jobland on CFNC.org!

Middle School

6th Grade- How Did They Get There?

7th Grade- Time Management

8th Grade- Your Learning Style

High School

Students and parents are encouraged to explore the redesigned CFNC.org website. This is a one stop shop for students and parents to plan for college, apply to colleges, explore careers and sort through resources to pay for college in the state of NC. Planning starts even before high school. Students with CFNC accounts are encouraged to login and click around! Students without CFNC accounts are encouraged to create an account! Go ahead! Explore!

Click here for up-to-date information that colleges, universities, College Board (SAT) and ACT are releasing about COVID-19 and college admissions.

Career Assessments

This is a great time to start exploring career options. Use this link to explore resources that will help you find out things that interest you as well as possible careers that match your profile.

Virtual College Visits

Click here for updated information about virtual college representative visits to FLA. Use this link to join zoom meetings when applicable!

Resume Writing for high school students: 101

Students often use resumes to apply to summer programs, college, internships, jobs and sometimes recommenders will request it when writing a recommendation for these programs. It is good practice to have a draft ready to go for these activities. It is also recommended to update your resume at least once a year.

Watch this video to gain a brief understanding of what a highs school student resume may consist of: How to write resume

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYZrdIsVciw

Use this link for example resume templates and a more detailed explanation of a high school students’ resume.

https://www.thebalancecareers.com/high-school-resume-examples-and-writing-tips-2063554

***Reach out to Ms. Jackson for more assistance.

2021 Summer Programs & Other opportunities

Use this link throughout the year to explore programs that may be of interest to your student. These are great resume builders and wonderful opportunities to gain experience in areas you may be interested in the future. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1g2IdvdYqgVUkGmxNYJe2vgkmH6Kf3JtjtpxjUbgSzes/edit?usp=sharing

This can also be found on Mrs. Jackson’s website under “Career Planning Resources”.

#Howtodeal

In this section, we will be including tips or tricks for you on how to incorporate self-care or social-emotional learning into your daily routine! We understand that during our time away from school, it may be a challenge to take care of YOU. So, here you will find some ideas to stay active, healthy, and mentally strong as we cope with this pandemic. Enjoy!

A Mindfulness Practice for Families

When we teach mindfulness to kids, we give them the tools they need to build confidence, cope with stress, and relate to uncomfortable or challenging moments. The earlier we do so in their young lives, the greater the opportunity to help them cultivate resilience and develop and refine their mindfulness practice as they mature.

One easy way to introduce mindfulness to your children is through informal practices that you can do along with them. Start with a simple kindness meditation, such as this one,—offering good wishes and compassion to others. It's a great practice you can do together!

1. To begin, find a comfortable sitting position. You can even place a hand on the heart. Allow your eyes to close or lower your gaze toward the floor.

2. Bring to mind someone who you really respect and look up to, and who really loves you in return. Notice how you feel as you bring this person to mind.

4. Make a kind wish and send it their way. What would make them happy?

5. Next, bring to mind someone else you love and care about: A family member, a friend, a beloved colleague. Just bring this person to mind, sending this person a kind wish.

6. We’ll move from here to a more neutral person. Perhaps someone you don’t know very well: A parent you see occasionally in the carpool line, a person who delivers your mail, or makes your coffee in the morning. Just bring this person to mind and imagine yourself sending them some kind of kind wish.

7. Lastly, bring to mind someone who has frustrated you lately, someone who is a little difficult. Send this last person a kind wish—something nice for them in their life.

8. Check in with your mind and body as you conclude this practice. Allow your eyes to open if they’ve been closed. Notice if there’s any shift and discuss this with your child!

In other news

We are celebrating World Kindness Day on November 13th!

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, celebrated on November 13th of each year, is to help everyone understand that compassion for others is what binds us all together. This understanding has the power to bridge the gap between nations.

As we celebrate World Kindness Day, I invite you to look for ways to make kindness the norm in your daily life. World Kindness Day is a great day to begin building a new routine which means including intentional moments of kindness, laughter and delight. It also means taking a moment to enjoy and recognize when those things are happening.

We look forward to providing students with an opportunity to celebrate World Kindness Day by providing lessons about kindness as well as encouraging students and staff to wear orange on November 13th!