September Guidance Blog
Hey Burks Parents!!!:)
Parents are a critical factor in children’s educational success because they are a child’s first and best teachers. Research has shown that children whose parents are involved in their education, perform at higher levels than those whose parents are not involved.
We encourage parents to get involved in every aspect of their children’s lives. Show interest in their education, so they know it is important to you too. Show interest in their friends and how they communicate with their friends outside of school. Remember to stop and give snuggles and ask how your child is feeling. They might have had a tough day, and giving them your time is what they needed to feel better.
Every month, the counselor will go to each classroom to have a guidance lesson over a character trait and our “Live Kind” word of the month. We encourage our parents and teachers to work together with the students to help them master each character trait! :)
This month, the students are learning about Respect & Conflict Resolution and we are living kind inside and outside of Burks Elementary School! It doesn't matter what we look like, what we believe in, or where we are from, we all deserve love and respect. Please talk to your children about what they are learning in their guidance lessons and ask them how they are using it to help others.
Have a great day Eagles!:)
"Respect is one of the greatest expressions of love." - Anonymous
Katie Wallace
School Counselor
Burks Elementary School
469-302-6234
October Guidance Blog
Hey Burks Eagles!
This month, our Burks Eagles will be learning about the character trait Responsibility, and our "Live Kind" CASE Lesson on Collaboration. They are learning to be responsible and accountable for their actions, recognizing and completing their tasks, pursuing excellence, and using self-control. They will also learn the importance of collaboration. Think of collaboration like a bicycle. All of the parts have to work together to make the bicycle go. If one part is not working correctly, the bike will not work. Ask your children what their strengths are when they are working in groups at school. Are they good at drawing, writing, speaking, leading, or supporting the group with a positive attitude? They are learning to celebrate each other’s differences and how our differences make life exciting, fun and helps us get things done!:) Please think of ways that you can challenge you children to take responsibility at home. :)
Please remember to email pics of your children doing acts of kindness outside of school to your child's teacher or to the counselor kwallace@mckinneyisd.net.
Together, we are working to grow kind and responsible Burks Eagles! :)
“If you want children to keep their feet on the ground, put some responsibility on their shoulders.”
~ Abigail Van Buren
Katie Wallace
Burks School Counselor
kwallace@mckinneyisd.net
469-302-6234
November Guidance Blog
Hey Burks Eagle Parents!:)
November is the month of giving thanks for what we have, and for what people do for us!:) This month, our Burks Eagles will be learning about “Citizenship & Active Listening” Citizenship is doing your share to make your school and community a better place. We are teaching the students how to be good citizens which includes: helping others, obeying laws and rules, respecting authority, and protecting the environment.
This month, we will also be celebrating Veteran’s Day! A veteran is a person who has served or is in the military to help protect our country. We are teaching the importance of standing during the pledges and what the Moment of Silence represents. Parents, please think of ways that you can teach your children about what they can do to be good citizens for our world, and what they can do to give gratitude and thanks. Together we will grow incredible citizens!
“Those who are the happiest are those who do the most for others.” - Booker T. Washington
Katie Wallace
Burks School Counselor
December Guidance Blog
Hey Burks Parents!
This month our Burks Eagles will be learning about the Character trait "Caring (for others)." and our Live Kind CASE is over "Speaking with Positive Intention." How can a person show that they care about others? They are compassionate, considerate, unselfish (share things), do things for others without being asked, and give to others that are in need.
In our Caring lesson, the students will learn about:
How do you greet one another properly? Teacher: “Hi Susie, how are you today?”Student: “I’m doing great Mrs. Wallace, how are you today?” – It shows that you care and are interested in them when you ask the person how they are doing in return.
People are like building blocks, you can either build each other up by your words and actions so others feel emotionally strong and confident. Or tear each other down with our words and actions.
Where is your focus? On others or yourself? Are they looking at the good things in their life and are thankful for what they have? We are learning about being thankful for what we have and what we receive, and focus more on what we can do to help others.
How can you be a light for others? When they walk into the classroom (or where ever they go), they have the opportunity to make a place brighter by their actions and attitude.
At Burks Elementary, our theme is "Burks Lives Kind," so think of ways that you can do acts of kindness in your neighborhood and in the community!:)
“ A man’s true wealth is the good he does in this world.” ~ Mohammed
GIVING PROJECT: In the month of December, each grade level will compete for the “Golden Bone Award.” Burks Elementary will be collecting used items for the Collin County Animal Shelter. The grade level with the most donations will receive the “Golden Bone” to display in their hallway, their picture in the paper and on the Collin County Animal Shelter webpage. Items include: Old blankets, old towels, clean chew toys, pet treats, or anything that would help keep the animals warm and happy during the winter months. Last year we raised over 700 items and the animal shelter said that it was the biggest donation that they had ever received! :)
Katie Wallace
Burks School Counselor
January Guidance Blog
This month our Burks Eagles will be learning about the character trait “Fairness” and our Live Kind CASE "Empathy." Fairness is playing by the rules, taking turns, sharing, congratulating others who win, and always treating everyone with respect. Fair people are open-minded and listen to other people’s opinions. We talk about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and what he stood for, and what he did for our world. The students also learn what it means to have empathy. Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another. Empathy pushes us to help others when they are hurt or needing help. Parents, please think of ways that you can work on teaching your children about fairness at home, and also think of some examples that you can share with them about times you used empathy for others. At Burks Elementary, we are a kindness school, so think of ways that you can do acts of kindness in your neighborhood and in the community!:)
“Fairness does not mean everyone gets the same thing. Fairness means that everyone gets what they need." - Rick Riordan
Katie Wallace
Burks School Counselor
February Guidance Blog
Hey Burks Parents!:)
This month our Burks Eagles will be learning about the Character Trait “Trustworthiness,” and our Live Kind CASE "Self-Regulation & Coping." They are learning about what it takes to build trust and to keep it. We will also talk about what we can do to lose trust, and how hard it is to earn it back once it is lost. Trustworthiness is about being honest, reliable, and having integrity. Integrity is doing the right thing, even when no one is looking. The students will learn coping strategies to use when things happen out of their control. Sometimes things happen out of our control, but it is how we respond to those things that shows our character. Parents, please think of ways that you can work on teaching your children about building trust at home. Ask your children how they handle stressful situations, and what possible stressful situations might look like. Together we will grow incredibly trustworthy and successful young adults!
“A liar will not be believed, even when he speaks the truth.” ~ Aesop
Katie Wallace
Burks School Counselor
March Guidance Blog
Hey Burks Parents!
This month, our character trait is "Integrity & Stress/Anxiety Management." Our Burks Eagles will be learning about “What’s the Brain Got to Do With Our Emotions?” In learning about the brain, we begin to understand about our emotions! The most basic needs for a healthy brain are: Eat well, Exercise, Get enough sleep! If you do not meet these needs, the brain cannot function correctly. It can cause stress, anxiety, emotional crashes and breakdowns, irritability, trouble with memory, lower self esteem/confidence, slower motor skills, wrinkles and aging (eeek!!!). Students will learn about the importance of breathing (especially exhaling) to calm down the amygdala. Even though the amygdala is the smallest part of the brain…it is the control center for our emotions! Our brains are the most important organ in our body, and we have to feed it correctly so it will work at it’s best! Parents, please ask your students to teach you what they learned about the brain, and what are the 3 things that they need to do to make sure it works correctly!:) Together we can help our students manage stressful situations and cope with difficult issues properly.
“You have to train your brain to be positive, just like you work out your body to become strong. – Shawn Achor
Katie Wallace
Burks Counselor
April Guidance Blog
Hey Burks Parents!
This month, the students are learning about Positive Relationships and Friendship! A good friend helps when you need help, listens when you are troubled, cares about you in times of need, and lifts you up and laughs with you. Friends should NOT say or do things that make you feel bad, make you uncomfortable, physically hurt you, or gossip behind your back. We will discuss conflict resolution by not jumping to conclusions. If they "hear" that someone is talking about them...Keep your cool! Go to that person and work it out together.
We also talk about “It is my body and it belongs to me!” I can say “No” if I don’t want to kiss or hug someone. Instead, I can give them a high five, shake their hand, or blow them a kiss. I am the boss of my body and what I say goes! They learn about what they are teaching the world about who they are. They can show self-respect by the way they dress. We do self-reflection with these questions: How do you speak to adults? How do you treat other students…especially ones that you don’t know very well? How do you treat your parents and sisters/brothers? How much effort do you put into PE or sports…do you quit when it starts to get hard, or do you push yourself even harder? How do you act when you don’t win a game or a race? Do you congratulate the person who won, and then work harder so you can do better next time…or do you get upset and quit? Do you have a positive attitude and try to bring happiness to others, or do you bring others down by saying mean things, or talking about negative things. How much effort do you put into your schoolwork and homework?
Parents, please try to find time to go over these questions with your children to see how they would answer each one. It might just open up a flood gate of stories, questions and possible concerns that your children have about friends and relationships. Together, we will help our children grow into compassionate, caring, and confident people! :)
“My best friend is the one who brings out the best in me.” – Henry Ford
Katie Wallace
School Counselor
Burks Elementary School
469-302-6234
May Guidance Blog
Hey Burks Parents!
This month, our character trait is “Caring (for yourself).” We only have 1 month of school left! Everyone (students, parents and teachers), has been working so hard this year and are tired and sometimes feel a little grumpy. But we need to finish strong, just like “the little engine that could!”
In the story, the little engine came to a BIG hill (kind of like the end of the school year), and instead of giving up and saying “I’m too tired,” what did he say?
That’s right, “I think I can!” But for us, I want our moto to be “I know I can!”
So when things get tough, and we’re starting to get worn out…take a deep breath and push yourself to finish strong! Keep looking toward the awesome finish line that is summer time!!! We just have a few more weeks of school left. So say to yourself, “I know I can, I know I can…” because you can do anything that you set your mind to.
“Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do.” - Pele
Katie Wallace
Burks Counselor