FEBRUARY 2023

Each month we will be sending out a brief update so you are informed of the happenings at RIS MS!  

We will feature a content area each month... Enjoy!

What do I do here?
My job as a counselor is to ensure that students feel safe and comfortable at school so they can focus on engaging in academics. School is much more than content covered in class. They need to learn how to learn, how to engage with their peers, how to communicate with their teachers, and how to be global citizens of this world. I am here to provide multiple levels of support. 

Tier 1: I develop advisory lessons that are taught by myself and Advisory teachers. ALL students receive these lessons. They are developed based on student need and on what we know our students need developmentally.

Tier 2: I run small groups to target specific skills or areas of concern students may have. These include, but are not limited to: social skills, stress/anxiety, body image, study skills, peer relationships, and self-esteem. 

Tier 3: I also work with students in a 1-1 setting. Sometimes students come to school and are not ready to learn based on external factors. My goal is to work with them to address any barriers to engagement in their education and get them back to class so they can focus on their academics. 

Parent support: I am here for you! Being the parent of a teen is hard! Some days, you may feel that you don’t recognize your child and ask yourself what happened to them. This is NORMAL! Your child is not broken. I am here to listen and offer any perspective I have.

Tips for Talking With Your Teen
Talking to your child can be difficult. Here are some tips to help with engaging in conversations with them. Here are some tips!

Results from the Mid-Year Student Counseling Survey
Three times a year, I give students a survey to assess their needs and manage their progress in areas related to both academics and social emotional needs. Here are some highlights from the surveys this year. I use this information to develop school-wide programs and Advisory activities. I look for areas of need and try to create programs that support our students in these areas based on their feedback. 

Advisory
Students meet with their Advisor each morning for 10 minutes and once per cycle for 45 minutes. The goals for Advisory are: to build authentic relationships and a sense of community, to support students and develop their social, emotional, and academic abilities, to develop trust and create safe spaces for students, and to have fun! Ask them about what they have talked about in their Advisory lessons and ask them to explain it to you! 

6th grade Advisory Lessons: Surviving Middle School, Time Management, Empathy & Community Building, Active Listening, The Brain, Semester 1 Reflections (Student Written Comments). 

7th Grade Advisory Lessons: Habits of Highly Effective Teens, Empathy, Compassion, Healthy Relationships, Conflict Resolution, Semester 1 Reflections (Student Written Comments)

8th Grade Advisory Lessons: Active Listening, The Teenage Brain, How Children Succeed: Characteristics of Successful Students, Personal Identity, Authenticity, Finding Your Voice, Semester 1 Reflections (Student Written Comments) 

House Points: All students are part of one of five house teams: Pink Elephants, Emerald Cobras, Titanium Tigers, Golden Gibbons, Hornbills. Throughout the year, students participate in competitions to earn points. 

• Advisory Teachers:

  • Pink Elephants: Ms. Molly, Mr. Andrew, Mr. Kom

  • Emerald Cobras: Mr. Jordan, Mr. Deepak, Mr. Chris

  • Titanium Tigers: Ms. Kathy, Ms. Era Dawn, Kru Win

  • Golden Gibbons: Ms. Amanda, Mr. Andy, Mr. Harvey

  • Hornbills: Mr. Nelson, Mr. Tyson, Mr. Dakota

• Knowledge Bowl: The day before Winter Break, we held the Knowledge Bowl. Advisories competed in house teams to answer content related questions developed by their teachers. 

You can view a live points leaderboard here. 

Upcoming Parent Coffee: Identifying Mental Health Concerns and What To Do About It
We are fortunately moving forward as a society after the COVID pandemic. However, the effect of the shutdowns, online school, and lack of socialization continue to impact our children. In this parent coffee, we will review any signs, symptoms, and behaviors to watch out for that may indicate concerns about mental health. While it may seem surprising, we do have students at elementary age who express self-harm and suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Also, we know that teaching young children to manage their emotions in healthy ways will help them as they move into adolescence. We will discuss how to identify behaviors of concern and how to support them in order to manage their emotions in healthy ways. 

*Please watch out for a message from us regarding a specific date and time.*

Please see this note from our Science Department regarding Science Fair!

I am here for YOU! Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions, want to discuss anything further, or just need someone to talk to about your child. Thanks for reading!

Mr. Andy Krauthoefer, MS Counselor
andrewk@rism.ac.th