It's hard to believe that the first half of the school year has flown by
already!
7th grade students have been receiving anti-bullying, cyberbullying
and drug refusal skills lessons during zone. The students will continue
to receive No Place for Hate lessons on bullying and tolerance through zone,
as well as some career cruising and preparation for high school and beyond.
Students will also begin Project Alert in the next couple of weeks, which is
a middle school research-based curriculum on drug and alcohol awareness and
prevention. Mrs. Cathcart will be giving classroom guidance lessons on sexual
harassment and dating violence over the next couple of weeks.
Group counseling is another part of the responsive services piece of what we
do as a school counselor. Students have had an opportunity to let us know if
they are interested in being in a counseling group. We are currently working
on interviewing potential members and forming groups. There will also be
later groups starting in the spring as well.
As a reminder, students may access us by picking up a "request to see the
counselor slip" from just inside the office. Place requests in your grade
level counselor's box outside our office door. We typically have a student
aide every period who can assist you. Parents, our doors are always open.
However, between new students registering, classroom guidance lessons,
individual and group counseling, as well as various trainings, team meetings,
etc. we are not always available for a drop in visit. Please call or email
for an appointment, that way we can give you our undivided attention!
Please contact your student's teacher first with any concerns regarding a
class. Administrative approval must be obtained for class changes at this
point in the school year.
We highly recommend checking out Love & Logic for parents! (Especially
parents of teenagers!) We use Love & Logic with our own children and with
many of the students at Deerpark. Love & Logic provides some easy one-liners
and simple guidelines on how to help our kids learn to think for themselves
and avoid power struggles when giving consequences. They have a whole series
of great books and humerous audio books to listen to in the car.
As always, please don't hesitate to contact with any questions or
concerns. Take care!