Nicholson Stars Counselor

The Counselor's Corner

Parents,

As you all certainly know, we are nearing the end of the school year.  Today our third through fifth graders finished CRCT testing.  You can feel the excitement in the air! Prior to this week, a focus in classroom guidance has been test preparation.  The students and I have discussed such things as relaxation, having a positive attitude, working at medium speed, thinking about answers and questions before answering, getting plenty of rest, and eating a healthy breakfast prior to testing.  I stressed that the CRCT was an opportunity for the students to show you and their teachers how much they have learned this year. 

Prior to our lessons in test taking skills, we focused on decision making, and the steps involved in making good decisions.  For example, ideas must be brainstormed.  Then we must think about the consequence of each idea, and make our best choice.  If it turns out this choice is not workable,  try another solution.  I have stressed to our students that consequences follow decisions, and they can be good or bad depending on the choices we make.  I believe that frequently students think that consequences all always bad, and I have emphasized that a good consequence follows a good decision, such as a good grade usually follows making the good decision to study. 

During the next three weeks, I will focus on end of the year activities.  This week in kindergarten and first grades, the emphasis is on reflecting over the year and thinking of the most favorite memory of the year.  The students then draw pictures and write about their memories.  As time allows, the students share their work with the class. 

Parents, Mrs. Insogna and I wish to thank you for the support you have given for our Terrific Kids program.  We are so appreciative of your attendance at the programs where your child is honored for his or her accomplishments.  As you are aware, this is our first year of the Terrific Kids' program sponsored by the Kiwanis Club.  Your support has been utterly overwhelming!!

The Counselor's Corner

Dear Parents,

In classroom guidance in kindergarten and first grades, I have focused on "I Messages," anger rules, and making good choices.  I explained that when we are angry or upset, we can talk with our friends and use an " Message."  The students role-played specific situations, such as I feel mad, because you will not share your cookie.  Please share with me.  I explained that you say how you feel, the reason why, and what you want to happen the next time.

In the following lessons, the students and I discussed the anger rules which are: 1) Never hurt yourself, 2) Never hurt others, and 3) Never break property.  I explained that it was okay to get angry, and that everyone has this emotion, but we must stop and think before we make a choice that can get us in trouble.  We then discussed specific choices they could make to calm down, such as exercising, talking or drawing about our feelings, or playing.  In our lesson this week, we continued to learn about good choices to make when hurt, upset, or angry.  The students played a game where they had to identify appropriate or inappropriate behaviors when angry or upset. 

In second grade I have focused on decision making, and I explained there are four steps in successful decision making.  The first step is to identify the decision to be made, then brainstorm ideas, consider the consequences of each idea, and then make the best choice.  

In third grade I am concluding our Steps to Respect program.  During January, we focused on the responsibilities of bystanders who are witnesses to bullying.  I stressed that each person has a responsibility to report or to refuse bullying behaviors. Our third graders have been very engaged in learning friendship and assertiveness skills, as well as coping skills to deal with students who engage in bullying behaviors.  

Parents, thank you for your continued support of our Terrific Kids program that is sponsored by the Kiwanis Club.  It is so meaningful to our students to have you participate in honoring their accomplishments.  Our next program will be Tuesday, February 24th at 7:30 a.m. in the media center.

Also parents, Mrs. Insogna and I are conducting a brief workshop on the evening of Tuesday, March 3rd. We hope that you will join us as we walk you through the steps of CRCT online assessment and test taking strategies. 

As always thank you for your continued support, and please contact me at 770-928-5573, or e-mail me at jean.hill@cobbk12.org if I can be of any assistance.

The Counselors' Corner

Dear Parents,

It is hard to imagine that we are now half way through our 2008-2009 school year.  I hope all of our families have a happy, healthy, safe 2009.  This past year has been very difficult for many from a financial perspective.  Due to that we had many in our school community to assist during the Thanksgiving and Holiday season.  I wish to thank everyone who gave so generously during Thanksgiving and our Star Tree giving.  Due to your generosity, we were able to support several of our Nicholson families.

In classroom guidance, I have continued to focus on Steps to Respect which is a bullying prevention program intended to teach friendship, assertiveness, and appropriate social interaction skills.  These lessons have been taught in third grade, and in second grade, I have concentrated on study skills, such as listening, organization, and goal setting.  In kindergarten and first grades, the emphasis has been on listening skills and the varied careers that are available today.  Additionally before the holiday break, I read the Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein, and the students and I discussed that the greatest gifts we can give are those that we give of ourselves, such as our love and time. 

I am sure that many of you know we have implemented the Terrific Kids program sponsored by the Kiwanis Club.  This program is intended to recognize students for their recent achievement.  Parents are invited to the monthly programs to recognize their child's accomplishments, and we have been delighted to have such high parent attendance at our programs. As always, if you have any questions at all, please contact me via phone at 770-928-5573, or jean.hill@cobbk12.org.     

The Counselors' Corner

Parents,

We have so much to share with you from the Counseling Department.  In third through fifth grades, Mrs. Insogna and I are continuing to teach Steps to Respect lessons.  As you all know, this is the anti-bullying program that we have implemented at Nicholson.  In kindergarten through second grades, I have started a series of lessons on study skills.  In the lower grades, the focus will be on such things as listening and following directions.  In second grades the lessons will also focus on believing in oneself as well as organization skills.  

As you all know, we celebrated Healthy Choices Week the week of October 27-31.  Dr. WellBee from WellStar presented a program to grades K-2.  The focus of the program conveyed the message:  Be Healthy, Be Safe, and Be Fit.  Also during the week, WellStar educators visited classrooms in grades third through fifth and taught lessons on such things as cyber safety and nutrition.  Stephanie Crocker and other employees from Nutrition Services also taught lessons that would meet our standards based curriculum in various classrooms throughout the week.  Additionally our nurse, Mrs. Hamrick taught lessons in first grade about taking medicine safely.  In classroom guidance, I taught kindergarten and first grade students the importance of expressing our feelings rather than holding them inside.  I explained that we sometimes eat in unhealthy ways trying to deal with the pain of our emotions.  I read a book entitled Full Mouse, Empty Mouse by Dina Zeckhausen.  In the end, the mice Billy Blue and Sally Rose learned if they expressed feelings, they could then listen to their tummys to choose the right amount of food to eat. 

On Tuesday, October 28th, a representative from Cobb Safe Kids presented a program to our parents on safety.  She stressed such things, as safety in the home with medications and poison, as well as some safety tips for trick or treating. 

Our Thanksgiving Food Drive is also underway.  We will be collecting non perishable items until November 13th.  The food collected will support our school community.  We also plan to have our Star Tree in our lobby so that when you attend the VIP luncheons, you will be able to select a star.  As you know each star represents a child.  Please return your gift with the star attached by December 10th.  Parents, thank you so much for your support and help during these difficult economic times.  We appreciate you and the support you give to our students.  We could never engage in community outreach programs without your help.

The Counselor's Corner

Parents,

It is so hard to believe that we are already into October.  Our school year has started at a rapid pace.  Mrs. Insogna and I have had two parent workshops, one on our Steps to Respect program and one on a guide to being a successful student.  Our Steps to Respect program has been implemented in third through fifth grades, and it is an anti-bullying program that focuses on friendship skills, bystander strategies, and what a child who is bullied should do.  We certainly do not believe that we have a bullying problem at Nicholson, but we do want to take a proactive, preventive approach.  These lessons are being taught by the counselors and classroom teachers.

The workshop that Mrs. Insogna and I did on September 30th focused on study skills, such as organization skills, test taking strategies, homework tips, and time management.  As we all know, these are necessary skills in becoming an effective, efficient learner. 

During classroom guidance, I began the year explaining to my students the role of the school counselor and how they could see me.  Then I have focused on friendship skills in grades K-3.  I have started the Steps to Respect program in third grade, and we have worked thus far on appropriate ways to initiate and maintain conversations.  In grades K-2, the focus has been on friendship skills, such as we must cooperate, share, take turns, and treat others the way we want to be treated to make and keep friends.

It is a pleasure to be able to work with your children, and parents, please call me at 770-928-5573, or e-mail me at jean.hill@cobbk12.org if I can be of any assistance.         

The Counselor's Corner

Dear Parents,

Welcome back to school.  The faculty and staff at Nicholson are looking forward to an exciting, rewarding year as we partner with you to ensure that your child has a successful year.  Thanks to each of you for your participation in meet and greet and our Open House.  We certainly hope that you found both events informative as you plan for the year ahead.  I would like to provide you with some information about my counseling program and me, because I would like for you to be fully aware of the counseling services that are available for grades K-3. 

I am beginning my second year at Nicholson, and my tenth year as a school counselor.  I have a National Board Professional Teaching Standards certificate in School Counseling.  I am looking forward to working with you, your child's teacher, and our administrators to ensure that your child is the most effective, efficient learner possible.  Additionally, I wanted to share the major components of my counseling program which are listed below:

1.   Guidance Services:   I will be in your child's classroom twice each month, teaching guidance lessons on topics such as good study skills, organization, friendship skills, consequences of behavior, bullying, conflict resolution, career exploration, and the appropriate communication of feelings.  This is not an all-inclusive list; topics will vary depending on the grade level.

2.   Counseling Services:  Small group counseling is available, and during the school year, I will conduct various small groups that will last six to eight weeks.  The students will be in a group for thirty-minute sessions, once per week.  No child can participate in small group without the written permission of his or her parents.  Examples of groups that could be offered as the need arises are:

Study skills                                                  Death of a loved one

Social skills                                                  Anger management

Coping with divorce                                       Confidence building

Friendship                                                    New student transition

3.   Consultation and Coordination:  Communication among parents, teachers, and counselors is paramount to the academic and social success of a child.  Together we can develop a plan for improving student learning and/or behavior.  Your child's academic and personal success is very important to me as well as the entire faculty and staff at Nicholson. 

If you would like your child to participate in a small group, or if you wish to speak with me concerning any issue, please call me at 770-928-5573.  The specific content of counseling sessions is confidential; however, if during a session, I become aware of anything that you can do to assist your child with a particular issue, I will contact you immediately.

The counselors at Nicholson are also implementing a reading tutoring program that will be supported by parents.  If you would like to help a child improve his or her reading skills, it would only require a commitment of thirty minutes per week.  If this is something you would enjoy, please call me.  We would love to have you participate; as we all know, reading is the foundation of all learning.

I look forward to partnering with you and your child to ensure that he or she has a successful school year.  Please contact me if I can assist you or your child in anyway during the school year.

The Counselors' Corner

Dear Parents,

It is so hard to believe that we are at the end of another school year.  We have to stop and reflect upon where the time has gone, because it has passed so quickly.  As you know our students have been very busy the last few weeks.  They have taken the CRCT after much preparation, and currently we are engaged in end of the year activities.  As our students are recognized for their accomplishments in third through fifth grades in the awards' ceremonies, I have asked my students to reflect upon their year and discuss or write about what stands out as most significant to them this school year.  Many have written about something exciting that was learned, and others have written about a fun field trip, or their teachers and friends.  In guidance I also read the book OH the Places You'll Go by Dr. Seuss.  This book is so inspirational for any age group, because the focus is on life's challenges, but the underlying theme is that we can all be successful with effort.  We discussed that their next immediate challenge is the next grade, and we talked about all the positive things about moving on even though there is some sadness about saying goodbye to our teacher and classmates. 

Parents, I have thoroughly enjoyed with your children in classroom guidance this year, and I am very much looking forward to our new school year.  Please encourage your child to read during the summer, and the School Box has a wonderful Bridge series that will help your child retain his or her skills during summer vacation.  Parents and students, enjoy your summer and have a wonderful safe, fun-filled vacation, and I look forward to seeing you in August.

The Counselor's Corner

Dear Parents,

Everyone here at Nicholson has been busily preparing for our upcoming CRCT tests that will begin Wednesday April 23rd.  Our first through fifth grades will test the 23rd through the 25th on Reading, Language Arts, and Math.  Third through fifth grades will test on April 28th and 29th on Science and Social Studies respectively. 

In classroom guidance I have been working with first through third grades on test stress.  I have explained that some level of stress is beneficial, because it will make them more alert so their test performance is likely to improve.  However, I explained that too much stress will not help.  I explain the stress as butterflies in their stomachs, heart beating fast, and sweaty palms.  The students and I then discuss some strategies that will help to alleviate the stress when it happens or before it occurs.  We talked about basic test taking strategies, such as getting 8-10 hours of sleep each night, eating a healthy breakfast, getting to school early, thinking and talking positively, taking deep breaths to calm themselves, etc.  I reassured the students that they had been working all year to prepare for these tests, and that no one expected them to answer all questions correctly.  I explained that their parents, teachers, and everyone do expect them to do their best and try their hardest.   

On Wednesday April 16th Mrs. Insogna and I hosted a parent workshop entitled "A Guide to Successful Test Taking."  We were so pleased that the workshop was well attended.  During the workshop we stressed testing tips such as maintain as stress-free environment on testing mornings as possible, remind your child to do his or her best, and reassure your child that you are confident he or she will, and get your child to school early on test mornings so that he or she will have time to go through their morning routine before testing begins without feeling rushed.  Parents, as you know the CRCT tests are important, and we certainly want our students and children to succeed; however we do not want to create an environment where they feel unnecessary stress.  Please just encourage them to do their best.  At the conclusion of testing if your child does not feel that he or she has done his or her best work, reassure your child there will be many other opportunities during their academic career to succeed.  Parents, as always if I can be of any assistance to you, please do not hesitate to call me at 770-928-5573, or my e-mail is jean.mosley@cobbk12.org.       

The Counselor's Corner

Dear Parents,

Everyone here at Nicholson has been busily preparing for our upcoming CRCT tests that will begin Wednesday April 23rd.  Our first through fifth grades will test the 23rd through the 25th on Reading, Language Arts, and Math.  Third through fifth grades will test on April 28th and 29th on Science and Social Studies respectively. 

In classroom guidance I have been working with first through third grades on test stress.  I have explained that some level of stress is beneficial, because it will make them more alert so their test performance is likely to improve.  However, I explained that too much stress will not help.  I explain the stress as butterflies in their stomachs, heart beating fast, and sweaty palms.  The students and I then discuss some strategies that will help to alleviate the stress when it happens or before it occurs.  We talked about basic test taking strategies, such as getting 8-10 hours of sleep each night, eating a healthy breakfast, getting to school early, thinking and talking positively, taking deep breaths to calm themselves, etc.  I reassured the students that they had been working all year to prepare for these tests, and that no one expected them to answer all questions correctly.  I explained that their parents, teachers, and everyone do expect them to do their best and try their hardest.   

On Wednesday April 16th Mrs. Insogna and I hosted a parent workshop entitled "A Guide to Successful Test Taking."  We were so pleased that the workshop was well attended.  During the workshop we stressed testing tips such as maintain as stress-free environment on testing mornings as possible, remind your child to do his or her best, and reassure your child that you are confident he or she will, and get your child to school early on test mornings so that he or she will have time to go through their morning routine before testing begins without feeling rushed.  Parents, as you know the CRCT tests are important, and we certainly want our students and children to succeed; however we do not want to create an environment where they feel unnecessary stress.  Please just encourage them to do their best.  At the conclusion of testing if your child does not feel that he or she has done his or her best work, reassure your child there will be many other opportunities during their academic career to succeed.  Parents, as always if I can be of any assistance to you, please do not hesitate to call me at 770-928-5573, or my e-mail is jean.mosley@cobbk12.org.       

The Counselor's Corner

Dear Parents,

During the past three weeks, I have continued to focus on career education in kindergarten through third grades.  The intent of the lessons in kindergarten and first grades is to introduce the concept of careers and the many career choices that are available.  In classroom guidance this concept was introduced via games where the students had to match the career with job duties.  In second and third grades, the focus was on assessing the students' interests to determine what career field they might want to think about.  Last week in our lesson, the students were given an opportunity to explore their chosen career online to determine job duties, education required, pay, and future available opportunities for the career. 

This week in kindergarten classroom guidance we are discussing  feelings.  I am reading My Many Colored Days by Dr. Seuss, and the students and I are discussing how we associate colors with our feelings, such as happy and yellow, red and angry, and blue and sad.  The students are then asked to color the feelings that represent how they usually feel in a day.  As time allows the students who would like to share their work with their class do so. 

In first grade I am doing an activity that will help them to prepare and do their best work on our upcoming CRCT tests.  The students act out certain things such as, eating a healthy breakfact, thinking before answering, listening and following directions, and working at a medium speed.  As each activity is role-played, the other students guess what is being depicted.  As each activity is identified, we discuss it and how it can benefit their performance on the CRCT tests.  Parents, please encourage your child to try hard and do his or her best on the tests, but also reassure your child that you know they have worked hard and are ready for the testing.  Please ensure that your child arrives at school early on test mornings; certainly prior to 7:50 a.m.  Children perform better if their mornings are not rushed and are as stress free as possible. 

Parents, Mrs. Insogna and I are doing a workshop at 7:45 a.m. on Wednesday, April 16th in the media center.  The purpose of the workshop is to offer suggestions for successful test taking.  We certainly hope that you will be able to attend.  CRCT testing will begin April 23rd for all students.  First and second graders will conclude their testing on Friday, April 25th.  Third and fifth graders will continue testing through Tuesday, April 29th. 

We certainly hope that everyone has a happy, fun-filled, relaxed spring break and returns to school ready to show how much has been learned this year.