The Counselor's Corner

A Message from Ms. Voegele

12-2009

Season’s Greetings from the Locust Grove Counseling Department! First, I would like to thank everyone who donated items for our food drive. The drive continues until Friday, December 11^th. All Oldham County Board of Education employees received a letter from Bobbie Stoess, Crestwood teacher and Chairperson of the Oldham County food drive (with the South Oldham Inter Church Council and the Red Cross). Food baskets will be provided for over 300 families in Oldham County. Cash donations are being accepted to pay for perishable items like hams, milk, bread, apples, potatoes and sugar. If you would like to donate, please make your check payable to the South Oldham Inter Church Council and mail it to Bobbie Stoess at Crestwood Elementary. The baskets also need children’s books, shampoo, toothpaste and school supplies.

If you are interested in helping with the baskets, the Kentucky Methodist Conference Center on Floydsburg Road is where the fun will happen. December 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17 from 6-8 PM are the dates the baskets will be created. If you would like to help, please come to the above location at the designated times. Mrs. Stoess will be happy to sign for volunteer hours for students.

Also again this year, our school will support the local Red Cross angel tree. Although I am unsure of the exact number of children we will support, I am positive we will be able to provide a lovely Christmas for our students requiring assistance this year. If you are interested in supporting one of our “angels,” please contact me so I’ll be able to provide the child’s size information for clothing and toys that would interest them. All student names are kept confidential.

Congratulations to our MegaSkill Students of the Month! These students were selected by their teachers for showing the MegaSkills Motivation. Way to go, Students!

Early Primary- Jacob Davis, Lauren Turner, Brady Potter, Lenny Applegate, Brooklyn Rochet, Jake Wallace, Sam Young, Preston Smith, Skyler Hatfield, Hunter Buckley, Blake Fox, Mia Rivera, Cody Smith, Sophie Ritschel, Alandra Carroll, Kaitlyn Walsh, Cierra Collins, Eli Cunningham, Wyatt Mitchell, Jessica Welch, Isabella Zapata, Easton Burton, Chad Phillips, Madison Davis, Brendan Pineda

Upper Primary- Megan Smekrud, Justin Welborn, Olivia Bianco, Brenna Blankenship, Kylan Richardson, Olivia Sapp, Caitlyn Donoho, Kendall Shaffer, Josie Wise, Victoria Taylor, Hailey Ballard, Kaiya Sheron, Katie Simonyi, Ashley Hammer, Cameron Borowick, Erica Gurr, Zack Ford, Logan Potter, Madyson Hayes, Maddie Grinnell, Jack Kebbell, Christian Harper, Caroline Davis, Gabrielle Morris, Kiana Thatcher, Marina Sherman, Shelby Vinsand, Anthony Asay

Intermediate- Makenzie Hargan, Katie Witkowski, Hunter Thomas, Tarryn Long, Kelsey Kasischke, Sarah Abukwaik, Maddie Weiland, Rachel Hollkamp, Preston Burton, Emma Reisch, Daniel Shircliff, Kaylin Szczublewski, Logan Yonts, Maddie Fultz, Jamie Wilson, Skyler Hewett, Damion Bruce, Sabrena Darius, Kailey Smith, Daniel Calderon, Alexis Gerges, Brittney Kruzel, Nathan Johnson, Madelyn Burgess

Classroom Guidance

Last month, I visited our 9 Early Primary classrooms and taught the I-Care Rules for the students to follow at school and at home. This month, I have been visiting the Upper Primary classrooms to teach a conflict resolution program with the frog, Kelso. The following strategies have been taught to help students in situations where they feel bothered, upset, or annoyed by another child. However, as always, if a child feels threatened or scared by another person’s behavior, they have been instructed to tell a trusted adult immediately.

1. Go to another game or activity

2. Share and take turns.

3. Respectfully talk it over and listen to each other.

4. Walk away from the problem.

5. Ignore the problem behavior.

6. Tell the person to stop the problem behavior.

7. Apologize if they have done something wrong.

8. Make a deal or compromise.

9. Wait and cool off.

Also, I have incorporated the Jump-Start! program into our newscast production three days a week. The program focuses on the school as a whole and emphasizes behaviors that cultivate and support respect, friendship, individuality and compassion. Daily lessons include inspirational role models, fun and lively skits and goals to achieve at home/in school teach and reinforce positive behaviors. In order to prevent such behaviors as aggression, bullying, violence and relational aggression, we must teach our students to cultivate empathy and courage, to think about the feelings of others, respect themselves and others, and stand up for their own rights and the rights of others.

Listed below are the topics covered during the last month of school. I’ve also listed an activity to try at home to reinforce the main ideas from each week.

· Assert Yourself- Practice assertive behaviors with simple role-plays at the dinner table or even in the car. Have your child practice making assertive statements such as, “Please stop that” or “Leave me alone.” Reverse roles. Have your child be the “bully,” and respond with appropriate assertive statements. Your child will get a big kick out of hearing your responses, and this will help him/her remember them better!

· Improve Our World- When members of your family do things that help improve our world, notice and compliment them. Helping each other, cleaning up, being responsible- all these things help improve our world!

· Act With Courage- As a family, watch a movie about a hero. Talk about how the person is acting with courage might have felt. Remind your child that the hero probably felt fear, but still acted with courage. Talk about how it is OK to be scared. Also, talk about things that you, as an adult, have been afraid to try or do. Talk about times when you have acted with courage to try these things, despite your fears.

I hope your family has a safe and happy holiday season.