Notes from the Counselor 2011
Included in Family Connection Folders
September:
Dear Parents and Guardians,
The school year has gotten off to a great start in the world of classroom guidance and counseling! I have enjoyed getting to work with you and your child, and I am looking forward to the many exciting things planned throughout this year. Lesson units for 1-3rd and 5th grades on various topics such as feelings and emotions, empathy, friendships, teasing, bullying, solving conflicts, and anger management have wrapped up. From skits and role plays, to creating rhymes and lyrics, anti-bullying posters, and feeling faces, the students became very engaged and involved in discussion on these important topics. Please see the “Parents” link on my Counselor webpage via the HRA website for more information on what all has been accomplished within the school counseling program so far this year.
Thanks,
Shelbie Ely
School Counselor
October:
“All kids have gifts; our job is to help them un-wrap them.” ~Unknown
As the year has continued on, the students of HRA have blown me away with their energy, willingness to learn, and their strengths and talents. Their individual gifts and talents have emerged and have been shown in the various lessons and time I have spent with them. Fifth graders shared their creative minds and artistic talents during the month of September when we discussed bullying and its effects on ourselves and others. The students created anti-bullying posters and cinquains (poems) that are hanging around the school. They share messages that bullying hurts, it is important to stand up against bullying, and that we need to work together to keep Holy Rosary a safe and bully-free environment as best we can. First graders got creative during lessons on feelings when they were able to create their own “feelings faces”. Sixth graders shared their talents during a lesson on Wellness, where they worked in groups to create rhymes and lyrics on topics such as hand washing, hygiene, nutrition, sleep, and safety. The students of Holy Rosary continue to amaze me with their willingness to share their voice and talents with others.
While we have covered many various topics already in such a short span of time, the rest of the year holds much more to look forward to. Making safe and healthy choices is a topic that is touched on continuously throughout the year, not just during guidance lessons, but also in the classroom. Teachers have carried the importance of Red Ribbon Week and its meaning into the classroom with discussion, activities, and role plays this week. In the spring, elementary students will partake in a safety curriculum called Safe @ Last, and middle school students will participate in the Be. Program, a curriculum on safe and healthy relationships. Another program to look forward to is Kids on the Block of STARS Nashville, which will be at HRA in February to present to grades PreK-6 on various topics.
I have enjoyed getting to know the students, parents and teachers of Holy Rosary, and I am looking forward to all that is in store for us the rest of this year!
Shelbie Ely
School Counselor