Counselor Newsletter

✨A Fresh Start for the New Year!✨

Happy New Year, Families! As we begin this new chapter together, the start of the year is a wonderful opportunity for reflection, growth, and fresh beginnings. In guidance classes so far, students have been building important skills such as kindness, problem-solving, managing emotions, growth mindset and being respectful community members. It has been exciting to see students practice these skills and carry them into their classrooms and friendships.

As we move forward, our guidance lessons will continue to support students’ academic, social, and emotional growth. Upcoming topics will include helping our 5th grade elementary students register for middle school courses in HAC, learning about calming stations and strategies to help manage big feelings, and reinforcing the importance of showing respect and using kind words toward on another. These topics are designed to empower students with confidence, self-awareness, and tools they can use both in school and at home.

Thank you for your continued partnership as we support students in starting the year strong and creating a positive, supportive school community. We look forward to an exciting and meaningful year ahead!

We were honored to welcome Dr. Sonia Jasso, NISD School Board member, as our guest speaker for our Caring Pillar of Character celebration! Even with her busy schedule, she graciously spent the morning with us, sharing an uplifting and meaningful message with our students and families. We are incredibly thankful for her time and support. Congratulations to all of our Pillar Awardees, your kindness and character help make our school an amazing place to learn, grow, and belong!

Students explored hands-on coping tools, including Legos, puzzles, art, connection board games, and sensory tools, to learn different strategies for emotional regulation.

Our 5th graders had an exciting visit to their future middle school! They loved walking the hallways, exploring classrooms, learning about the many elective opportunities, and meeting some of their future teachers. It was a fantastic experience that helped them feel confident and excited about the next chapter of their educational journey!

Content Area: Intrapersonal Effectiveness

Student Competency: Students will demonstrate a positive self-concept, resilience, and coping skills.

Students will engage in a variety of calming stations that include coping tools such as Legos, puzzles, sensory items, Magna-Tiles, stretch poses, and art activities. These experiences introduce students to healthy, positive ways to release big emotions and help them return to a calm, focused state—tools they can use both in the classroom and at home.

Family Discussion:

1. How does your body feel when you are having a big emotion like anger, frustration, or worry?

2. What is something that helps you calm down when your feelings feel too big?

3. How can we help each other in our family when someone is having a big emotion?

Noni Says No

Content Area: Personal Health and Safety

Student Competency: Students possess assertiveness skills necessary for personal protection

Outcome: Students will demonstrate the ability to set boundaries for physical, social, and emotional protection.

Noni can't say “no” to her friend, even when it means she has to hand over a precious toy, or when it means agreeing to a hideous haircut, or even giving up her bed at a sleepover. But when Noni finally finds her voice, the consequences are not what she – or the reader – expects

Family Discussion:

1. What could happen if someone communicates in an aggressive way?

2. Have you ever felt like Noni, the character in the book, afraid to say "no" or speak up? What happened?

3. Practice using an assertive voice.

Content Area: Interpersonal effectiveness

Student Competency: Students utilize effective and appropriate communication skills. Students recognize personal boundaries, individual rights and privacy needs of others

A girl new to school is easily able to make friends with others. But, one student picks on her even when she responds with kindness. The girl learns how to firmly yet kindly stand up for herself when she is mistreated. She is able to learn the importance of setting boundaries for healthy friendships.

Family Discussion:

1. What and why might we want to set a boundary?

2. Why is it better to talk it out with a friend you have a problem with than complain about them to another friend?

3. What if you notice your friend being disrespectful to or making fun of someone else?

AVID is continuing their recruitment for next school year. If you would like to nominate your child or if your child is interested in participating in the AVID program, please submit their application as soon as possible. Below is the timeline that Mrs. Williams, Zachry AVID coordinator, has provided us with:

Recruitment Timeline
Staff/Parent/Student Nominations: due Friday, Jan. 16
Student Applications: due Friday, Jan. 23
Student Interviews: week of Friday, Jan. 30

APPLICATION CLOSES ON JANUARY 23rd!

Check out the OPEN HOUSES happening this month!

NISD offers 5 different Magnet School Programs. Check them out!

Bulldog families, we're here to support you! If you’d like more information about any of the resources listed below, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me. For some of these resources, I’ll need to submit a referral on your behalf. You can find my contact information at the bottom of this newsletter.

Busy days are part of life. Mindful moments can make the difference. Check out these resources to help parents reset, refocus, and begin each day with calm and positive intention.