Counselors' Corner

Check out this week's newsletter to learn more about:

*The Best Gift for Fall Break — Time: To a child, love is spelled T-I-M-E

*Union County Fall Festivals & Events

*Let Grow explained

*Let Grow K-1

*2nd Graders Grow Fruits of Independence with Let Grow

*Classroom lessons

*Grades 3&4: Flexible vs. Stuck Thinking

*Grade 5: What is Bullying?

*Looking for Extra Support at Home? UA Has a New Partnership!

*Parenting Book Club- Wednesday's at 8:30am

*Stretch and Shine Yoga Club Tuesdays and Thursdays

*Request a Counselor Check in

Fall for Matthews will be held on Saturday, October 10, 2026, from 10AM - 4PM.
"Fall" in love with Matthews during this Fall Festival at Stumptown Park in downtown Matthews.

The Event is FREE, open to the public to attend and will be held rain or shine!

Visitors attending the Event do not need to register.

Expect arts & crafts vendors, business vendors, food vendors, a DJ / live music, a pumpkin patch, and a children's area!

Let Grow: Help Your Child Build Independence

Think back on your childhood. The joy of playing. The afternoons absorbed in a hobby. Or even the time something went wrong and you had to figure out what to do — and you did. Remember?

You were trusted with some independence. And it shaped you. But today, for a whole lot of reasons, kids don’t get as many chances to do things on their own. This makes it hard for them to stretch and succeed, or even bounce back from disappointments.

This school year, Mrs. Beare will encourage Kindergarten - 2nd graders (and you) to work on building independence through the Let Grow Experience. Let Grow is a homework assignment that has kids go out and do something new, on their own: Make breakfast, climb a tree, use scissors, run an errand. The point is to stretch the boundaries of childhood just a little bit (and with your permission). When kids do something new on their own, big things happen. Kids and Parents get a burst of confidence. Worry gets replaced by pride and joy.

It can be hard to let go, so The Let Grow Experience provides this little push. And of course you and your child will discuss together what their Projects will be. Be prepared for a lump in your throat. And thank you for giving your kids this gift! Stay tuned for more information about the Let Grow Experience. If you want to learn more, watch the video below or check out the Let Grow website.

This month, our school is focusing on the character trait of Adaptability — the ability to adjust, be flexible, and handle new situations with a positive attitude.

Our monthly independence challenge is: Try something new you’ve never done before!

This could be:

- Learning a new game, skill, or recipe

- Trying a new hobby or sport

- Helping with a new chore at home

Please encourage your child to step outside their comfort zone this month. At the end of the challenge, we will share ways we tried something new and celebrate our growth together.

Thank you for supporting independence and adaptability at

home!

🌱 WHAT'S NEW IN 2ND GRADE THIS YEAR

Instead of waiting for a monthly assignment from the school counselor, students will use a Let Grow Choice Board to choose age-appropriate tasks that help them practice independence at home. The goal is for kids to learn to think for themselves and solve their own problems

Students might choose to…

• Get themselves ready for the day. This includes getting all of their items into the car and to school on their own.

• Organize their belongings

• Help someone else or take responsibility for something they normally would let you do for them.

🍎 HOW THE FRUIT & TREE WILL WORK

1 CHOOSE: Pick a task from the Choice Board that helps your child practice independence.

3 MAKE A FRUIT: Write or draw the task on an apple or pear and bring it to school.

5 GROW THE TREE: At the end of each month, the fruits will be added to our Let Grow Tree in the K-2 Hall.

ONE MORE IMPORTANT CHANGE: Students can bring in MORE THAN ONE FRUIT each month! There is no required number and no competition. Children may complete as many Let Grow tasks as they would like. Every fruit represents a moment when a child practiced independence and discovered, “I can do this on my own!”

Thank you for helping us give our students the opportunity to stretch, try, figure things out, and discover what they can do on their own.

We can't wait to watch our Let Grow Tree—and our students—grow!

Let them grow! 🌳

As part of National Bullying Prevention Month, third and fourth graders will be identifying action steps they can take to help create a world without bullying. Students will recognize that every step they take individually helps unite all students along the path for kindness, acceptance, and inclusion.

This month, we’re focusing on how each of us can help make our school a safe, respectful, and welcoming place for everyone. Bullying can happen in many ways through words, actions, or online and it can deeply affect others. By choosing kindness and standing up for what’s right, we can make a real difference.

Throughout October, we’ll talk about how to recognize bullying, how to speak up safely, and how to support classmates who may need a friend. Remember, even small actions like including someone new at lunch or sending a kind message can create a big impact.

Join us by wearing orange on Unity Day (October 21, 2026) to show that our school stands together for kindness, acceptance, and inclusion.

Let’s work together to make our school a place where everyone feels respected and valued. 💛

UA is proud to partner with Daybreak Health to provide confidential, evidence-based virtual wellness support for students ages 5–19. Sessions are designed to help students strengthen focus, manage stress, build confidence, and develop lifelong coping skills.

How It Works

• Families can submit a Care Request to get started. You are free to look at their resources even before you may be ready to request help.
• Students are matched with a qualified clinician who provides personalized, one-on-one or family sessions.
• Appointments are 50 mins and available Monday–Saturday, 8 a.m.–8 p.m. offered virtually from home or school
• Sessions are secure and confidential, HIPPA and FERPA compliant

Why It Matters

Daybreak’s school-connected programs have been shown to:

• Improve emotional well-being and classroom behavior
• Support academic success and focus
• Increase attendance and engagement

Dear families,

Back by request, a Parent Book Study on Parenting with Love and Logic: Teaching Children Responsibility. Mrs. Beare, Mrs. Ham, and Ms. McGee- Helms will be hosting the book discussions on Wednesdays from 8:30-9:30 am, starting September 9th.

• Information for Parent Book Club.
• RSVP for Parent Book Club

Feel free to join us whichever weeks you can -- you don't need to have been present from the first meeting!

October 21 - Pearls 1-9

October 28 - Pearls 10-19

November 4 - Pearls 20-29

November 18 - Pearls 30-39

December 2 - Pearls 40-46; wrap-up

"Love and Logic cannot change the child before it changes the parent." p.103

School Counselors are hosting Stretch and Shine Yoga Club (grades 2-4 only please) on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. The club will meet every Tuesday and Thursday morning from 7:00-7:20 am in the Cafeteria. Any student 2nd-4th grade is welcome to attend. They will need to be in the first few rounds of carpool drop off to make it on time. We close the door at 7:05 so tell them to go directly to the cafeteria.

Practicing yoga provides many benefits including exercise, mindfulness and focus. It would make a great addition to bedtime routines and morning routines. Check out the resource we use at UA and find time to spend twenty minutes with your child to reset your body and mind. Cosmic Kids Yoga

School Counselors can help students manage big feelings surrounding problems at school and at home. If you would like for a Counselor to check in with your child, click one of the buttons below.