Adams Hill Counselor Corner

Through the Counselor Corner newsletter, I want to better communicate with the Patriot community in order to provide families with resources and parent education opportunities. I also want to keep parents informed with regards to the guidance lessons being taught in class and activities happening in our Adams Hill Guidance Department. You can find the Counselor Corner newsletter in our weekly Patriot Pride and Class Dojo.

I offer individual counseling, small group counseling and teach guidance lessons to support our student's social, emotional and academic needs. Counselors work with teachers, staff and families to enhance the skills of students, so that they can be a successful learner, problem solver, and a leader. Guidance and counseling services are offered for all children in grades PK-5th grade.

Counseling services are delivered through the components addressed below:

1. Guidance Curriculum: School Counselors provide guidance lessons to all grade levels that facilitate student growth and development.

2. Responsive Services: School Counselors intervene on behalf of those students whose personal circumstances, concerns, or problems are threatening to interfere with or are interfering with their healthy development.

3. Individual Planning: School counselors guide students to plan, monitor, and manage their own educational, career, personal and social development.

4. System Support: This component includes identifying and coordinating resources and activities on campus and in the community that indirectly benefit students. Management activities ensure the delivery of a high quality school counseling program.

Our focus this month will be on teaching students the difference between bullying and conflicts, how to be "upstanders," and how to make respectful choices.

What is Bullying?

Bullying is unwanted, aggressive behavior among school aged children that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. The behavior is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated, over time.

In order to be considered bullying, the behavior must be aggressive and include:

• An Imbalance of Power: Kids who bully use their power—such as physical strength, access to embarrassing information, or popularity—to control or harm others. Power imbalances can change over time and in different situations, even if they involve the same people.
• Repetition: Bullying behaviors happen more than once or have the potential to happen more than once.

What does NOT constitute Bullying?

• Simply disliking someone is not an act of bullying: It is human nature to not like every person you encounter. While it may not feel good to know someone doesn’t like you, verbal and non-verbal messages of “I don’t like you” are not acts of bullying. It is important to remember that while you may not like everyone, everyone deserves to be respected.
• Exclusion: Exclusion can be a very unpleasant but, just like you won’t like everyone you encounter, it is normal for people to gather with their friends or play a game at the playground with just their friends.
• Making a joke about someone: Occasionally being teased is not uncommon and when everyone involved is not offended it is not considered bullying.
• Arguments: People disagree about a variety of different things. In situations when a power imbalance does not exist or both kids do not perceive a power imbalance this is not considered bullying
• Isolated acts of harassment, aggressive behavior, intimidation, or meanness: Unless the behavior is severe in its harm, a single incident does not typically constitute bullying.

What is Conflict?

• Conflict is a struggle between two or more people who appear to have different goals or desires. Conflict occurs naturally as we interact with one another. It is a normal part of life that we will not always agree with other people about the things we want, what we think, or what we want to do.

Parents please visit the National Bullying Prevention Center for more information on helping your child if they are experiencing being bullied.

On Friday, October 2nd, our students will be signing the Decision of Respect with their classes. This symbolizes their commitment to treating others with kindness, showing respect, and standing up against bullying. It’s a powerful way for students to take responsibility for their actions and help create a positive and inclusive school environment.

Parents please reinforce respectful behaviors at home.

On October 5th students are encouraged to WEAR BLUE to show that we stand together against bullying.

This month guidance lesson topics will focus on bully prevention and personal health and safety lessons for Red Ribbon Week.

Red Ribbon Dress Up Days Flyer

October 26th-30th

Parents be on the lookout for our next parent session. It is scheduled for Thursday, October 22, 2026 from 7:45-9:00. This session will focus on exploring the different parenting styles and discover a balanced approach that fits your family's unique needs, fostering strong relationships and long-term success for your children.

I will send out a flyer in Class Dojo where you can find more detailed information along with a QR Code to sign up.

Thank you to the Assistance League of San Antonio and Operation School Bell for providing 34 of our students with much needed resources.

What is Northside Threads:

Northside Threads is a Clothes Closet created by the NISD Family Engagement Program and community volunteers to serve every campus and family in the District that needs clothing support.

Who is eligible to receive clothes?

Currently enrolled students needing support can gain access to the NISD Threads Clothes Closet at no cost by obtaining a referral from their school counselor. Each student will be able to pick out five tops, five bottoms, new socks, and new underwear.

NISD Threads is always in need of gently used clothing items as well as new socks and underwear donations in all sizes from elementary through high school aged children and youth. You can drop off any donations at the NISD Threads Clothes Closet located at 5223 Blessing St, San Antonio, TX 78228.

Here are some websites you might find helpful. They include resources for discipline, student safety, school success, kid's health, and other materials you might find useful. Please call or email anytime you or your child need help.