Ms. Katie Florio - School Psychologist

kflorio@middleboro.k12.ma.us

Where did you go to school?

I went to University of Rhode Island for undergrad and Worcester State for grad.

How long have you been a counselor (and how long at NMS?)

I've been a school psychologist for three years; this is my second year at NMS.

What is your favorite part of your role?

Getting to know the kids and helping them learn to advocate for themselves.

What is a fun fact about you?

I studied abroad in Spain and I once shook the hand of President Barack Obama!

Mrs. Lacey Foley - School Adjustment Counselor

lfoley@middleboro.k12.ma.us

Where did you go to school?

I went to Bridgewater State University (GO BEARS!) for my undergraduate degree and Simmons University for my graduate degree. Fun fact: when I started at both, they were colleges. They turned to universities while I was a student!

How long have you been a counselor (and how long at NMS?)

I've been a counselor since 2018, but this is my 4th year at NMS!

What is your favorite part of your role?

I love being able to get to know students, work with them, and help them out with whatever they need. I also love to watch them grow from 6th to 8th grade.

What is a fun fact about you?

I love all things Disney and my goal is to go to every single park in the world. I also have a Dalmatian named Dempsey who has a heart spot on his eye!

Mrs. Kalie Goodell - School Counselor

Grade 6 Challengers & All Grade 7

kgoodell@middleboro.k12.ma.us

Where did you go to school?

Worcester State University (undergrad) and UMass Boston (grad)

How long have you been a counselor (and how long at NMS?)

This is my fourth year as a counselor, but my first at NMS.

What is your favorite part of your role?

My favorite part of this role is getting to know our students and building supportive, trusting relationships with them. I hope to empower our young people to be confident and resilient here in school and out in the community.

What is a fun fact about you?

I love to travel, spend time with my family and with my dog.

Ms. Megan Moriarty

Gr. 6 Adventurers & All Grade 8

mmoriarty@middleboro.k12.ma.us

Where did you go to school?

I went to Emmanuel College in Boston for my undergraduate degree and Bridgewater State University for my graduate degree.

How long have you been a counselor (and how long at NMS?)

This is my fourth year as a counselor at NMS. I actually did my counseling internship at Middleborough High School for one year and then got my job at NMS right after that.

What is your favorite part of your role?

I love working with middle school students, especially seeing how much they grow from Gr 6 to Gr 8. I also have coached and advised clubs, so seeing what students are like outside of the classroom is so cool.

What is a fun fact about you?

I have a goal to see the Red Sox play games at all 30 MLB stadiums. I have 7 so far: Boston, New York Yankees, Toronto, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Chicago White Sox, and Washington DC.

Students: do you want to meet with a counselor? Here's what you need to do first:

1. Consider what YOU have done to help the situation so far.

2. Check out our department website tab titled "helpful resources" for coping skills, grounding techniques, study tips, and more: https://www.middleboro.k12.ma.us/Page/5867.

3. Check in with the nearest adult. Lots of issues can be resolved by talking to any adult - it doesn't necessarily have to be a counselor!

Still need to chat?

THEN you can contact the counselor you're looking to see! No need to use a Google Form anymore - just email us directly. We will respond as timely as possible. If you're just looking to chat and check in, that's fine! - but be prepared to patiently wait for availability.

This exercise helps you shift your focus to your surroundings in the present moment and away from what is causing you to feel anxious. It can help interrupt unhealthy thought patterns. If you can get your breathing under control and reacclimate yourself into your surroundings, you will be able to handle your stressful situation!

For more coping skills, tips, and tricks, check out the "Helpful Resources" tab of our department website: https://www.middleboro.k12.ma.us/Page/5867

Remember that regardless of the high school you are planning to attend, the MOST IMPORTANT things for ALL 8th graders to do are the following:

1. COME TO SCHOOL and maintain good attendance;
2. TRY YOUR BEST and keep your grades up;
3. BE RESPECTFUL and stay out of trouble so you can submit a clean discipline report!

Applications for ALL schools look at these things when considering you for admission. If you can maintain these three things, you will be in great shape when it’s time for schools to make their decisions. Additionally, Middleborough High School receives these records and these things can affect whether you remain eligible for things like sports and extracurricular activities.

Please visit the "Getting Ready for High School" tab of our department website: https://www.middleboro.k12.ma.us/Page/5862.

Applications for each school are done entirely online:

Bristol Plymouth: https://bptech.go2cte.com/

Bristol Aggie: https://bristolaggie.go2cte.com/

If you are interested in a school not listed here, please contact Ms. Moriarty directly and she will help you out.

If you are thinking of attending Bristol Plymouth for high school, join us on a field trip to tour their school on Thursday, December 22. It is not mandatory and those who are certain that BP is not in their high school plans should not be attending.

If you are interested, please return your permission slip to your homeroom teacher no later than this Friday, November 4. No late permission slips will be accepted.

Email Ms. Mo with questions.

The counseling and administration departments are holding periodic assemblies this year for all students about different topics for success in middle school. During the first week, all students learned the NMS School Expectations, Code of Conduct, and the TIGER Acronym. In October, students learned about Cafeteria Expectations. In November, students will learn about the ABCs of school safety.

Coming up in December, students will learn about Conflict Resolution, Peer Relationships, and Social Media use with the counseling department, including what constitutes as a "crisis" and empowering strategies for resolving conflict on their own.

All assemblies will take place during extension block in the auditorium from 8:10-8:40 AM.

Wednesday, December 7 - C Day - Grade 6

Thursday, December 8 - E Day - Grade 7

Friday, December 9 - F Day - Grade 8

Vaping Facts

• E-cigarettes are unsafe for kids, teens, and young adults.
• Most e-cigarettes contain nicotine, which is highly addictive and can harm adolescent brain development.
• E-cigarette aerosol is not harmless. It can contain harmful substances, including nicotine, cancer-causing chemicals, flavorings that have been linked to lung disease, and heavy metals such as nickel, tin, and lead.
• Young people who use e-cigarettes may be more likely to smoke cigarettes in the future.
• Many e-cigarettes come in kid-friendly flavors—including mango, fruit, and crème—which make e-cigarettes more appealing to young people.
• Youth are able to easily buy e-cigarettes online. Many online retailers sell counterfeit cartridges or “pods” that are compatible with Juul and other popular vaping devices. These cartridges are often manufactured overseas without rigorous testing or quality control measures in place.
• The CDC, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), state and local health departments, and other clinical and public health partners are investigating a multistate outbreak of lung injury associated with e-cigarette product use in adults and youth.

Tips for Parents

• Know the facts: Empower yourself to talk with your child about the dangers of vaping by knowing the facts with resources found at CDC.gov/e-cigarettes and E-cigarettes.SurgeonGeneral.gov.
• Talk to your child or teen about why e-cigarettes are harmful for them: Don’t assume that your child knows about the dangers of vaping. Talk with your child and share information.
• Remind and repeat: Teaching your child about the dangers of vaping won’t happen in one sitting. Consider this an ongoing conversation.
• Know what to look for: E-cigarettes come in various shapes and sizes. Some e-cigarettes can even appear similar to USB devices, like flashdrives.

See full article here: Vaping Dangers: What Parents Should Know

Website: https://www.middleboro.k12.ma.us/domain/370
Location: 112 Tiger Drive, Middleborough, MA, USA
Phone: 508-946-2020
Twitter: @counseling_nms