Counseling & Health Services News
December 2025 | Winter Edition
Monika Blofsky, RN — Bee Cave Middle School
I’ve been a nurse for 15 years, with the exception of this current and the last academic year. Typical hospital-based interactions are brief, which leads me to what I love most about school nursing. I am privileged to help students navigate their health needs while seeing the impact they make in their school and amongst their peers over months and now years. From "I got an A!" to "We won our game last night!"—it all makes me so proud. I strive to work in the shadows so they may continue to shine!
Food Allergy-Safe Holiday Checklist for Parents
Use this checklist to create a safe and welcoming celebration for children with food allergies. A few thoughtful steps can prevent accidental exposure and make every family member feel seen and supported.
Before the Gathering
Ask guests about food allergies or sensitivities
Request specific allergen details to avoid hidden ingredients
Include at least one fully allergen-free dish
Offer families the option to bring their own safe dish
Keep packaging and ingredient labels available
Plan serving areas so allergen-free foods remain separate
During Food Preparation
Wash hands frequently, especially after handling allergens
Use separate utensils, cookware, and cutting boards for safe dishes
Clean all surfaces and appliances before preparing allergen-free foods
Prepare allergen-free dishes first
Keep sauces and toppings separate
Avoid shared oils, butter, or spreads
During the Celebration
Label each dish with key ingredients and major allergens
Create an “allergy-safe zone” on the table
Allow children with allergies to serve themselves first
Remind guests not to share food, drinks, or utensils
Monitor children discreetly, especially with severe allergies
Ensure adults know signs of reactions and where emergency meds are kept
After the Meal
Store allergen-free leftovers separately and label clearly
Clean serving utensils and surfaces promptly
Check in with families to confirm they felt safe and included
Save successful allergy-friendly recipes for future events
For more allergy-friendly holiday tips, tricks, and recipes, visit the Food Allergy Research and Education website.
Nourish and Indulge: The 80–20 Winter Strategy
Winter often brings the irresistible pull of comfort foods. Hearty stews, creamy hot chocolates, seasonal pies, and festive treats all feel like part of the season’s magic. These indulgences bring joy, but colder months can also make it harder to stay active and maintain overall wellbeing. The goal is not to deny yourself or your family the pleasure of comforting meals; it's to enjoy them in a balanced and mindful way that supports energy, strength, and wellness.
One helpful approach is the 80–20 rule. This simple guideline encourages families to choose nutrient-dense, wholesome foods about 80 percent of the time. These foods might include fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, whole grains, and warm soups that nourish the body. The remaining 20 percent can be reserved for comfort foods your family loves. This gentle balance allows you to enjoy your favorite winter treats without guilt while still giving your body what it needs to stay energized and active during the season.
The Hunger & Fullness Scale: Helping Our Children Tune Into Their Bodies
This holiday season, we encourage families to explore a simple tool that can support healthy eating habits: the Hunger and Fullness Scale. This scale helps children (and adults!) check in with their bodies’ natural cues, such as “very hungry” or “comfortably full,” so they can learn when to start and when to stop eating based on internal signals rather than external triggers like schedules, screens, special occasions, or pressure to “clean your plate.”
Teaching kids to notice these physical sensations can strengthen their mindful eating skills, helping them enjoy food, avoid extremes like overeating or undereating, and build a balanced relationship with eating over time. Practices like slowing down during meals and paying attention to how food makes them feel support these cues.
Visit the Johns Hopkins Medicine website to learn more.
Seasonal Recipe: Roasted Root Vegetables
Roasted root vegetables are an easy, colorful, and nutritious addition to any holiday table. Encourage kids to help choose a variety of seasonal veggies. Turnips, carrots, sweet potatoes, red onion, and beets make a beautiful mix of colors and flavors. This simple recipe is flexible—you can use whatever root vegetables your family enjoys or what’s available locally. It’s perfect for weeknight dinners or holiday gatherings!
Ingredients
4–5 cups mixed root vegetables, chopped into 1-inch pieces
2–3 tablespoons of high-smoke point oil, such as canola or avocado oil (Learn more about choosing the right cooking oil for the job)
Salt and pepper to taste
Optional: rosemary, thyme, garlic, or a drizzle of balsamic vinegar
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 425°F.
Wash, peel (if needed), and chop your root vegetables into similar-sized pieces.
Toss the veggies in a large bowl with oil, salt, pepper, and any optional herbs.
Spread evenly on a baking sheet in a single layer.
Roast for 25–35 minutes, stirring halfway through, until tender and lightly browned.
Serve warm and enjoy the natural sweetness and vibrant colors of seasonal produce!
Winter Wellness Challenge: How Many Can Your Family Complete?
Use this list as a playful menu of wellness activities. Choose a few in a day or spread them out over two weeks—each one supports movement, mindfulness, nutrition, or emotional wellbeing.
- Cozy Winter Breakfast: Make a nourishing breakfast together and give each child a job. Write down the recipe, decorate it, name it, and share it with loved ones to turn the meal into a fun family tradition.
Hydration Adventure: Fill water bottles and set a shared refill goal. Add fruit for flavor, track progress with a fridge chart or stickers, and take quick “hydration breaks” throughout the day.
Fresh Air Break: Step outside for a short walk or pause on the porch. A few minutes outdoors boosts mood, focus, and energy and encourages children to notice seasonal changes.
Veggie Power Dinner: Pick a seasonal vegetable and prepare it together. Talk about color, smell, and where it grows to build healthy habits and kitchen confidence.
Movement Moment: Add a quick burst of movement—dance, jump rope, follow-the-leader, or a pillow obstacle course. Even five minutes can shift the mood.
Screen-Free Hour: Take one hour away from screens for reading, games, puzzles, or coloring. This encourages imagination and strengthens family connection.
Comfort Food Swap: Choose a favorite comfort food and make a lighter version—add veggies, use whole grains, or bake instead of fry. It teaches balance, not restriction.
Gratitude Share: Have each person name one thing for which they’re grateful. This simple practice supports emotional wellbeing and helps children notice positive moments.
Family Dance Party: Turn on a playlist and dance together. Let everyone choose a song. Music and movement naturally boost energy and joy.
Kindness Challenge: Complete one small act of kindness—write a note, help with a chore, or offer encouraging words. Kindness builds empathy and connection.
Winter Nature Hunt: Look for winter treasures like pinecones, birds, or interesting rocks. This helps children develop an appreciation for nature.
Colorful Snack Creation: Create a rainbow snack tray with fruits or vegetables. Let kids help select, wash, and arrange the colors to make healthy eating fun.
Breathing Pause: Practice simple breathing: inhale 4 seconds, hold 2, exhale 4. Repeat to reduce tension and teach kids a calming strategy.
Celebrate Together: End the day by reflecting on what felt good and what made you smile. Celebrate effort to strengthen connection and end with warmth.
Make It a Family Game: Turn the Winter Wellness Challenge into a game. Track completed activities with a chart or stickers. The goal is fun and lasting healthy habits.
Naviance is the College, Career, and Military Readiness (CCMR) platform available to all LTISD secondary students and families. This tool is designed to support students as they explore colleges, programs of study, careers, and post-secondary pathways in a personalized and organized way.
Students and parents can access Naviance through their LTISD accounts. Once logged in, families can research colleges, explore majors and career pathways, compare programs, and review admission data that aligns with student interests and goals. Naviance also offers assessments that help students identify strengths, interests, and potential career matches.
The holiday break can be a great opportunity to explore Naviance together at a relaxed pace. Whether researching colleges, learning more about specific fields of study, or completing an interest or career assessment, time spent in Naviance can help students feel more confident and prepared for future planning.
Bubble Breathing
Lake Pointe Elementary School
We had our monthly Eagle Award ceremony on December 12. This month, our Eagle Award celebrated students who show exceptional integrity. Integrity means doing the right thing, even when nobody else is watching. These awesome Eagles (pictured below on the far left) show integrity every day. They are rockstars in so many ways, and we loved celebrating them!
Our LPE Eagle Ambassadors are ready for winter! Our Ambassador program is composed of responsible 3rd-5th grade students who take the initiative to get to school early and brave extreme temperatures (although we keep them inside during the winter) to brighten the mornings of our students. Thank you, Ambassadors!
LPE was excited to welcome the Tip Top Holiday Shop to our campus for the first time this year! In the true spirit of giving, our students thoughtfully selected gifts for their friends, family, and teachers. Students were even caught writing sweet notes to go along with their gifts. The holiday spirit has definitely been present in our halls this week!
Our third graders gave a wonderful holiday performance for their families and some of our students this week. Their beautiful voices filled our hearts with joy and holiday spirit. Congratulations on a great performance, third grade!
Eagle Award recipients
LPE Eagle Ambassadors
Tip Top Holiday Shop
Green Santa donations
Hudson Bend Middle School
The HBMS counseling team loved seeing gratitude come to life this season! Students shared what they’re thankful for by creating a Chain of Thankfulness—writing messages and linking them together into a paper chain. The chain is paired with a beautiful poster created by our HBMS art classes, making it a meaningful and eye-catching reminder of gratitude.
To spread some extra holiday cheer, admin and counselors, along with Nala and Blu, surprised staff with a festive treat trolley filled with snacks and hot chocolate. It was a fun way to boost spirits and wrap up the semester at HBMS!
Treat Trolley
Joelle Nagel, LCSW
Campuses: Lake Travis HS, Bee Cave MS, Serene Hills ES, Rough Hollow ES
Hello, LT families! My name is Joelle, and I’m proud to serve our school community as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. I’ve been in the social work field for nine years, including five years working directly in school settings.
What inspired you to become a social worker? My passion for supporting children and families began in high school during a service trip to Mexico, where I spent two weeks volunteering at an orphanage and a self-sustaining community. That experience showed me how meaningful it is to help others, and I knew then that this was the path I wanted to follow.
What was your favorite moment from the fall semester? This school year, some of my favorite moments have been building strong, supportive relationships with our students and their families. (And yes—surprising our principal with giant “fatheads” was definitely a highlight!) I’m truly grateful to be part of the LT family and to work alongside such a wonderful community. Looking forward to another great year together!
Amanda Roberts, LCSW
Greetings LT families, my name is Amanda Roberts and I am in my third year serving as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker for our district. I earned my Masters in Social Work from UTA in 2000.
What inspired you to become a social worker? The values and ethics of the profession led me to this career: service to others, social justice, dignity and worth of the person, importance of human relationships, integrity, and competence—all these values align with the person I am wanting to become!
What was your favorite moment from the fall semester? Every semester at LT brings about new joys for me. My favorite moments this semester have been made with my team in the Student Services Dept. and with my new Social Work partner at LTHS. I am so very blessed to be surrounded by people who are excellent at their jobs and strive to help our students on a daily basis. I thoroughly enjoy experiencing how my presence on campus can benefit students in positive ways all the time!
Mikaela Russell, LMSW Intern, The University of Texas at Austin
Campuses: Lake Travis HS, Hudson Bend MS
My name is Mikaela, and I’m excited to join the school community this year as a first-year MSW student intern from The University of Texas.
What inspired you to become a social worker? I was inspired to become a social worker because I grew up in a home touched by addiction, mental health challenges, and financial struggles, which showed me the power of compassion and support. I want to help others facing similar hardships feel seen, supported, and safe, especially in school settings where so much growth happens.
What was your favorite moment from the fall semester? This semester, one of my favorite moments has been experiencing a Texas homecoming—such a fun and meaningful tradition! I’ve also loved building rapport with students and getting to know some of the amazing young people here at LT.
Courtney Rhodes, LMSW Intern, The University of Texas at Austin
Campus: Lake Travis HS
Hi, LT families! My name is Courtney, and I’m thrilled to be completing my Masters of Social Work internship with LT this year. Before beginning this new chapter, I spent more than 13 years as an optometrist and business owner—experiences that deepened my appreciation for building relationships and helping people see and reach their potential (in every sense of the word)!
What inspired you to become a social worker? My passion for social work grew from years of connecting with families from all walks of life and wanting to make a meaningful difference beyond the exam room.
What was your favorite moment from the fall semester? This fall, one of my favorite moments has been getting to know students and seeing how small moments of encouragement can make such a big impact. I’m so grateful to be part of the LT community and to learn from such a compassionate, dedicated team of social workers.
LTHS Social Workers: Supporting Student Wellness Throughout the Fall Semester
This fall, our high school social workers focused on connection, prevention, and support across all campuses.
In October, we promoted awareness and kindness through a Suicide Prevention Awareness table at the high school, where students accessed information and resources. Unity Day encouraged students to "Be a Buddy" and celebrate inclusion, while Red Ribbon Week activities during lunch reinforced healthy, drug-free choices. Senior rotations also began, providing targeted guidance and support as seniors plan for life after graduation.
In November, we emphasized gratitude and community care. Families in need were supported through bags of food, and students across campuses participated in creating gratitude chains to reflect on thankfulness and positive connections.
In December, our focus shifted to stress management and emotional regulation during finals season. High school students were treated to hot cocoa during finals in partnership with Breathe, while the Zen Den provided a calm space for relaxation and mindfulness. At the elementary level, students practiced bubble breathing to learn simple, effective calming strategies.
We are proud of the continued efforts to support student well-being, resilience, and connection throughout the semester and thank our students, staff, and families for their partnership.
Gillian Gallo — Bee Cave Elementary School
Years as a counselor in LTISD: This is my second year in LTISD and at Bee Cave Elementary!
What inspired you to become a school counselor? I was inspired to become a school counselor because I believe all young people deserve access to social and emotional wellness, especially as they navigate the challenges of the school day.
What was your favorite moment from the fall semester? Fall is such an exciting time on campus, and I love watching the students experience the joy and magic our parents create when decorating the hallways through the seasons.
Morgan Ratynski — Lake Pointe Elementary School
Years as a counselor in LTISD: This is my second year as a counselor at LTISD.
What inspired you to become a school counselor? My amazing mom, who has been a school counselor for 19 years! She taught me all the skills and tools that I now get to pass along to Lake Pointe students!
What was your favorite moment from the fall semester? This semester has been amazing and I am so grateful for the amazing relationships I've been able to build with our students and community. I can't pick just one, so I'll highlight three top moments this semester:
- I ran into some amazing LPE students and alum at an LT Football game this fall! Go Cavs and Go Eagles!
- I was able to take a spin as our school mascot, Lightning the Eagle! When we had a technical issue following one of our Eagle Award ceremonies, we had to get creative to make sure all of our award winners had their perfect picture with Lightning. I was happy to suit up and step up to the occasion!
- I absolutely loved attending our Mother Son Kickball Tournament, Color Run, and LPE Fall Festival, all run by our incredible PTO. It is amazing to see our students thriving outside of school and I am grateful to feel included and loved by this community. Our Fall Festival even had a silent auction, where 86 bids were placed on Movie Night with Ms. Ratynski!
Kimberly Manuel — Lake Travis Elementary School
Years as a counselor in LTISD: This is my FIRST year as a counselor in LTISD!
What inspired you to become a school counselor? I wanted to become a school counselor because I worked with kids while I got my graduate degree and fell in love with the work. Students/kids are so capable, kind, and imaginative, it makes work feel like fun!
What was your favorite moment from the fall semester? My favorite moment from the fall semester was working on Chalk The Walk with our social worker, Tracy Cooper! We also worked with the art teacher, Ms. Reeves, to paint posters. It was so much fun to see what the students chalked in honor of Growth Mindset/Emotional Regulation.
Tracy Capozzoli — Lakeway Elementary School
Years as a counselor in LTISD: This is my second year as a school counselor at Lakeway Elementary.
What inspired you to become a school counselor? Throughout my counseling career, I have been driven by a deep commitment to connection and contribution. My core work value is making a meaningful difference in the lives of others, and being a school counselor allows me to support students in ways that help them feel seen, supported, and empowered.
What was your favorite moment from the fall semester? The holiday season from November through December is the highlight of my fall semester. Watching students’ faces light up with fun, excitement, wonder, and joy during this time truly warms my heart and reminds me why this work is so meaningful.
Karen Wager — Rough Hollow Elementary School
Years as a counselor in LTISD: I've been in LTISD for six years now and have been at RHE for all of them. Watching this school open and being here since the beginning has been so amazing! The 5th grade class this year will be the first group to have gone through all of the grades at RHE.
What inspired you to become a school counselor? I have always loved helping kids. After graduating from Baylor University, I was a teacher, but after six years of teaching, I decided to get my Master's degree and start working with kids on a more personal level—helping them both socially and emotionally.
What was your favorite moment from the fall semester? My favorite day this fall was World Kindness Day and the week leading up to it working with my Kind Kids Team! We read a story about kindness and made unique antennas that we wore to show we are all special and we are all enough!
Kendall Hill — Serene Hills Elementary School
Years as a counselor in LTISD: This is my fourth year at SHE.
What inspired you to become a school counselor? I was inspired to become a school counselor through my experience as a classroom teacher in both special education and second grade. While I loved my time in the classroom, I discovered my true passion was helping students develop the social-emotional skills they need to feel confident, supported, and successful. Working in an elementary school is especially meaningful to me because it allows me to support students during a crucial stage of their development, guiding their emotional and social growth and helping them build skills they will carry with them for years to come.
What was your favorite moment from the fall semester? Watching students embrace our kindness initiatives and truly go above and beyond to show care for one another. It has been so meaningful to see students intentionally finding ways to include others, offer encouragement, and spread kindness throughout our school community. Seeing these acts of compassion—both big and small—is a great reminder of the positive differences students can make when they feel empowered.
Bryn Lohrberg — West Cypress Hills Elementary School
Years as a counselor in LTISD: This is my first year!
What inspired you to become a school counselor? I was inspired by the meaningful and wide-reaching impact school counselors have within a school community. From classroom guidance lessons and small groups to school-wide initiatives that promote social-emotional learning, I am drawn to the many ways counselors support students each day. Most of all, I am inspired by young people themselves. Getting to know students for who they are and who they hope to become is deeply rewarding, and I am honored to support them as they move toward their fullest potential.
What was your favorite moment from the fall semester? My favorite moment from the fall semester has to be the APEX Fun Run day! Watching students push themselves and give the run their best effort was awesome. They were so proud of themselves and each other! I loved seeing our community support our students as well. The sense of community and school spirit at West Cypress Hills could be felt so much that day, and I know our students felt it more than anyone. It was such a great day!