Counseling Newsletter - LFTK8

The counseling team is excited to welcome our students back on campus! We hope you had a restful and enjoyable summer break. A new school year brings a fresh start, new opportunities, and exciting goals.

Our Student of the Month awards recognize students across three key areas: Academic Excellence, Outstanding Effort, and Leadership through our HERO traits. Teachers and staff will be looking out for students who demonstrate these traits throughout the month. Award recipients will be celebrated during BEAR time.

Below, you’ll find this month’s leadership focus, character trait, and expectations!

The HERO character trait and expectation for August/September is Honest.

Definition of Honest: Honesty means being truthful, genuine, and sincere in your words and actions. It means standing up for what is right, taking responsibility for your choices, and being authentic with yourself and others. Honesty also means communicating with kindness and consideration rather than using truth as an excuse to be hurtful.

Challenge of the Month - The "Real Talk" Accountability Challenge

Middle school is full of quick decisions—from owning up to a mistake to giving an honest answer when a friend asks for advice. This month, challenge yourself to practice Active Authenticity with these 3 weekly steps:

1. Own the Little Things: If you forget your homework, make a mistake, or break a rule, take immediate ownership instead of making excuses or shifting blame. Notice how taking responsibility builds trust with teachers and parents.

2. Speak with Kindness: True honesty isn't about being blunt or mean. Practice expressing your genuine thoughts, opinions, and feelings while remaining respectful of others.

3. Be Honest with Yourself: Set aside 5 minutes at the end of each day to reflect: Where did I do my best today, and where could I have handled things better?

Challenge Goal: Keep a daily 1-line journal entry or note on your phone reflecting on one moment where you chose honesty, even when it wasn't the easiest path.

• Builds Stronger Relationships: Mutual trust is the foundation of genuine friendships and supportive family connections.
• Earns Respect & Trust: When people know you are truthful, they rely on your word and feel safe confiding in you.
• Reduces Stress & Keeps You Out of Trouble: Maintaining lies or excuses creates anxiety; living honestly gives you peace of mind.
• Protects Others: Being transparent prevents misunderstandings, gossip, and hurt feelings.

• Recognize Your Wins First: Acknowledge your accomplishments and celebrate your hard work.

• Identify Your Strengths: Know what you excel at—whether it's empathy, organization, creativity, or problem-solving.

• Target Areas for Improvement: Pinpoint 1–2 specific habits you want to work on, and map out actionable steps to reach your goals.

• Learn from Setbacks: Reflect on past challenges and identify the lessons they taught you.

• Embrace Accountability: Accepting your mistakes is the clearest sign of maturity and readiness to grow.

• On Personal Growth:

  "Honesty is the fastest way to prevent a mistake from turning into a failure."

  — James Altucher

• On Courage:

  "It takes strength and courage to admit the truth."

  — Rick Riordan (author of Percy Jackson)

• On Self-Reflection:

  "Integrity is telling myself the truth. And honesty is telling the truth to other people."

  — Spencer Johnson

• On Character & Authenticity:

  "I think honesty is the most heroic quality one can aspire to."

  — Daniel Radcliffe

• On Kindness & Connection:

  "Honesty without compassion is cruelty. Kindness without honesty is manipulation."

  — Mike Wolber

Be the one to help save a life! Read about the 5 Action Steps you can take to help.

1. Ask

2. Be there

3. Keep Them Safe

4. Help Them Stay Connected

5. Follow Up

Click the title above to take you to resources

Each year, we present the Signs of Suicide lesson to our 7th grade students. We provide a Parent Information Session prior to the provided lesson. Due to low in person attendance, this Information Session is recorded and provided to all parents to watch at a time convenient to you and in the privacy of your own space. If you have any questions about the student lesson or the parent information session, please reach out to Mrs. Miller or Mrs. Tilley.

The school counselors will be providing classroom guidance lessons throughout the year in addition to facilitating our 3rd year of the Too Good for Drugs program through our district partnership with Partners 4 Wellness.

Quarter 1 lessons will include:

6th grade: Study Skills and Organization. - September 3

7th grade: Signs of Suicide. - September 24

This topic is a required curriculum by the State of California. The program used is an evidence-based suicide prevention program that has demonstrated a 64% reduction in self-reported suicide attempts.

8th grade: Preparing for High School -September 10

This lesson is provided early so our 8th graders may start their 8th grade year off knowing what is expected for high school placements. The high school counselors refresh this material when they visit early in the 2nd semester.

2nd Quarter lessons

The first 2 weeks of the 2nd quarter, we will be providing our Cultural Proficiency lessons which focus on learning to prevent bullying or help victims of bullying. These lessons are approved by the CUSD Board. The topics for each grade level are shown below but if you would like more information you may see the lesson plans here.

6th grade: Identity Based Bullying (estimated October 23)

7th grade: Stereotypes, Prejudice, Name Calling, Misinformation & Rumors (estimated October 28)

8th grade: Labels, Stereotypes, and Prejudice (estimated October 29)

Too Good for Drugs Lessons will be spread out during the 2nd and 3rd quarters of the school year

In addition to the many classroom guidance lessons provided by our school counselors, a variety of small groups will be offered throughout the year. Students will be screened and identified for specific groups using data collected throughout the school year and through Needs Assessments completed by students, parents, and school staff. Groups may include Stress Management, Student Success Skills, Girls Groups, Self Regulation, High School 101, and other groups as needs are identified.

The Guidance Team is seeking to offer Career Exploration workshops throughout the school year during BEAR time as an enrichment for students. Career Cafe workshops will assist students with identifying their interests and helping them discover careers they may find an interest in. This is the first step in identifying a plan for their future. Discovering possible careers will help them determine the next step in their education whether it be specialty college/trade schools, intern/apprenticeships, 2 year or 4 year colleges or military service. Some Career Cafes may have speakers from a variety of industries which will supplement our College and Career Week later in the spring.

Our Guidance page includes Resource Information and/or links on the

Academic Domain such as study skills, test taking, tutoring resources, and useful links for help with English writing and Math skills; Personal-Social Domain including stress management, conflict mediation, grief, as well as our Counselors Corner; and the College and Career Domain with information about high school graduation requirements, college admissions, and career choices.

Grades 7/8 Last Names A-P

Grade 6 A-Z except those from Las Flores Elementary

Email: dejmiller@capousd.org
Phone: 949-589-6543

Grades 7/8 Last Names Q-Z

Grade TK-6 All Las Flores Elementary students

Mrs. Tilley is available in person on Thursdays, Fridays and every other Wednesday on the Middle School side and Monday, Tuesday, every other Wednesday for our elementary students. She may also be reached via email.

Email: aktilley@capousd.org
Phone: 949-589-6543

Email: lkades@capousd.org
Phone: 949-589-6543 133

Email: djsummers@capousd.org
Phone: 949-589-6543

Email: jachrachy@capousd.org
Phone: 949-589-6543

The Board of Trustees desires to provide a safe school environment that allows all students equal access and opportunities in the district’s academic and other educational support programs, services, and activities. The Board prohibits, at any District school or school activity, unlawful discrimination, including discriminatory harassment, intimidation, and bullying of any student based on the student’s actual or perceived race, color, ancestry, national origin, nationality, ethnicity, ethnic group identification, age, religion, marital or parental status, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or gender expression or association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics.