McGuffey Counselor Newsletter
October 2026
🍂 Autumn Greetings, Families!
We’ve had a fantastic start to the school year!
SEL Focus
Next week, our K–4 students will begin Second Step Elementary, a research-based program that builds important social-emotional skills to support success in and out of school. The four units include:
Growth Mindset & Goal-Setting – managing distractions, building a growth mindset, and setting goals.
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Emotion Management – identifying emotions and using strategies (like stress management) to stay calm.
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Empathy & Kindness – showing kindness, understanding others, and building positive relationships.
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Problem-Solving (STEP) – Say the problem, Think of solutions, Explore outcomes, Pick a solution.
Mindfulness
Students will also learn about Mindfulness—being aware of thoughts, feelings, and sensations in the present moment without judgment. Research shows that mindfulness improves well-being, emotional intelligence, and empathy. To support this, we’ll use short Mind Yeti sessions to help students feel calm, stay focused, and build a positive classroom environment.
We’re excited to partner with you this year as we help your students grow socially, emotionally, and academically!
Community Resources:
Click the Links for more information
Trumbull County Resource Guide
Mahoning County Resource Guide
211 connects you to expert, caring help. Every call is completely confidential.
Autumn!
It's that special time of year when the air gets chilly, the trees change colors, and all the fun fall festivities begin!
McGuffey students in grades 5-8 are engaged in Second Step, our Social Emotional Learning curriculum. Unit 1 focuses on mindsets and goal setting. Students learn how to develop a growth mindset and set goals for their social and academic lives. They also recognize that social challenges are common during this time in their lives and often get better with support from others. In addition, students create plans to reach their goals and even try new strategies when other plans do not seem to work.
This month 5th grade students will also be learning about recognizing, reporting, and responding to bullying. I will be stopping by classrooms to discuss this important topic.
To learn some tips about preventing bullying, click on the fall pic above.
School attendance is a critical factor influencing a child's academic success and overall well-being. Understanding attendance trends and the factors that contribute to it can empower parents to support their children's educational journey effectively.
Chronic absence is a strong predictor of poor academic performance and increased risk of dropping out, impacting long-term health and well-being. Missing just two days every month can lead to 10% absence for the year, highlighting how quickly absences accumulate.
Parents & Students: Click on the Attend Today pic to learn more about supporting student attendance and combatting chronic absenteeism.
RED RIBBON WEEK
Red Ribbon Week is a special event that promotes living a healthy, happy, and drug-free life. This annual campaign gives schools a fun and educational way to teach students about making positive choices and standing up to peer pressure. This years theme is "Be a Hero, Stay Drug Free." McGuffey will be observing Red Ribbon Week beginning October 26-30th.
McGuffey Trunk or Treat is the BEST AROUND and a GREAT TIME!
Location:
3465 Tod Ave NW
Warren, OH 44485
Check our District Website for updated and important information regarding your child’s education!