Counselor's Corner
September Newsletter
Sarah Milner School Counseling Department Mission and Vision Statements
Mission: The mission of the Sarah Milner Elementary school counseling department is to empower students to achieve their highest potential by providing a data informed school counseling program in a safe, equitable and accessible environment.
Vision: At Sarah Milner Elementary School, students are responsible, collaborative, and resilient. They respect and welcome differing perspectives, demonstrate critical thinking and problem solving skills, and are able to achieve excellence. Students are self-aware lifelong learners, preparing them to confidently pursue college and career opportunities.
Contact the Counseling Office
📧 Email: emily.gruen-white@tsd.org
📞 Phone: 970-613-6734
September Awareness Dates
September is...
Childhood Cancer Awareness Month
Children's Good Manners Month
Deaf Awareness Month
Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15 - Oct. 15)
Library Card Sign-up Month
National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month
National Preparedness Month
National Recovery Month
Self-Improvement Month
Suicide Prevention Awareness Month
The following days are also celebrated in September:
September 7: Grandparents' Day
September 7-13: National Suicide Prevention Week, National Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) Week
September 8: International Literacy Day
September 10: World Suicide Prevention Day
September 17: Constitution Day/Citizenship Day, National School Backpack Awareness Day
September 20: World Clean-Up Day
September 21: International Day of Peace
September 21-27: Child Passenger Safety Week
September 23: International Day of Sign Languages
September 24: National Women's Health and Fitness Day
September is Children's Good Manners Month
What is Children's Good Manners Month?
Children's Good Manners Month is a month to demonstrate and teach good manners. It's a great reminder for kids and adults alike that being polite and respectful is always a good idea.
How can I observe Good Manners Month?
- Be a role model for your kids. Have conversations about what having good manners means and what it looks like. Set the example for your kids to follow!
- Read a book about manners or being polite. There are plenty of books about manners, such as "How do Dinosaurs Show Good Manners?" by Jane Yolen or "The Please and Thank You Book" by Barbara Shook Hazen. You aren't limited by your library at home; there are lots of read along stories on YouTube!
September is Self-Improvement Month
What is Self-Improvement Month?
Self-Improvement Month is a time for us to reflect and explore the ways that we can improve our lives. Even small changes to our routines can make a big impact; self-improvement doesn't have to mean huge, drastic shifts.
How can I observe Self-Improvement Month?
- Reflect on your personal growth. Spend some time thinking about how things are going. Take some time to celebrate your accomplishments and reflect on what you want to improve next.
- Prioritize sharpening the saw. Habit 7 is sharpening the saw, and it's a nice reminder to spend time doing the things that replenish us. Part of improving ourselves is also giving ourselves what we need to be successful.
- Create a healthy habit or stop an unhealthy one. Small changes can make a big difference! An easy way to make a healthy change is to integrate something new into an existing routine.
- Try something new! Self-Improvement Month is the perfect time to try out a new hobby or routine.
- Set a realistic and attainable goal for yourself. While it's important for us to have a sense of being able to do hard things, it's also important to be fair to ourselves and realistic about our capacity to change. Writing SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Bound) is a great way to maintain that balance.
September is National Preparedness Month
What is National Preparedness Month?
National Preparedness Month is dedicated to preparing for disasters. It was launched by FEMA in 2004 as a response to the tragedy on September 11th, 2001.
Everyone can practice being proactive by having a plan in case of emergencies. Sarah Milner is doing this by practicing drills during our safety week.
How can I observe National Preparedness Month?
- Make a family emergency plan. Talk with your family about how to respond to different types of emergencies and where emergency equipment is in the house. Some families also practice drills just like we've been doing at school!
- Create an emergency supply kit. It's always a good idea to have supplies ready to go. You can buy a premade emergency kit or create your own based on your family's needs.
- Take a First Aid/CPR class. You can search for first aid and CPR classes online; lots of organizations, from Red Cross to community colleges, offer these trainings year round.
- Explore the ready.gov website created by FEMA. ready.gov has many great resources for emergency planning.
Sarah Milner is a Leader in Me School!
What is Leader in Me?
Leader in Me is a framework for schools to build a culture focused on leadership and success for every student. It has been successfully implemented in thousands of schools in the United States and many more all over the world. The Leader in Me began with The 7 Habits of Highly Successful People by Stephen Covey, which originally only applied to adults. Over time, these habits have been adapted for use in schools and with students. At Sarah Milner, the Leader in Me curriculum is taught 4 days a week for 15-20 minutes, but the principles are woven into the culture of the school.
The 7 habits are:
- Be proactive
- Begin with the end in mind
- Put first things first
- Think win-win
- Seek first to understand, then to be understood
- Synergize
- Sharpen the saw
For the month of September, we will emphasize the first habit in this newsletter: Be proactive.
What does this mean?
Being proactive means that we are intentional about how we react to, and talk about, the things that happen around us. When students are proactive, they know to focus on the things they can control and are able to take responsibility for their actions. Students can also show proactivity by the language they use; Instead of saying, "I can't" or "I have to", phrases like "I get to", "I can", or "I will" can shift our mindset.
How can I reinforce these concepts at home?
- Kids are very observant! Check to see if you're demonstrating a principle before expecting your child to practice it.
- Pay attention to how your child frames discussions about things they would rather not do. Help challenge the language they use to remind them that they have power in their choices, even if they don't get to do what they want all the time.
- Talk to your student about the things they can't control versus the things they can. Then, discuss how they can react to the things they can't control.
The school is ultimately a partner in your child's learning journey. We very much appreciate collaborating with parents and adults at home as we all learn more about Leader in Me and students are able to demonstrate their leadership potential.
For more information about Leader in Me, check out the Leader in Me website.