Counseling Newsletter - LFTK8

The counseling team is excited to have our students back on campus. We hope you had an enjoyable summer break. A new school year provides everyone with new beginnings.

Our Student of the Month awards focus on three qualities - Academic Excellence, Outstanding Effort, and a Leadership focus in the area of our HERO traits. Teachers and staff will be looking for students who portray excellence in one of these areas. Students of the Month will be recognised during BEAR time. The Leadership expectations, theme and focus for this month are highlighted in this edition's newsletter.

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

Definition of Honest: Honesty means being truthful and sincere in your words and actions, both to others and themselves. It means telling the truth, not hiding information, and acting in a morally right way, such as not stealing or cheating. Honesty also involves being considerate of others' feelings and not being hurtful with your words.

Challenge of the Month -

Do an honest self-evaluation of yourself. We often hear stories or read about someone's challenges and think about someone we know that is 'just like that' but fail to look in the mirror and see the same faults in ourself. Take some quiet time each day to self-reflect, meditate or write in a daily journal about your personal challenges, values, motivations, and areas where you can grow. Asking for advice from close friends, family or mentors can help with this journey.

• It helps build relationships.
• It helps other people trust you, and when someone is honest with you, it helps you trust them as well.
• It keeps you out of trouble.
• Lies can be emotionally and mentally hurtful to others.

• List out your biggest achievements first.
• List your strengths - what you are good at.
• Look at a couple of places you know where you can improve. The key is that you must have a plan to get better. What steps can you take to improve?
• Have you had any challenges that were difficult to overcome? What did you learn from them?
• Acknowledge your faults - this is the first step to maturity by showing that you are willing to learn.

When you take time to self-assess it helps you recognize your strengths and identify areas where you can improve. The key to writing a meaningful self-evaluation is being honest and realistic about your experiences in a positive manner that will help you grow stronger.

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 10

7th grade: Signs of Suicide. - September 4

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 11

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.

The last week of the 1st quarter and first week 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 16)

7th grade: Stereotypes, Prejudice, Name Calling, Misinformation & Rumors (estimated October 2 or 8th) 10/8

8th grade: Labels, Stereotypes, and Prejudice (estimated October 9)

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.