Counseling Newsletter

2nd Quarter November and December 2024

Respecting Differences

The theme of November is "Respecting Differences". As counselors we urge parents to encourage their children to learn the importance of respecting differences among our school and community.

Respect doesn't mean ignoring people's differences, or simply tolerating them. Rather, it involves recognizing differences, understanding their significance, and responding with interest, politeness and care.

Your challenge this month is to reach out to someone different than yourself and learn something about their culture and celebrate your differences.

Making Good Choices

The theme for December is "Making Good Choices (Taking Ownership)". As we begin the first 5 lessons of the Too Good for Drugs lessons with our 4-8th grade students, our students will hear about making responsible decisions.

Making responsible decisions requires you to be a positive role model by establishing priorities and dealing with distractions.

The challenge for December is for students to question their own assumptions by considering the source of the information you are relying on before making decisions. Own your choices!

At Las Flores, we can also remember to be a H.E.R.O. (Be Honest, Engaged, Respectful, and Take Ownership)

Take Responsibility for Your Actions | 10 Ways to Take Responsibility

How to be a responsible person who is well respected? Witness your life take a turn for the best when you begin to take responsibility for your actions

themindfool.com

GiveThx

Practicing Gratitude

With Thanksgiving right around the corner, Las Flores will be implementing the GiveThx program for all our students. GiveThx is about giving and receiving one to one messages of thanks from other students/staff and showing gratitude which helps build appreciation while building a stronger community. November is a perfect time for our community to begin practicing gratitude.

Gratitude is a feeling of appreciation and thankfulness for the things in your life. The GiveThx program is a research based program based off of gratitude science. Gratitude allows us to focus on the things going well in our life rather than focusing on the things we lack. There are many ways we can practice gratitude, including:

1. Keeping a gratitude journal for things we are thankful for.

2. Writing a GiveThx note to a classmate for something you appreciate about them.

3. Saying thank you to someone when they do something for you.

A little Gratitude Practice

Think about the areas on this worksheet and write about them in a daily journal or by sending a GiveThx note to a classmate or thank you note to someone you appreciate.

The Importance of Noticing Small Moments of Beauty

Gratitude consists of 3 key parts -

The benefactor - the person, thing or condition providing something good.
Benefit - the good thing you receive
Impact - how you feel when you receive or provide something good.

A Tiny Thanks Goes a Long Way - in Helping Students Forge Social-Emotional Connections - EdSurge News

When was the last time you said thanks?Expressing gratitude with that one word may seem commonplace, perhaps even an afterthought. But research ...

edsurge.com

The Power of Gratitude for Teen Mental Health

Studies show that making gratitude part of daily life boosts psychological health, enhances empathy, and improves self-esteem. At our residential treatment centers for teens and young adults, we see examples of the power of gratitude every day.

newportacademy.com

The Science of Gratitude

Research shows gratitude isn't just a pleasant feeling-being grateful can also support greater health, happiness, and wisdom in ourselves and our communities.

mindful.org

November is National Career Development Month

Seeking Career Speakers

While we begin planning for our College and Career week to be held early February, we are still seeking Career Speakers in the following areas:

Entertainment/sports careers including professional athletes, coaches, sports managers
Professional/financial service careers including attorneys, judges, chief financial officers, certified public accountants
Health services careers including doctors, nurses, veterinarians, physical therapists, ultrasound technicians, dentists
Hospitality careers including professional chef, restaurant owner/manager, hotel manager; National Park rangers
Professional arts and design careers including musicians, photographers, authors, journalists, graphic designer, fashion designer, actor/actress
Science and Engineering careers including biologist, archaeologist, engineers
Business careers including real-estate agent, marketing, entrepreneur/business owners
Service industry careers including mechanic, electrician, police officer, firefighter
Architecture and engineering careers including architect, civil engineer, electrical engineer
Education careers including professors, counselors, psychologists, admissions officers
Computer and information technology careers including computer programmer/scientist, video game programmer

If we can gather enough speaker interest, we would like to host speakers throughout the rest of the school year during our BEAR time as an enrichment activity for students. If you or someone you know would be interested in speaking about one of the above careers, please complete the Google Form by clicking on the button below.

2024-25 Career Day Speaker Interest Form

Please use responsibly

24 hours/7 days a week

Upcoming Counseling Lessons

Too Good for Drugs 2nd Quarter Lessons

November 12: Too Good for Drugs - Lesson 1

6th Grade: My Road Ahead - Setting Reasonable Goals

7th Grade: Set to Win - Goal Setting

8th Grade: The Architect - Setting Reasonable Goals

November 18: Too Good for Drugs - Lesson 2

6th Grade: Who's In the Driver's Seat? - Making Responsible Decisions

7th Grade: The Decision is Yours - Decision Making

8th Grade: I Decide -Making Responsible Decisions

December 5: Too Good for Drugs - Lesson 3

6th Grade: Diagnostic Tune-Up: Identifying and Managing Emotions

7th Grade: Understanding Me: Identifying and Managing Emotions

8th Grade: Calibrating Sensors: Identifying and Managing Emotions

December 12: Too Good for Drugs - Lesson 4

6th Grade: Express Yourself: Effective Communication

7th Grade: Say It With Style: Effective Communication

8th Grade: Press Send: Effective Communication

December 19: Too Good for Drugs - Lesson 5

6th Grade: Peer Review: Bonding and Relationships

7th Grade: The Right Connection: Bonding and Relationships

8th Grade: Friend Request: Bonding and Relationships

In partnership with CUSD's partner Partners 4 Wellness, all 4-8th grade students will be given the Too Good for Drugs program throughout the 2024-2025 year, starting in November. If you would like to know more about the program, we invite you to review the Too Good website- linked here.

** If you have any questions regarding the curriculum, please feel free to contact us. The theme of each lesson will also be provided one week in advance of the lessons. For more specific information on each lesson, you may view the 'scope and sequence' of the week's lesson on the Too Good for Drugs website.**

Antonio's Lair

The counseling wellness center funded by several grants in 2024.

Confidentiality

Confidentiality is imperative to a counseling relationship.

Counseling Office Area

A small display of College Pennants to show the variety of colleges available to students.

Counseling Referral Form

If you would like us to meet with your child, please complete the Counseling Referral Form below. We will meet with your child as soon as possible.

School Counselor Information

Mrs. Deborah Miller - School Counselor A-P

MEd, PPS - School Counseling

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

Mrs. Alex Tilley - Middle School Counselor Q-Z, Elementary Counselor

MEd - School Counseling

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

Mrs. Lauren Ades - School Psychologist

MS, PPS - School Psychology

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

Mrs. Denice Summers - Guidance Technician

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

Mrs. Jessie Crachy - Registrar, Guidance Secretary

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

Non-Discrimination Statement

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.