Mrs. Warren's Newsletter

Hi everyone! I’m Misty Warren Petty, the school counselor at Trenton Middle School. The kids and parents know me as Mrs. Warren. I'm going to continue with that name so my email will match what the kids know me as. I'm so excited to welcome you to a brand new school year!

Middle school is a time of growth, change, and discovery, and I’m here to support students academically, socially, and emotionally. Whether it’s stress, friendships, organization, or goal-setting—I’m here to help!

“My goal is to make sure every student feels safe, seen, and supported.”

I have a wide range of experience. I was a teacher in elementary for 6 years and a teacher in middle school for 4 years. I have taught grades 2-8 and was an ESL teacher to grades 4-8.

I began my counseling career in Wylie ISD for grades PK-5. A principal from another school was moving to Lewisville ISD as a principal and asked me to follow her. I loved my time in Lewisville ISD as a counselor to grades PK-5. After losing my husband to cancer, I felt that I was being called to find a job closer to home. God opened the door in Trenton ISD. I'm so thankful to be in Trenton where the district values seasoned teachers and wants what is best for our students. I am so thankful for the community members and families who have welcomed me with open arms.

I am beginning my 25th year in education and 6th year in Trenton ISD. I absolutely love working with Mr. Breckon, Ms. Tiffany, and Nurse Douglas.

State law requires school counselors to provide the following services as part of a Comprehensive School Counseling Program. We are required to follow the Texas Model for School Counselors:

· A guidance curriculum to help students develop their full educational potential, including the student's interests and career objectives.

• This includes but is not limited to teaching the students about emotional regulation, test taking strategies, ways to be successful in middle school, ways to stand up to bullies, how to report bullying, etc.

· A responsive services component to intervene on behalf of any student whose immediate personal concerns or problems put the student's continued educational, career, personal, or social development at risk.

• This includes but is not limited to the loss of a family member, friend, or pet. Some students struggle with grades and we review grades and find strategies to help them become successful. Friendship struggles and/or conflicts, etc.

· An individual planning system to guide a student as the student plans, monitors, and manages the student's own educational, career, personal, and social development.

• This includes but is not limited to students who receive accommodations in the classroom are taught how to advocate for themselves. Conversations like "what are your plans after high school?" 8th grade conversations on classes to choose for high school.

· System support to support the efforts of teachers, staff, parents, and other members of the community in promoting the educational, career, personal, and social development of students.

• This could include but is not limited to visiting with community members on how they can mentor our students. Visiting with parents on struggles of parenting a teen (It definitely takes a village), etc.

As the school counselor, I work with:

• Students – through one-on-one meetings, small groups, and classroom lessons

• Families – to support social-emotional and academic growth

• Teachers & Staff – to promote a safe and supportive learning environment

School counselors routinely provide the following services:

· Advise students and their parents regarding the importance of postsecondary education, coursework designed to prepare students for postsecondary education, and financial aid availability and requirements;

· Early mental health prevention and intervention; Making healthy choices, how to say no to dangerous items such as vaping, drugs, and alcohol. How to recognize signs of suicidal ideation in their friends.

· Building skills related to managing emotions, establishing and maintaining positive relationships, and responsible decision-making;

· Substance abuse prevention and intervention;

· Suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention;

· Grief-informed and trauma-informed practices;

· Positive school climates, meaning the quality and character of school life, including interpersonal relationships, teaching and learning practices, and organizational structures, as experienced by students enrolled in the District, parents of those students, and personnel employed by the District;

· Positive behavior interventions and supports;

· Positive youth development; and

· Safe, supportive, and positive school climate.

To comply with SB 12, Mr. Breckon will post any SEL lesson that will be taught 2 -3 weeks before the scheduled date for you to preview.

However, we are asking parents to fill out the SB 12 consent to cover any kind of situation that may arise so your child will know they have a safe place to come talk without being turned away. I want each student to know they have a safe place to come to.

Please know, I value parent communication and will contact you if your child comes regularly or if I believe your child would be more successful in seeing our Licensed Professional Counselor who visits our school one day a week.

The students are now able to view their grades and attendance in their student portal. if they are unable to log on, please remind them to find directions in their Counselor Google Classroom.