August 2026

Dear Roadrunner Families,

I hope all of you had a restful and wonderful summer break. I want to give you a warm welcome to the new 26-27 school year. I have some exciting news. In the Spring I applied to St. Mary's University. Over the summer I was invited to interview and was accepted into the St. Mary's University Doctor of Philosophy in Counselor Education and Supervision program. I am looking forward to going back to graduate school and starting this wonderful new journey and applying what I learn here at May.

Go Rattlers!

May Elementary Counseling Department is so excited to start another school year with our Roadrunners. I will offer individual and small group counseling services that will require parent permission. Regular guidance lessons for PreK-5th grade will continue this year to support student's social, emotional and academic needs. As we transition into a new routine, I want to remind you that I am here to support, guide, and advocate for your child.

Also, this year we will be highlighting the 6 Pillars of Character, and they are Trustworthiness, Respect, Responsibility, Fairness, Caring, and Citizenship. Your child can earn character bucks daily and they can be used at our school store. Each month we will highlight a Pillar of Character, and your child can earn a certificate for the highlighted character traits.

I am so excited to be your child's School Counselor. Please contact me if you would like to discuss any individual or group counseling.

Warm regards,

Ms. Julianne Juárez

Guidance Curriculum: School Counselors provide guidance lessons to all grade levels that facilitate student growth and development in the areas of educational, career, personal, and social development.

Responsive Services: School counselors intervene with or on behalf of those students in pre-kindergarten through 12th grades whose personal circumstances, concerns, or problems are threatening to interfere with or are interfering with their healthy development.

Individual Planning: School counselors guide students to plan, monitor, and manage their own educational, career, personal and social development.

System Support: The System Support component describes management activities which assure the delivery of a high quality school counseling program, and service which indirectly benefit students by supporting other programs.

Guidance lessons will start Wednesday, September 6th. I see all students at May during our weekly lessons where we focus on the following four skill goals.

Intrapersonal Relationships

• Developing a positive self-concept
• Changing a particular behavior
• Developing ways to manage the demands of school, social activities, and family
• Making positive decisions and taking responsibility for actions

Interpersonal Relationships

• Evaluating how prejudices can be harmful
• Respecting and appreciating differences
• Learning how to effectively communicate with others
• Navigating relationships with friends, dating partners, family members, teachers, employers

Post-secondary Planning and Career Readiness

• Motivation to achieve in school
• Understanding how grades can affect post-secondary choices
• Selecting a career or college path
• Setting post-graduation goals

Personal Health and Safety

• Identifying resilience and positive coping skills
• Identifying assertiveness skills for personal protection
• Learning how to set personal boundaries
• Creating a personal wellness plan

Do you have a concern about your child and you would like for Ms. Juarez to meet with them to help? Or perhaps you need some assistance with other needs such as food, clothing, a backpack/school supplies, or another concern? Your school counselor is here for you. Please call or email Ms. Juarez so that she can find a way to best support you and your student(s).

(210) 397-2026

julianne.juarez@nisd.net