US Counseling & Advisory Newsletter

To help us understand more about World Children's Day, read below a short piece by our very own Peer Counselor and Newsletter Contributor Sakura as she briefly outlines below the historical significance of this day.

• First established in 1954

• World Children's Day is celebrated to promote international togetherness, awareness among children worldwide, and improve children's welfare.

• On November 20, 1959, the UN General Assembly declared the Declaration of the Rights of the Child.

• On November 20, 1989, the UN General Assembly declared the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

• This day could be the beginning of anyone to be able to advocate, promote, and celebrate the rights of children, and advocate for building a better world for children all over the world. Children and also adults can raise awareness of many of the challenges and problems occurring all around the world.

• This year, the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a "child rights crisis".

Along this journey called life you may encounter individuals who may challenge the very values we hold very near and dear to us. Some may question the importance of having character and may wonder if being a good person really matters.

Have you every found yourself questioning your basic core values because public figures seem to get away with anything and are rewarded or even revered for their poor behavior? If these thoughts ever creep into your consciousness, remember to go back to your center - your center of awareness, where your core values reside. Values such as RESPECT, HONESTY, RESPONSIBILITY, KINDNESS, INTEGRITY among many others.

Our center is basically what keeps us grounded, stable, balanced, level headed and motivated to be better human beings. Our center is exactly what is being explored during each of our Advisory lessons through a variety of activities. In the last two weeks you worked on your personal inventories in pairs and as a small group. You also delved deeper in small groups working with the wisdom conveyed in different quotes and creating "Quote Art". Seniors worked on the legacy they would like to leave behind after graduation, and why that really matters.

All over the school in your different classrooms and spaces we saw displays of your work which is the result of your bonding, communicating and sharing. This Newsletter highlights how you expressed yourselves all over the school. Don't underestimate this powerful process because this is what builds your character, nourishes your values and nurtures your well-being.

Cherish your advisory sessions and participate in them fully. Remember whatever you bring to the table will not only benefit you but also others around you in your school, home and social environment.

Tessa John-Guerra

US Guidance Counselor

The focus of this Advisory is based on two students interviewing each other to find out their partner's interests, abilities, and talents. In the process, students practice self-awareness, as they take stock of their own attributes, and reciprocity, as they appreciate what others bring to the table, recognizing every person is a person of value. They create a combined list of interests and abilities that can become a collective resource for the group. And they nourish a set of skills essential to successful learning: active listening, asking questions, and taking notes.

The objectives of this class was:

1. To develop self-awareness of one's interests, abilities, and talents.
2. To reinforce skills of active listening, asking questions, and taking notes.
3. To introduce the concept of reciprocity.

The key skills students learn in this activity are:

• Self-awareness
• Ask questions to learn about others
• Active listening
• Appreciate the value of pooling resources

See below a short clip of Mr. Foinquinos' Grade 10 Advisory class.

Upper School Social Studies and Arts Teacher

1. Upper Left: "Being honest may not get you a lot of friends but it'll always get you the right ones." - John Lennon, musician

2. Lower Left: "The most fulfilled people are those who get up every morning and stand for something larger than themselves." - Wilma Mankiller, first woman Chief of the Cherokee Nation

3. Upper Right: "If you can't make a mistake, you can't make anything." - Marva N. Collins, educator

4. Lower Right: "Don't count the days, make the days count." - Muhammed Ali, professional boxer

- Alexander Lyvers - Grade 9 Advisor

Upper School Social Studies Teacher

The seniors will continue to look at how they will leave a footprint as they graduate. They spent some time reflecting on how to create a meaningful legacy - one that benefit's the school and reflects their own values. In this Advisory they began by considering what makes a legacy meaningful, why it matters and what it has to do with them.

The objectives of this lesson was:

1. To explore the concept of legacy.
2. To consider what the concept of legacy means to others.
3. To come together as a class to create a legacy that reflects their values and ideas as seniors.

Here are examples of ways students use mind mapping at school:

• Learning languages

• Learning grammar
• Preparing for examinations
• Preparing a structure for writing essays
• Preparing presentations
• Brainstorming ideas
• Solving problems
• Thinking creatively, and critically about topics
• Memorizing subject notes, books, and materials
• For general study and revision of information

Try this study method for at least one week and let us know how it is helping you!

Dr. Janis Prince describes why she became a Sociologist

• A classic book, published in 1937

• A story is about two ranch workers who migrate frequently within California.

• The reader cannot help but grow a liking towards Lennie, a simple yet caring man who relies on George, his companion, to lead him and tell him what to do.

• The book delves into the meaning of friendship, loneliness, hopeless dreams through Lennie and George's experiences.

• The ending will make you cry, but also feel many conflicting emotions- the ending is extremely heartbreaking!

• It is rather short compared to other classic stories and is a fun and entertaining read.

World Children's Day in other cultures:

In Pakistan: Fun festivals and events are organized for children by various organizations schools to ensure that Children’s Day is a memorable day.

In Japan: Japan celebrates Children's Day (Kodomo no hi) on May 5th, to celebrate children and to express gratitude for their mothers. In Japan, Children's day is celebrated on two days, March 3rd for the girls and March 5th for the boys.

In Mexico: On April 30th, teachers in schools organize activities for children, while some schools also suspend classes. Many have a day out with their family to celebrate.

by Sakura

The Realization of Children’s Rights Index (RCRI) is a grade between 0 and 10 that shows the level of realization of Children’s Rights in a country.

• The lower the RCRI is, the lower the realization of Children’s Rights in the country.

• The higher the RCRI is, the more Children’s Rights in the country are real and respected.

Download the map below to see the RCRI around the world in 2018.

List of common sources used for the above map:

1. World Bank country data
2. UNICEF country information
3. UNICEF Situation analysis
4. Country Ministry of Health Information
5. UNDP country profiles

Thanks for coming to the end of our second Upper School Counseling & Advisory monthly Newsletter. Please send us your feedback and ideas here on topics to cover in future editions.

Did you miss the other Newsletters?

1. Please go over all the past newsletters where you will find different study strategies under the sub-heading of Study Skills.
2. Then go over all the different professions explored under the sub-heading of Career Guidance.

Email: tessajohn@asmadrid.es
Website: www.asmadrid.org
Location: American School of Madrid, Calle América, Pozuelo de Alarcón, Spain
Phone: (+34) 917401902