WISD Guidance & Counseling

Welcome to the Willis ISD Guidance & Counseling Parent Newsletter!

We are committed to supporting the well-being of our students and their families. This newsletter will provide valuable information, resources, and tips to help you navigate mental health and wellness topics. Our goal is to create a supportive community where everyone feels empowered to prioritize mental health.

Thank you for being a crucial part of our community. Together, we can grow healthy minds and happy hearts in all our students.

Warm regards,

Kelly Locke

Director of Guidance & Counseling
Willis ISD

Previous Newsletters -

August

September

October

November

Start the new year with gratitude! National Thank You Month is the perfect time to reflect on the people who make your life brighter and let them know how much you appreciate them. Whether it's a heartfelt note, a simple "thank you," or a meaningful gesture, taking the time to express your thanks can strengthen connections and spread positivity.

Join us in celebrating kindness and gratitude this month. Take a moment to thank a friend, family member, colleague, or even yourself for all the good things you do. Let's make gratitude a habit that lasts all year long! 🙏💌✨

1. Reduces Stress and Anxiety

Gratitude shifts focus from negative thoughts to positive aspects of life, reducing the impact of stress and anxiety. By acknowledging what you’re thankful for, you train your brain to see more positives in your day.

2. Enhances Mood

Gratitude increases dopamine and serotonin levels—the brain's "feel-good" chemicals. This can lead to a greater sense of happiness and contentment.

3. Strengthens Resilience

When you practice gratitude, you cultivate a mindset that can better cope with life's challenges. It helps you see difficulties as opportunities for growth rather than setbacks.

4. Improves Relationships

Expressing gratitude strengthens social bonds and builds trust. Feeling connected and supported reduces loneliness and fosters a sense of belonging.

5. Promotes Better Sleep

Gratitude calms the mind, helping you sleep more peacefully. Journaling or reflecting on what you're thankful for before bed can ease restlessness.

6. Encourages Self-Compassion

Being grateful for your own achievements and strengths can reduce self-criticism and improve your overall sense of self-worth.

Incorporating small, daily acts of gratitude—like writing in a journal, saying thank you, or appreciating simple joys—can have lasting positive effects on your mental health.

This month, we celebrate the transformative power of mentorship. Mentors inspire, guide, and empower others to achieve their full potential—whether in education, career, or life. It’s a time to honor those who’ve shaped our paths and reflect on how we can give back by mentoring the next generation.

Are you ready to make a difference? Our RISE mentor program is always looking for new mentors.

What is RISE?

The R.I.S.E. Mentor Program is a school-based mentoring program in Willis ISD that connects caring community volunteers and district educators with students to build meaningful, one-on-one relationships. Mentors meet with their students once every two weeks to provide encouragement, inspire personal growth, and offer consistent support that makes a lasting, positive impact in their lives.

Who can be a mentor?

Attend a new mentor training! We will share all the R.I.S.E. Mentor Program details and you will have the opportunity to sign up if you decide to participate.

Click HERE for more info on mentor trainings.

Become a R.I.S.E Mentor: Who & Why

Who Can Mentor:

• Community members, professionals, and educators who are passionate about supporting students

• Anyone willing to commit to meeting with their mentee every two weeks

• Individuals who want to make a positive, lasting impact in a student’s life

Why Join:

• Make a Difference: Help students grow academically, socially, and emotionally

• Build Meaningful Connections: Form lasting relationships that inspire and motivate

• Give Back to Your Community: Play a vital role in shaping the future of local youth

• Personal Growth: Gain rewarding experiences, develop leadership skills, and learn from your mentee

Your time, encouragement, and guidance can truly change a student’s life. Become a mentor today!

To learn more about becoming a mentor, please contact

936-890-3483

#ThankYourMentor #MentorshipMatters

1. Read More Books:
This year, try something fun: explore new worlds through books! Make a list of books you and your child would like to read together and set a goal, like finishing one or two books each month. Whether your child loves fairy tales, exciting adventures, or books that teach cool things, reading helps them learn new words and use their imagination. Let’s make this year full of fun stories and amazing ideas! 📚✨

2. Limit Screen Time:

Find Fun Beyond Screens! We all love using phones, tablets, and computers, but it’s important to spend time doing other fun things too! This year, as a family work to use screens less and explore other activities. Your children can play outside, read a cool book, or start a creative hobby like drawing or building something. Set a time limit for screens each day to make this goal easier. Finding balance will help make your days even more fun! 🌳📚🎨

3. Get Enough Sleep:

Make bedtime a priority for better energy and focus. Sleep is important for children's physical and mental development in many ways, including: Brain development: Sleep helps children's brains develop by releasing hormones that support growth, repair, and storing information. Immune system: Sleep helps children's immune systems by producing cytokines, which are proteins that help fight infections and illnesses. Cognitive abilities: Sleep helps children develop cognitive abilities like memory, attention, and processing. Emotional well-being: Sleep helps children manage negative thoughts and conditions like anxiety and depression. Physical growth: Sleep helps children grow taller and develop stronger bones and muscles. Learning: Sleep helps children retain information they've learned during the day.

4. Practice Kindness:
The world can feel busy sometimes, but being kind never goes out of style. This year, make a promise to practice kindness every day! Talk to your children about how important it is to care about others, show compassion, and try to understand how others feel. Challenge your family to do random acts of kindness, like helping a friend, saying thank you, or helping someone who needs it. Little acts of kindness can make a big difference! 💕😊

4. Learn a New Skill:

Encourage your child to try playing a musical instrument, learn a new language, or get really good at a sport they love. Help your child pick something that excites them, and then break it into small steps to make it easier. Each step they complete will bring you closer to their goal. Learning something new can be exciting and fun! 🎸🏀🌍

5. Make Healthy Eating Fun!

Eating healthy can be exciting and yummy! This year, help your children try more fruits and veggies—they come in so many colors and flavors. Make it a family project! Go grocery shopping together and help pick out new foods to try. You can also help in the kitchen and make fun recipes with healthy ingredients. Eating healthy keeps your body strong and makes you feel great! 🥦🍎🍇

6. Get Moving and Stay Active!

Staying active is great for your body and your mind! This year, make a goal to help your children get regular exercise. They can join a sports team, ride their bike, or take family walks. Find fun ways to move that they enjoy, and it will be easier to make it a habit. Being active keeps you strong, healthy, and feeling good for years to come! 🚴⚽🏃‍♀️

7. Set and Achieve Academic Goals:

Empower your children to take charge of their education by setting and achieving academic goals. This resolution could involve improving grades in a specific subject, completing homework on time, or participating more actively in class. Celebrate their achievements along the way to boost their confidence and motivation. Reach out to your child's teacher for goal setting ideas! 📚🌍

8. Build Strong Friendships:

Friendships play a vital role in a child’s social and emotional development. Encourage the resolution to build strong and positive friendships. Teach them the value of kindness, honesty, and being a good friend. Help them understand the importance of communication and resolving conflicts in a constructive way. 🤗💕

adapted from healthparkpedatrics.com

Human trafficking can affect any community, often in ways that are hard to recognize. This month, we encourage families to learn the warning signs and talk with children and teens about online safety, healthy relationships, and trusted adults they can turn to for help.

Possible warning signs may include:

• Sudden changes in behavior, appearance, or friendships

• Withdrawal from family, friends, or activities they once enjoyed

• Excessive secrecy about online activity or new relationships

• Unexplained gifts, money, or possessions

• Fearfulness, anxiety, or signs of being controlled or monitored by another person

• Frequent absences from school or declining academic performance

Awareness and open communication are powerful tools in prevention. Together, we can help keep our children safe and support efforts to protect the dignity and well-being of all individuals.

Keeping Kids Safe in a Digital Age

Presented by Street Grace, an organization fighting to end sex trafficking

Click HERE to view the Elementary video.

Click HERE to view the Secondary video.

Handbook for Parents, Teachers, and Caring Adults

Street Grace Resources

School Counselors Amplify Student Success -

School counselors help students set goals, stay motivated, and build strategies for success. With confidence and determination, students can thrive academically, socially, and as they plan for the future. They exist to support students every step of the way. As Kendrick Lamar says in “i,” “Keep your head up”— our students have what it takes to succeed. Have your student contact their counselor if they need support or just want to talk.

School counselors believe every student has a light that deserves to shine. As John Lennon said, “We all shine on, like the moon and the stars and the sun.” When students grow and succeed, it brightens our entire school community. Our students' talents and dreams matter, and their success shapes our future while inspiring others. If your child's light ever feels dim, encourage them to reach out and talk with their counselor—they are there to help you shine bright.

School counselors help students reach their goals while also creating a school where everyone can thrive. Our counseling program is for every student, focused on building a positive, inclusive environment where all feel valued and supported. Through classroom lessons, group activities, and individual meetings, we help develop skills for academics, relationships, and life. As Bob Marley said, “One love, one heart… let’s get together and feel all right.”

School counselors work alongside teachers and administrators to support every student. As Alicia Keys sings, “We are here for all of us,” and that’s true in Willis ISD. Student success is a team effort—we collaborate, problem-solve, and celebrate achievements together. Respect and teamwork are at the heart of what we do, because when we work together, students win.

LET'S CELEBRATE!!

Random Acts of Kindness Week is February 14-20, 2026

Random Acts of Kindness Day is February 17, 2026

FREE Resources to Make Kindness the Norm at home and in your community..

Dating violence is more common than you may think, especially among teens and young adults: 1 in 3 U.S. teens will experience physical, sexual, or emotional abuse from someone they’re in a relationship with before becoming adults. And nearly half (43%) of U.S. college women report experiencing violent or abusive dating behaviors.

Each February, young adults and their loved ones nationwide raise awareness about teen dating violence through Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month (TDVAM). This annual, month-long effort focuses on advocacy and education to stop dating abuse before it starts.

Talk to Teens!

Everyone can make a difference by reaching out to young people in simple ways. As we interact with teens in our work or personal lives each of us can act on President Obama’s call to stand against teen dating violence by:

• Discussing the warning signs of dating abuse (all kinds, not just physical abuse).
• Creating a positive connection to the issue – talk about the characteristics of healthy teen relationships, not just abusive ones – and use statistics sparingly.
• Talking about how the media portrays healthy and unhealthy relationships. For example, many popular movies, TV shows, commercials, books, and magazines portray stalking as romantic or harmless when it is actually very dangerous.
• Getting involved even if you don’t have a lot of resources – an information table, classroom discussion, or school announcement can get the conversation started.

adapted from loveisrespect.org & youth.gov

adapted from loveisrespect.org

If you know of a teen or parent that could benefit from speaking to a caring, well-trained peer advocate, please connect them with the National Dating Abuse Helpline, a project of the National Domestic Violence Hotline, at 1-866-331-9474 (TTY: 1-866-331-8453), by texting "loveis" to 77054, or through live chat at loveisrespect.org.

For more information, please visit the Department of Justice, Office on Violence Women.

A study published in BMJ Mental Health found that problematic smartphone usage (PSU) is linked to anxiety, depression, and insomnia among UK adolescents aged 13-16. The study included 69 students from two secondary schools and used semi-structured questionnaires to assess their mobile usage, sleep, and mood.

Click HERE to read the article.

Click HERE to read the article.

Click HERE to read the article.

Click on the icons below to see our content.

Use these planners to inspire conversations about tech use as a family.

Entertainment and tech have the potential to spark meaningful conversations. And tech planners are a great way for kids to have a shared understanding of how your family makes the most out of entertainment and tech time.

Click HERE to access.

Free Resources

• ParentGuidance.org helps parents find answers to help guide their child.

50+ On-demand Courses

• Led by licensed therapists and clinicians who provide trusted and specialised courses. Discover the power you have to shape your child's well-being.

Ask A Therapist

• Find 30+ mental health questions submitted by parents, answered by licensed therapists.

Daybreak provides free mental health education and support to students & families in the districts we partner with.