October Counselor Newsletter

Happy October, Cougars!
Here at CMS, we believe that ALL students deserve to be treated with dignity and respect, and that every student should feel safe, supported, and accepted at school. In order to create a school climate in which this is possible, we all have a role to play: students, families, teachers, and counselors. This month's newsletter will include tips for preventing bullying for families and students.
How to See Your Counselor
⏰ OfficeHours - The Counseling Office is open from 7:15 AM - 2:45 PM. Students can come see us before school, during breaks, or during lunch.
🎟️ Class Time: Grab a hall pass or wait for a counselor pass.
💻 Online Request: Click link below to request to see a counselor.
🚨 Need Help Right Away? If it's an emergency, tell a teacher, counselor, or trusted adult immediately! Anonymously report anything that concerns or threatens you, your friends, your family, or your community. https://safe2tell.org 1(877) 542-7233. Call or text the Suicide Lifeline - 988
Upcoming Events
- October 12-16 - Fall Break
- October 23 - HRHS Trunk or Treat 5:30-7:30 pm
- October 19-28 - Bring in Candy Donations for Trick or Treat Street
- October 29 - CMS Sensory-friendly Trick or Treat Street 5-7 pm
The CMS Trick or Treat Street is specifically for students of all ages with sensory needs who want a calm, comfortable experience. Come dressed up if you prefer and bring a bag for all your treats!
Candy Donations Needed
Please bring in bags of Halloween candy for our Trick or Treat Street event. Bring your candy into the Front Office from Monday, October 19th - Wednesday, October 28th.
Parent Night Focusing on Eating Disorders
Rock Canyon is hosting a virtual parent night about eating disorders on Monday, October 19th from 6-7 pm. Join Rock Canyon High School Counseling and guest specialists for an informative session dedicated to helping parents recognize, understand, and navigate eating disorders in teenagers. This event is designed for parents across the spectrum-whether you have a student who has struggled with an eating disorder or you simply want to stay informed and proactive on these important topics. Clink here for more info: link.
Parent Forum: From Managing to Empowering
Join us for an empowering workshop with Rocky Heights Middle School parent and Certified Family Coach Livi Maldonado!
Date: Tuesday, October 20th
Time: 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Location: Rocky Heights Middle School
Speaker: Livi Maldonado (Certified Family Coach, Founder of Family Dynamics)
What You’ll Learn: Get practical tools to help your family reinforce expectations and reduce everyday conflict around:
Tech boundaries
Organization
Building student independence
Learn how to shift from constant managing to coaching your student toward long-term success!
Please reserve your spot ahead of time!
Middle School Tips for Success: Asking for Help
For Families
Know the facts about bullying in middle school
Teach your kids about bullying: what it looks like, why it's harmful, and why it's important to stand up for others when you see bullying happening.
If you suspect your child is being bullied, listen to them and assure them that is was not their fault. Reach out to your child's teachers and/or counselor to determine next steps or, if the issue is severe, contact administration directly.
If you suspect your child is bullying others, let them know that you take bullying seriously and educate them about the harmful effects of bullying. Seek the understand the reasons they are bullying and develop alternative solutions. You may also refer your child to their school counselor so that we can work with them on empathy and respecting others. Contact administration if you suspect the issue is severe.
Monitor your child's technology use: cyberbullying is as big of an issue as bullying and can be harder to detect.
For Students
Be an UPSTANDER, not a BYSTANDER. If you see a peer being bullied, speak up and stand up for them! It can be scary to stand up to your peers, but even one person's support can make a big difference for someone who is being bullied. Visit the link for some ideas on how to be an upstander.
If you know someone is being bullied and they are too afraid to report it, report it for them. BAMS cannot address incidents of bullying if we are not informed about them. Reporters are always kept anonymous.
If you are experiencing bullying, please do not be afraid to let your school counselor or administration know. We want you to feel safe at school and will do all that we can to make that happen.
Reach Out
October Advisement Topics
Advisement is a class period every day in which students, in addition to Social-Emotional learning, work on executive function skills, have time to go over and plan for completing missing assignments.
Special topics will be covered each month in advisement. In October Advisement classes, students will continue learning how to prevent bullying and what to do if they see bullying. See below for grade-specific activities and lessons in advisement.
- Apologizing
- Goal-Setting
- Backpack Clean Out
- Missing Assignment Check
- The Faces of Bullying
- Goal-Setting
- Backpack Clean Out
- Missing Assignment Check
- Cyber Bullying
- HRHS Future Falcon Showcase Assembly
- Goal-Setting
- Backpack Clean Out
- Missing Assignment Check
HRHS Tours
Are you interested in learning more about Highlands Ranch High School? HRHS is now offering monthly tours for families to learn about the awesome educational and academic opportunities at HRHS!