Counselor Connection

I hope all of our kindergarten families had a fun, relaxing and rejuvenating winter break!

The new year is a great time to reset :)

Kindergarteners are using the New Year to revisit and practice the Warren Core Values of being SAFE, RESPONSIBLE, KIND and RESPECTFUL.

Ask your student how they showed the Core Values at school today!

As part of a school wide SEL initiative, students will learn and practice a different character trait each month. These traits will also be highlighted at our monthly Whole School Assembly where our students will have the opportunity to perform a song/act that represents and models the character trait of that month.

January's theme is Perseverance A "kid-friendly" way to describe perseverance is "keep trying even when things get hard, you make a mistake or you get frustrated. Don't give up"!

Perseverance is the ability to keep trying even when something is challenging. This skill helps children build confidence, problem-solving skills, and resilience. Here are simple ways families can practice perseverance at home:

1. Puzzle Power

Work on puzzles or games together. When it feels tricky, model calm thinking by saying things like,
“This is hard, but I can try another way.”
Encourage your child to keep trying instead of giving up.

2. Try-Again Chores

Give your child small responsibilities such as getting dressed, cleaning up toys, or making the bed. If it doesn’t go perfectly, encourage them to try again rather than fixing it for them.

3. Learning Something New

Practice a new skill together—riding a bike, writing letters, cooking, or playing a new game. Talk about mistakes as part of learning and remind your child that practice helps us grow.

4. Timed Effort

If your child feels frustrated, set a short timer (5–10 minutes) and ask them to keep trying until the timer ends. Praise their effort once time is up, even if the task isn’t finished.

5. Use Perseverance Language

Praise effort, not just results. Try saying:

• “You didn’t give up.”

• “You kept trying even when it was hard.”

• “I’m proud of how you worked through that.”

As we approach the midpoint of the kindergarten year, it’s a great time to check in on your kindergartener’s (non-academic) skill development and see if there are any areas where they could benefit from a little extra practice.

What Children Are Typically Learning by the Middle of Kindergarten

Social Skills

• Follows classroom routines with reminders
  

• Takes turns and shares materials with peers
  

• Uses words to express needs and feelings
  

• Participates in group activities for short periods
  

• Begins to solve small problems with adult support
  
  

Gross Motor Skills (Large Body Movements)

• Runs, jumps, and climbs with better balance
  

• Hops, gallops, or skips
  

• Throws and catches a ball using two hands
  

• Follows movement directions during games
  

• Plays safely on playground equipment
  

Fine Motor Skills (Hands & Fingers)

• Holds a pencil, crayon, or marker with a functional grip
  

• Cuts with scissors along straight or curved lines
  

• Draws simple pictures and shapes
  

• Writes or copies some letters, especially in their name
  

• Uses small objects (blocks, beads, buttons) with control

Language Skills

• Speaks in complete sentences
  

• Follows 2–3 step direction
  

• Answers basic questions (who, what, where)
  

• Uses new vocabulary from books and conversations
  

• Participates in conversations with peers and adults

Reasoning Skills (Thinking & Problem Solving)

• Sorts objects by color, size, or shape
  

• Recognizes and continues simple patterns
  

• Understands cause and effect in everyday situations
  

• Begins to explain thinking with support
  

• Tries to keep working when something feels challenging
  
  

Remember:

✔ Children develop at different rates
✔ Progress matters more than perfection
✔ Practice at home helps build confidence

Thank you for partnering with us to support your child’s growth and learning!

This month we will be focusing on a common kindergarten challenge: Tattling!!

As children are developing a sense of right and wrong and learning to follow a group plan, children often feel the need to tell an adult when they see someone "breaking" the rules. While this is developmentally appropriate, it can be overwhelming when the whole class is trying to tell the teacher something.

We will read Don't Squeal Unless it's a Big Deal and learning the difference between a Kid Sized Problem (you can figure it out on your own) and a Big Deal (need a grownups help).

Ask your student the difference between a little problem (No Biggy) and a Big problem!

• Preschool through grade two students are too young to participate in virtual therapy, so Cartwheel offers virtual parent meetings with a licensed therapist for 30 minutes every other week. These coaching sessions aim to help parents understand their child's mental health needs and the skills, knowledge, and confidence to best meet those needs.
• Students in grades 3-12 can participate in individual tele-therapy with little to no wait time! Therapists speak various languages, and Cartwheel takes most insurance.
• If your child would benefit from either of these services, please complete this referral form or contact your child's school counselor for more information.

Cartwheel's free webinars are designed to empower caregivers, family members, and school staff with practical and actionable information on mental health topics affecting youth and families today. Cartwheel's hope is that every person leaves their webinars feeling more confident in how to connect with a child in their life.

Our district partners with Care Solace to provide a free referral service that families can use to help any member of their immediate family access therapeutic support. https://caresolace.com/ashlandk12

• January 16: No School, staff Professional Development
• January 19: No School in observance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day
• January 23: Drop Everything and Create
• January 27: Whole School Assembly, wear BLUE for Ashland pride
• January 29: Incoming Kindergarten Information Night for parents 6:30 in the Dining Room
• January 31: Incoming Kindergarten Registration 9:00 am to 12:00 pm in the Warren School library
• February 4: Drop Everything and Play
• February 16-20: No School, February Vacation