5th Grade NIS Counselor Corner

🐾 Thank you to all our community members who have served. As a campus, we want to thank you for your service! 🐾

We've all been there. You pick up your child from school and ask, "How was your day?" All you hear about is how terrible the schoolwork was, a disagreement with a peer, how awful the cafeteria food was, and the list goes on!

These are conversations I navigate myself as a parent, helping my little one recognize the good in their day and learn how to shift a negative mindset.

But did you know that practicing gratitude can actually benefit the brain? Research suggests that expressing gratitude activates areas of the brain associated with positive emotions, reward, and emotional regulation. Over time, making gratitude a habit can help encourage a more positive outlook and support emotional well-being.

This month's Parent Toolkit is all about GRATITUDE JOURNALS!

Find a routine that works for you and your family. Sit down with your child and encourage them to write down at least five things they are grateful for. These are strategies I often use in my counseling toolbox, and I am sometimes surprised by how difficult students find it to name even three things they are thankful for.

An exercise that seems so simple can sometimes be challenging for our little ones!

Take some time this month to slow down, reflect, and recognize the good things in your lives. You might be surprised by how a simple gratitude practice can shift the way your child sees their day!

Thank you for your generous donations in helping our community assist families in need.

At NIS, we believe every student has a strength, every student can grow, and every positive moment deserves to be celebrated! Wildcat GLOW is an initiative designed to recognize students who demonstrate personal growth, leadership, ownership, and a winning attitude. This means celebrating more than just good grades or perfect behavior. We want to recognize students who show kindness, take responsibility for their actions, persevere through challenges, learn from mistakes, and make positive choices. Teachers and staff will have opportunities to nominate students who demonstrate these qualities, and selected students will be celebrated at the end of each nine weeks through special shout-outs, certificates, and other meaningful recognitions. Our goal is to make sure every student feels seen, valued, encouraged, and inspired to keep growing. Together, let's help every Wildcat GLOW! ✨🐾

If you would like to refer your child for additional counseling services, please download the form below and return the completed copy to your child's grade-level counselor. You may click the blue link to access the form or email me if you need additional information. Please include any specific topics or lessons you would like addressed, or feel free to email me to schedule a phone conference to discuss your child's needs further.

Nov. 11- Veteran's Day (Pastries for Patriots)

Nov. 13- World Kindness Day

Nov. 16-24- National Hunger and Homeless Awareness Week

Nov. 19- Friendsgiving Lunch with the Counselors (information below)

Nov. 21- National Adoption Day

We are excited to invite students to participate in our Friendsgiving Lunch Bunch, a fun opportunity to celebrate gratitude, friendship, and kindness with peers! An announcement will be made during CTE, and interested students can pick up a permission slip from their grade level Counselor. Only 10 students will be selected per lunch period on a first-come, first-served basis. Students must return their completed permission slip, signed by a parent or guardian, to Ms. Solano by November 12th to secure their spot.

We look forward to celebrating our Wildcats! 🧡🍂

Email: elizabethsolano@tomballisd.net

Phone: 281-357-3020 ext 1418

I'm happy to support you as best as I can!

Feel free to reach out if there's anything you are needing support with.