Lieck Elementary Counselor Corner

Hello Lieck Lions! We are so glad to have you back and to also welcome any new Lion's to our Pride. We have missed our students so much and are excited to reconnect with them as we start this new 2025-2026 school year! We are looking forward to learning and growing with you.

You can find our Counselor Corner newsletter monthly in our Lieck Parent Newsletter and on Class Dojo. Through our Counselor Corner newsletter, we want to better communicate with parents in order to provide families with resources and parent education opportunities. We also want to keep parents informed with regards to what we are teaching and learning during counselor time.

We can all agree that parenting and caring for a child is perhaps the most important and hardest of jobs, and yet the most rewarding at the same time. Because there is no playbook for parenting and caregiving it can be difficult and let's face it, a bit overwhelming. Even the professionals lack all the answers and solutions. However, we can work together and be a support to one another as we navigate through all the choices and decisions we make everyday in our goal to do what is best for the kids.

We look forward to providing resources, support, and opportunities for our students. parents, staff, and surrounding community.

Your Counselors,

Ms. Moore and Mrs. Gonzales

For the month of September, our focus will be on developing a Growth Mindset. Students will learn why having a growth mindset is important for their learning. They will also explore what it means to have a ‘can-do’ attitude and the importance of not giving up when faced with challenges.

One of NISD core beliefs is that all students will be learners who are ready to tackle the 21st Century by building on eight different attributes. Here at Lieck we will support, guide, and build on these characteristics through our class meetings and guidance lessons. Every month we will spotlight one of the NISD Learner Profiles. Students will explore each profile and we will post a learner profile with dinner table talk conversation starters for our Lieck families to explore at home. Table Talk is a great way for families to connect and strengthen relationships with each other.

For the month of September, we will be focusing on the NISD Learner Profile, collaborator. A collaborator works together to accomplish a shared, common goal.

To develop collaboration skills at home engage children in group activities like cooperative games, family cooking, and building projects, model positive teamwork by working together on chores or problem-solving, and teach explicit skills such as communication, compromise, and conflict resolution through play and discussions. Reinforce these behaviors with praise and guide them through challenges to foster a supportive environment where children learn to work effectively with others.

Fun Family Collaborative Activities To Try

Jigsaw Puzzle

Puzzles are a great way to work together toward a common goal. Everyone can contribute at their own pace, and it’s so satisfying when the final piece clicks into place.

At-Home Escape Room

Have you ever done an escape room? They’re such a fun challenge, but they’re also pricey! Instead of paying the hefty price tag, bring the escape rooms home! There are tons you can buy and print from Etsy (some are better than others), but there are several companies that make at-home escape rooms that are ready to go right out of the box. Here are some to explore:

• Stargazer’s Mansion Escape Room
• Exit the Game: The Mysterious Museum
• Finders Seekers Mysteries

Play a Cooperative Board Game

Some of the best board games don’t pit players against each other—instead, they encourage players to work together toward a shared victory. Here are a few suggestions:

• Outfoxed! – A fun detective game for younger kids.
• Race to the Treasure – Build a path with your team and collect three keys on a race to beat the ogre to the treasure!
• Forbidden Island – A race against time to collect treasures before the island sinks.
• Pandemic – Work together to save the world from outbreaks of disease.

• Castle Panic – Work together to defend your castle from waves of attacking monsters.
• Gnomes at Night – Navigate magnetic gnome pieces through a shifting maze to retrieve stolen treasures.
• The Crew – Complete space missions in this trick-taking card game that has strict communication rules!

Cook Together

They say the kitchen is the heart of the home. Rather than just eating together as a family (which is great, too), try making it a team effort! You can bake cookies together for an after-dinner treat, or go all in on a build your own pizza night!

Build a Blanket Fort

Use blankets and couch cushions or chairs to create an epic fort, working together to make a fun hideout the whole family can climb inside and enjoy. Once it’s built, grab some books to read together, watch a movie, or play a cooperative game.

Create a Joint LEGO Build

Set a fun family challenge—like building a castle or a jungle island—and see what you can make as a team. Work together to design and construct the basic structure and then let each person add their own ideas and personal touches!

Plant a Garden

This isn’t a one-time Friday night activity, but it’s a fantastic way to get family members working together toward a common goal. Let kids help choose what to plant, and get everyone outside to prep and plant the garden. As you continue to share the responsibility of watering and caring for your garden, kids will develop patience and a sense of accomplishment as they see their little seeds start to grow into yummy food or bright, beautiful flowers.

Have a Dance Party

Get on your feet, turn on some tunes, and get out some wiggles with a simple dance party! Put on your favorite playlist, or allow each family member to request one song. Want to make it even more fun? Have a glow-in-the-dark dance party! Have real dance skills? Try choreographing a family dance that everyone learns and then record your family performing it!

Pass a Story

Have one person start a story with a simple sentence such as, “Once there was a dragon who was lonely.” Pass the story around the group, allowing each person to add a little bit more. The game continues until everyone has contributed, creating a fun and often silly story together!

Rules? You set whatever rules make the game fun for your group. You may want to limit each person to adding one sentence, or give each person a certain amount of time.

Go on a Scavenger Hunt

There are SO many different types of scavenger hunts. They can be used just about anywhere, anytime, and they’re a great way to get everyone working together to cross all the items off the scavenger hunt list! Here are some free examples:

• Neighborhood Scavenger Hunt
• Rainbow Color Scavenger Hunt
• Museum Alphabet Scavenger Hunt
• Halloween Decoration Scavenger Hunt

The goal is to have fun together as a family while building collaborative skills like cooperation, communication, patience, listening, conflict resolution, and empathy.

-Adapted from themanylittlejoys.com

Here are some websites you might find helpful. They include resources for discipline, student safety, school success, kid's health, and other materials you might find useful. Please call or email anytime you or your child need help.