News from Guidance

The school year is whizzing by! Take a look at what’s been happening in the last few months.
EC 3 – If you have a child in this class ask him/her what they learned to do when they feel a case of the “Groochies” creeping in.

EC 4 – “Be Kind and Polite” by C. Meiners was read to the children and they were given the opportunity to demonstrate kind acts and words (thank you, excuse me, may I, etc.). In both EC 3 and 4 I read “Friendship is an Art” where a box of crayons teaches the lesson – “To have a friend, be a friend.”

Grades K-4 – Recognizing that the smallest acts we perform are great in God’s eyes, I read my traditional favorite story “The Littlest Angel” to all 5 classes.

Kindergarten participated in a Pickle Parade. Students imitated a bunch of pickles acting “kind in line” as they walked from place to place throughout the school.

Grades 1 & 2 – Exercises centered around the special gifts each of us receive from God. Each of us has easy and difficult abilities. We shared the importance of each ones gifts without comparing. In 2nd grade I read another of my favorites, “You Are Special”.

Using the book “Zach Gets Frustrated”, I shared a Name It, Tame It, Reframe It triangle with grades 2-4. We arrived at some “chill skills” to use when times get tough. We also did an exercise exploring Friendly Facts and Unfriendly Facts and generated many ways to be kind to each other even in difficult times.

Grade 3 – Students took part in groups of 6 to participate in a Cooperation and Friendship group. I am currently conducting the Rainbows for All God’s Children Program. This program is directed towards children who are experiencing a death or divorce in the family.

Grade 4 – Back by popular demand, the 4th grades are participating in “mini” groups. These groups are held once a week for three weeks during which time the students explore self-concept, a very important developmental milestone at this age.

Grade 5 – In preparation for the transition to middle school, I shared the Frustration Triangle and techniques with grade 5 and also began a series of lessons on school attitude and motivation.

Middle School – Mrs. Bauer, our Resource teacher, and I, continue our Study Skill lessons with all three grades. Topics related to this include student relationships, organizational, reading and research skills.

First semester High School and College Planning Choice Class concluded with students conducting interviews with family members regarding their experiences in college. Students completed this class by participating in their first career interest survey.

All of middle school is working on group dynamics with activities that promote seeing their classmates in ways they had not previously explore.

Many Blessings,
Kathleen Pszenny
School Counselor