Life in the Middle - January
A Mental Health and Wellness Newsletter from CMS Counselors
Important Dates:
It's that time of year! Course selection and planning for next year has begun. Please review these dates closely:
January 17: MLK Holiday - No School
HS Course Selection Dates: (Current CMS 8th Graders)
- January 27: 8th to 9th Grade Parent Meeting and Course Fair, 5:30 - 7:00 in CHS Cafeteria and SAC
- January 28: All About High School Presentation for current CMS 8th Graders during Dragon Den
- January 31: High School counselor presentation #1 for current CMS 8th Grade Grad Planning during Math Classes
- February 3: Current 8th Gr. Parent Q&A w/High School Counselors 9:00 am - 10:00 am in CHS Lecture Hall
- February 7: High School counselor presentation #2 for current CMS 8th Grade Grad Planning during Math Classes
- February 14 - 24 : Course request will be open in Skyward
- April 26 - 28: Arena Scheduling opens for 8th grade students
Incoming 7th and Rising 8th Grade Course Selections: (Current 6th and 7th Graders)
Tuesday, February 22, 2022
- Incoming 7th Grade Parent Meeting 5:30 - 6:30 CMS
Wednesday, February 23, 2022
- Course Selection Google Site will go live with parent information and student information
- Students and Parents will need to view the information prior to making course selections
Wednesday, February 23, 2022 – Tuesday, March 1, 2022
- Google Form for Q/A submissions open and will be updated with answers daily on google site (please watch videos/read information before submitting a question)
- Please understand this is the most efficient way for us to communicate/answer questions. We will not be able to respond to emails/phone calls regarding course selections.
Friday, February 25 (4:00 p.m.) – Monday, March 7, 2022 (10:00 p.m.)
- Course Selection Portal (Skyward Student Access) and Google Form open for submission
Monday, March 7, 2022(10:00 pm.)
- Online Course Requests submission deadline (Via Skyward Student Access)
- Online Course Selections via Google Form deadline
- Application deadline for courses requiring application
**** More information regarding these presentations will be coming out prior to the actual presentations!
New Chapter, New Goals, and Grace
Looking Forward
4 Steps to Goal-Setting
Ask them questions such as:
- If you were confident you couldn't fail, what would you do?
- What's something you wish you could accomplish?
Help them ensure their goal is Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Time-Based (SMART).
2. Talk about the purpose of their goal
Ask things like:
- How will this help you?
- How will this help others?
- Why does this goal matter?
This encourages critical thinking and kindness.
3. Break down the goal into "action steps"
- Help them brainstorm smaller steps to achieve that goal
- Make a "goal ladder" with the goal at the top and the action steps leading up toward it to help your student visualize it.
These steps need to be manageable. When we look at goals with smaller steps, we can focus on the process and not just the outcome of the goal. It's important to stress that a goal might not be reached immediately, but if your child is accomplishing the "action steps" they are actually completing short term goals and making progress!
4. Brainstorm potential struggles/obstacles
- Discuss bad habits or negative thinking that could get in the way of your student achieving his/her goal.
- Ask: "If you feel like giving up, what will you do instead?"
Remind your student of times they persevered in the past. Brainstorm things they did that helped them get through and reflect on how it felt for them when they achieved their goal.
Bonus: Write goals and action steps down!
- Get creative! Use fun goal sheets, a journal, or anything that inspires your student!
- Writing down goals helps keep your student accountable
(Source: Big Life Journal)
If your child wants to give up on their goal...
- Remind them of the plan and the small steps they're achieving
- Focus on improvement
- Celebrate their effort and persistence
- Encourage positive self-talk
- Help them put failures or setbacks in perspective by giving them examples of your own struggles at their age
- Reinforce that their worth is not tied to their performance
How can my child meet with their counselor?
1. Teacher Referral
2. Parent Referral
3. Self Referral
We meet with students for many reasons:
1. Academic - Performance, struggles, test taking strategies, study skills etc.
2. Friendship/ Peer/Social Concerns
3. Personal Concerns
4. Behavioral Concerns
5. Stress/Anxiety
6. Responsive Services - meeting their immediate needs and concerns
If you have a concern and you would like for a counselor to meet with your child, please contact your child's grade level counselor via email or phone.
CMS Counseling Staff
Jane Kea
7th Grade Counselor
Dawn Riedl
8th Grade Counselor
Ways to Stay in Touch
Website: https://www.southlakecarroll.edu/domain/814
Phone: (817)949-5400
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CMSDragonsCounselors/