Counseling Corner
Anna Johnson (1, 3, & 5) & Jennifer Lee (K, 2, & 4)
December 2020
Hello Wallaby Families!
Coat Drive
We are so grateful for such an overwhelming response to our Holiday Cheer program and our Coat drive this year! THANK YOU, THANK YOU from the bottom of our hearts! We couldn't have done it without all of you!! đź’—đź’—
Sincerely, WLES Student Services Team
Meet Our New School Counselor--Mrs. Lee
Hello, West Lake Wallabies! My name is Jennifer Lee and I am thrilled to become a part of the West Lake Team! I am originally from NY, however I have called our beautiful state of North Carolina my “home” since moving here in 2007. For as long as I can remember I wanted to work with young children. I graduated from SUNY Cortland with a Bachelor’s Degree in Childhood Education and taught first and second grade for 9 years. While teaching, I realized my true passion was to become a school counselor to advocate and empower children to recognize their strengths. In 2014, I received my Master’s Degree in School Counseling from NC State and I have been a school counselor for the last six years.
My husband Chris, and I have been married for 4 years and we have two beautiful, 2.5 year old twins, named Connor and Julianna. They are the absolute joy of my life! When I am not working with young children as a school counselor, my family and I love spending time outside, going to the beach, and cheering on our favorite sports teams...the SYRACUSE ORANGE and UNC Tarheels!! I love being a school counselor and I cannot wait to start interacting with the amazing students, staff, and families who attend West Lake!
Classroom Guidance Update
This month our lessons are focusing on the topic growth mindset. In the first lesson we learned that it takes almost 3 years for a pineapple to grow, which is a long time. This is kind of like us because it can take a long time to learn something new in school or learn a new skill and that is OK! When we know something is going to take hard work and we believe we have what it takes to try hard things, we can persevere. The pineapple needs nourishment to grow. One way we can nourish ourselves is to change the way we talk to ourselves or change the way we think about hard tasks. We will also talk about the power of YET and how that word can help us when we may say things like "I just can't do this.....YET"! When we have a growth mindset, we know that: mistakes help us improve, just because you haven't reached a goal YET does not mean you should give up on it, and if you are trying your best, then that it good enough. Finally, students will have the opportunity to recycle "fixed" mindset statements into "growth" mindset statements.
Sesame Street-Growth Mindset video
4th Grade- This month 4th graders were able to meet to Mrs. Lee and start to learn a little bit about her. Starting in January, all fourth grade classes will begin a social emotional unit on Coping Skills and Emotional Regulation.
5th Grade- This month 5th graders have started their unit on social Emotional Coping Skills. The first lesson is called "Breaking the Chains". In this lesson, students learned that events can lead to a chain reaction of our feelings, thoughts, behaviors and consequences. We discussed a few examples of a time when they experienced an outcome that they would like to change. Students worked individually to create a sequence of an event that lead to a poor coping skill or consequence they would like to change. Students identified where in the sequence they would "break" the chain to change the outcome. Students reviewed the coping strategies that could be used from their previous lessons.
Parents of 5th Graders
The early college application is October 15-EXTENDED to JANUARY 6 at earlycolleges.wcpss.net/apply
The magnet application is October 15 -January 28 at magnet.wcpss.net/apply
Virtual Magnet Middle School Mini Fair, January 14, 9:30-11:00a - click here to register
Special Announcements
by exploring the concept of resiliency and how to utilize
wellness skills to restore balance to the mind and body.
Comfort Zone Camp
Contact Info
Website: bit.ly/WLEScounselors
Location: 4500 West Lake Road, Apex, NC, USA
Phone: 919-662-2300 25733