Inner Balance
May 2021
Exciting Events Coming Up for Dawson Middle School!
STAAR Testing
End of Year Celebrations
We're in the Home Stretch!
Welcome to May! Hopefully we can all see the light at the end of the tunnel on the 20-21 school year. While spring is in the air, and we may have an extra skip in our step, we as counselors also know that Spring brings lots of TESTING, which may produces stress for students, parents, and staff! This season can be overwhelming as our list of to-do's seem to be never-ending and our minds are drifting to those summer days.
Below are a few practical tips from Mental & Behavioral Health at TEA that can help support your (and your child's) overall wellness and resiliency during this time.
- Get enough sleep. Getting 7-9 hours of sleep increases daily productivity and boosts mood.
- Exercise daily. Getting up and moving for at least 30-45 minutes of a sustained activity.
- Eat healthy and well-balanced meals. Try to eat healthy, well-balanced meals. Make sure that you are getting adequate protein, healthy fats, and a variety of vegetables. Avoid processed foods and sugar.
- Go outdoors. Getting outside can help you escape the stressors of work and school. Being outdoors is good for your mind and mood and can help strengthen your immune system.
- Build a strong support system. Connect with friends and family and embrace new and existing interests.
- Manage stress. Although some stress can fuel motivation and drive, when we don’t properly manage stress it can lead to exhaustion, burn out and physical ailments. Find some time each day to sit quietly and take a deep breath. Try starting your day with a few minutes of deep breathing exercises.
Speaking of Testing...
We will not have Semester Exams this year! Hooray! However, we are still required by the state to take the STAAR test.
Tips for a good STAAR Day:
- Remember that this test does not define you! It's a snapshot of your abilities at one moment in time. Just try your best!
- Be sure to charge your laptop. Most DMS students are taking the tests online this year!
- Eat a healthy breakfast the morning of the test. Bring a quiet, mess-free snack to your testing room in case you get hungry during the four-hour testing window.
- Bring a really good book to read after the test. You will remain in your testing room until the four-hour testing window has closed, and the only thing you are allowed to do after testing is rest or read. This is an awesome chance to get lost in one of the amazing books available in our DMS Library!
DMS STAAR Testing Dates
Add these dates to your calendar. Be sure to note whether a date is for DVA, Face-to-Face, or both!
7th Grade
- Wednesday, May 5: Algebra EOC (for students currently enrolled in Algebra only)
- Tuesday, May 11: 7th Grade Math STAAR for Face-to-Face Students
- Wednesday, May 12: 7th Grade Reading STAAR for Face to Face AND DVA Students
- Thursday, May 13: 7th Grade Math STAAR for DVA Students
8th Grade
- Wednesday, May 5: Algebra EOC (for students currently enrolled in Algebra only)
- Tuesday, May 11: 8th Math STAAR for Face-to-Face and DVA
- Wednesday, May 12: 8th Reading STAAR for Face-to-Face Students
- Thursday, May 13: 8th Science STAAR for Face-to-Face and DVA
- Friday, May 14: 8th Reading STAAR for DVA Students
- Tuesday, May 18: 8th Social Studies STAAR for Face-to-Face and DVA Students
Summer Break is Upon Us!
What a year it has been! On May 27th, DMS students will exit the school building and enter summer break! Whether you were online or in person, this year was definitely one that will go down in history books. Social distancing, wearing masks, having a mix of virtual and in-person classmates... It's been different, to say the least. We are beyond proud of how our Dawson Dragons have handled learning during a pandemic, and we think you deserve the best summer break ever!
Here are some resources that may help you plan out your summer break:
- Click here for information about CISD Summer School
- Click here for a list of summer camps offered by CISD staff.
- Click here to access the Southlake Parks and Recreation department "Experience Southlake" website, where you can learn about some Youth Summer Specialty Camps.
- Click here if you're looking for ideas of things to do over the summer break!
- If you would like a list of CISD tutors offering their services over the summer, reach out to one of your DMS Counselors.
DMS Counselors will continue working until June 10th. We will return the last week of July. The first day of school for students will be August 16th.
The Importance of Commitment for Student Success
-You have to believe in yourself before others start believing in you. Whatever it is that you would like to achieve, make sure that you believe in it and trust your abilities to accomplish it.
-Now that you know what you want to pursue in life, it’s time to make an action plan for it. Whether your goals are small or big, you need to be commit yourself to take action every single day without any excuses.It starts with preparing your brain to passionately chase your dreams or whatever you are passionate about in life. You can begin by making a plan.
-Adaptability and zeal to grow can take you places in life. Never stop learning as most times there is more than one way to do a same thing.
-Success often comes to those who are willing to do whatever it takes to be successful. That means putting in the work and saying no to things that don’t align with your goals. Stay moral and ethical with your goals.
-Maintaining proper work-life balance: Your physical and mental health plays an important part in your life as everything directly or indirectly depends on it. Don’t get too consumed in working hard that you start ignoring your health.
-Never giving up: As you walk through life, you will fall down many times. You might also make mistakes and fail, and it’s absolutely okay. That’s life and things will happen but never let this hamper your spirits in any way. Keep in mind that in order to succeed and become your best version, you have to have a lot of faith in yourself.
Above and beyond all of this, keep in mind the 3 P's when it comes to commitment for student success:
Prepare, Participate, and stay Positive!
STOPit Anonymous Reporting System
What does it mean to have a certified HeartMath Coach at Dawson Middle School?
Your Counselor's can help your child boost resilience, composure and clarity!
The HeartMath Building Personal Resilience™ program is a focused and practical program, combining personalized coaching with scientifically validated tools to help your child self-regulate their body’s response to stress and build resilience. They will learn life-long skills you can use any time to increase well-being, personal and academic performance and quality of life experience.
Be sure to contact your child's grade level counselor for more details!
DMS Counselors
Katrina Tatum
7th grade Counselor
katrina.tatum@southlakecarroll.edu
Amy Hurlburt
8th grade Counselor
amy.hurlburt@southlakecarroll.edu
Lauren Canafax
Intervention Counselor
lauren.canafax@southlakecarroll.edu
Website: https://www.southlakecarroll.edu/domain/812
Location: 400 South Kimball Avenue, Southlake, TX, USA
Phone: 817-949-5500
Twitter: @DMScounselors