Gateway School Counseling
March 2023 Family Newsletter
Welcome!
This Month at Gateway
Kindness Lessons
This month our guidance lessons will focus on kindness. Though we work to incorporate kindness into all of our lessons, this month we are going into detail. In kindergarten through second grade, we will practice how to show kindness to others and how to be helpful. In third through sixth grade classrooms, we will discuss acts of kindness, being kind to yourself and the importance of character. Ask your student(s) what they learned about kindness this month!
Problem Solving Lessons
We will also be focusing on problem solving in March. This unit will help students develop and expand on their problem solving skills. In kindergarten through second grade, we will practice things such as identifying the problem, being fair, and remaining calm in a conflict. In grades third through sixth, we will learn things such as coming up with solutions and communicating without using blame.
February Self Love Challenge: Wrap Up & Winners
Last year we completed a school wide challenge of self love activities. This year, we are bringing it back in a slightly different way! Each week, Kelsey and Ali will send out a list of activities that students can do with their class and staff members can do on their own. If a class completes and activity, they earn a big heart. If staff members complete an activity, they earn a small heart. Each grade and staff member will be assigned a color in the rainbow. When they turn in a heart, it will be added to the rainbow. The group with the most hearts each week (and for the whole challenge) will earn a prize!
Ask your students for more information about how they are showing themselves love this month!
The winners of Self Love Month were:
Week 1 - 6th Grade
Week 2 - 1st Grade
Week 3 - 6th Grade
Week 4 - 4th Grade
Overall: 1st grade!!
These winners each got rewards throughout the month like extra recess and a final party sponsored by the counselors and Raising Canes to celebrate!
Rainbow
Spotlight
Spotlight
Help at Home
Youth Art Month
The Council for Art Education (CFAE) created Youth Art Month during the month of March. Youth Art Month encourages support for quality school art programs, promotes art material safety, and encourages expression through the arts for youth.
Participating in art expression has many benefits for children such as,
-Boosts and stimulates the parts of the brain associated with academic achievement and emotional development
-Improves memory
-Enhances creativity
-Improves social skills
-Improves reading and language skills
-Build confidence
-Creates cultural and personal connections
During this Youth Art Month, here are way 10 ideas to incorporate art expression into your home!
1. Make a splatter painting.
Using watercolors and a toothbrush, splatter paint on white paper. Fill the toothbrush with paint, run your thumb along the bristles to spatter the paint. Cut into pieces. Assemble on black paper. Glue in place. This can be messy so make sure that you use washable paints and cover up with an apron.
2. Create a nature collage.
Spend some time outside collecting small nature items: sticks, petals, leaves, feathers, etc. Glue or stick on a paper. You can also place a piece of sticky contact paper in a frame, sticky side up. Then place items on the sticky side.
3. Make a collage box.
Use an old shoebox. Color the box with markers. Glue on some favorite things. Collect items that can be used in art projects: paper scraps, meat trays, packing stuff, pictures, etc.
4. Paint thumbprint picture.
Use watercolors. Prime the paints by placing a bead of water on each color. Stick your thumb in a watercolor pan. Make a thumbprint on the paper. When it is dry, add lines to make it a person, bug, or something imaginative.
5. Print with kitchen items.
Using tempera paint, pour some paint on a paper plate or cookie tray. Pick some kitchen items to print with: cookie cutters, corks, spaghetti, mallets etc.
6. Write and create a song or poem.
Write a song or poem about a favorite memory, favorite hobby, or another preferred topic. Read them aloud to each other or create movement to go along with the creation.
7. Create Pan art.
Place a piece of paper in a cookie pan. Paint the paper with water. Using a very wet brush, dip in a watercolor color. Dab the paint on the paper. What does it do? When the child has filled the paper with color, have him sprinkle salt on the paper and leave to dry. Once it's dry, brush off the salt and talk about what happened.
8. Connect the dots.
Using the end opposite the bristles on a paintbrush, dip in tempera paint and make dots around the paper. Then use paints or markers to draw lines to connect the dots. Add color in the spaces.
9. Make A Timed line wonder.
Turn on a timer for one minute. Using a marker, begin drawing but don't pick up your marker. Make one long continuous line going up, down, across and around. When the timer goes off, color in the spaces.
10. Design Nature stamps.
Collect some nature items that have a flat side (twigs, leaves, rocks, etc.). Paint the items with tempera paint and stamp them on paper.
Women's History Month
You can teach your learn about women's history alongside your child by sharing the following videos and stories at home:
Dream Big Little One (Pre-k-1st Grade) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HgdtP2fIkoc
Time Traveling guessing game (1st-3rd Grade) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BnVx0ng9RvI&t=104s
PBS Women's History Month (3rd-6th Grade) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVrvMJWrJlk
Kid President: Women's History Rap https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RTezIzJW1No
Here are some ideas for activities that you can do in your classrooms to celebrate Women's History Month:
- Write your own rap about a women from history OR a current woman that you admire
- Create a "wax museum" in your classroom by having students take on the role of different women from history (they could create a poster about the character or even dress like them)
- Women's History Bingo
- Focus on inventors who are women. Have students find things here at Gateway that were invented by women (ex. globes, dishwashers, alphabet blocks, the game Monopoly, windshield wipers...) and take pictures of them for a scavenger hunt!
International Transgender Day of Visibility
March 31st is the International Transgender Day of Visibility.
International Transgender Day of Visibility is an annual awareness day celebrated around the world. This day is dedicated to celebrating the accomplishments of transgender and gender nonconforming people while raising awareness of the work that still needs to be done to achieve justice.
The Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network (GLSEN) is the leading national education organization focused on ensuring safe and affirming schools for all students. GLSEN conducts extensive and original research to inform evidence-based solutions for K-12 students and education.
For International Transgender Day of Visibility resources provided by GLSEN, please view the link below. You will find resources for personal learning, advocacy, and any needed supports.
National Sleep Awareness Week
This month, celebrate sleep by joining in on National Sleep Awareness Week (March 12-18th). This falls on the same week as our spring break so it is a great time to develop a night routine and practice getting the sleep that we need.
Tips for healthy sleep hygiene:
- Put electronic devices like iPads, phones, and TVs away at least 30 minutes before bedtime.
- Only use your bed to sleep. Try not to eat, do homework, or play on your phone in bed. This can confuse our brain when we are trying to sleep at night.
- Keep your room dark and quiet. Try to keep your home and room dark and quiet at night in order to avoid distractions while sleeping.
- Be consistent. Try to get in bed at the same time every night and set your alarm for a similar time each morning. This will help train your brain to sleep more efficiently!
- Avoid large meals and caffeine before bed in order to help your body sleep through the night.
- Get exercise! Moving your body during the day can help your body be ready for sleep at night.
Middle School Registration
Middle School Updates
School assignments based on School Selection Forms have been finalized through the month of February. This month, a letter should arrive to your house stating which school your child was assigned to based on your requests or home attendance area. Student Transfer Request forms will become available in April to request a different assigned school, if needed.
At Gateway, we will begin prepping our students for their middle school transition during our weekly guidance lessons starting in April and continuing through May.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding Middle School transition, please do not hesitate to contact us! We are happy to support you and your child!
Conferences
Resources Provided
If you missed out on these resources and could use some support, please either call or email Kelsey or Ali using the information below.
Winter Clothing Support
We have plenty of brand new winter coats and would be happy to supply one to your child if they need!
NEW! Family Workshops
Before we schedule our first workshop, we want to hear from you! Please fill out the following survey to help us pick a topic, day, & time for our first workshop.
Panera Bread Program
This year, Gateway Elementary is participating in the Panera Bread Day-End Dough Bread program. Through this program, Panera, LLC is proud to share their unsold bread and bakery products with 501 (c) (3) non-profit organizations in addressing the need for food distribution in efforts to help fight food insecurity in communities.
This opportunity is made possible by the Midtown Neighborhood Alliance. Midtown Neighborhood Alliance, a nonprofit organization of 17 neighborhoods in Midtown Omaha has partnered with Panera, LLC for over 15 years. The partnership has allowed for various organizations and schools to receive Panera food for families. Gateway is one of the participating schools. We are grateful for this program.
If your family needs any additional support with food, please contact either Kelsey or Ali using the information below.
Introducing Sammy, Gateway's School Dog
Please contact Mrs. Buglewicz-Miller with any further questions or concerns!
Resources
Nebraska Family Helpline
1-888-866-8660
Safe 2 Help
531-299-SAFE (7233)
Your Life Your Voice
Call: 1-800-448-3000
Text: "VOICE" to 20121
Chat: yourlifeyourvoice.org
Email: YLYV@boystown.org
Download the "My Life My Voice" app!
Contact Us
Ms. Ali McGovern
Email: alison.mcgovern@ops.org
Phone: (531)299-9529
Mrs. Kelsey Buglewicz-Miller
Email: kelsey.buglewiczmiller@ops.org
Phone: (531)299-6939