YCMS Counseling through Connections
January Newsletter - 2020
Leadership: Let Your Light Shine!
For each of us, our purpose is to use a unique set of gifts and talents in the way that finds our place in and helps us make a difference in the world.
It’s important for us to understand the power of knowing about who we are and what really matters to us. What we contribute to the world through the choices that we make or don’t make has a ripple effect. Your life affects mine, and vice-versa.
For each of us that means something different. One of my favorite quotes comes from English author Lewis Carroll, “One day Alice came to a fork in the road and saw a Cheshire cat in a tree. “Which road do I take?” she asked. “Where do you want to go?” was his response. “I don’t know,” Alice answered. “Then,” said the cat, “it doesn’t matter.”
When we’re conscious of the simple, yet profound power that lies within our choices, we can create a better world every day and be powerful leaders just by shining our own light.
Take a step, ANY step. Don’t stagnate for fear of taking the wrong step.
I believe we are all leaders inside. I believe that we all have something to teach one another.
Your place of deep gladness may be quite different from mine and even different from your best friend. Isn’t it wonderful that we are each different and each have such wonderful gifts to bring to the world just by being ourselves and using our favorite gifts and talents?
Can you love yourself for just being you? For knowing that you are okay just as you are and have amazing gifts and talents to both benefit yourself and the world.
Like snowflakes we are not meant to be copies of each other but our own individual unique selves. At times we may feel we don’t like the gifts and talents we do have. It is normal to wish we were somebody else or lived someone else’s life. It takes courage to be ourselves and not just an inferior copy of someone else. Accepting who you are by knowing yourself, your strengths, talents and weaknesses is the key to being a great leader.
Let your light shine.
every snowflake is different and special
be a special snowflake
New Year's Resolution Time Capsules
January 7th - 11th
The end of the year is a great opportunity to make resolutions and set goals for the new year ahead, but it’s also the perfect time to look back on moments of joy and success in the past year.
In advisory classes students will be writing their New Year’s resolutions that reflect an academic goal they would like to accomplish. Those resolutions will be placed into a time capsule box that will not be opened until the end of the year.
When the end of the year comes around, students will be given their resolutions from the time capsule box and will be asked to write a reflective piece of writing about how far they have come or what things they might still need to work on.
Make your goals SMART
When you create a plan to achieve your New Year’s resolutions, it’s critically important that you make your goals SMART. Doing so will force you think about what accomplishing your goal will actually be like, and it will also help you define exactly what you want to accomplish.
The SMART model says that for a goal to be a good one, it has to be specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time-based.
Specific
The more specific you make your goal, the more powerful your plan will be, since you will know exactly what you want to accomplish.
Measurable
Next, define exactly how you will measure your progress in reaching your goal, and make sure the criteria you use to measure your goal’s progress are quantifiable.
Achievable
The “achievability” of a goal is centered around you, and whether you have the focus, energy, time, and drive to achieve it.
Realistic
Your goal should be something that is "do-able" for you.
Time-based
Time creates urgency, and your goals should be time-based.
Creating goals that are specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time-based is one of the most powerful strategies I know of to define and stick to your goals. I’ll be honest, defining SMART goals can be a tedious process, but if you’re serious about sticking to your resolutions, you absolutely have to include a SMART definition of your goals in your New Year’s plan.
Kid President – Pep Talk about Teamwork and Leadership
January is National Mentor Month
Dear Mentors, I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere thanks and appreciation for the dedication and enthusiasm you have brought to York Chester Middle School’s Mentoring Program this school year and all the past years.
You participate in a program recognized as without equal in Gaston County and while your role in your mentee’s life is a factor measured far greater than a few hours a week, it is my sincere desire that you also feel a positive impact in your own life from your participation.
I am very blessed in my life to have been taken under the wing of a few outstanding men and women. Without their guidance, direction and leadership, I can say with certainty I wouldn’t be where I am today. I am sure we all can share similar stories about such important people.
I believe all students should have at least one mentor or that someone special who will be there to help guide them through their educational and career development. Such relationships are necessary if we are to live in a world where this next generation can assume its place in leading our communities and country.
Someone to be the Dumbledore to their Harry Potter, the Sebastian to their Little Mermaid, the Mufasa to their Simba, the Optimus Prime to their…um……
My hope is that each of our students will have their own Dumbledore that they can call on and, in turn, seek to fill that role in someone else’s life. Happy National Mentor Month!
Mentors Make a Difference
Students of the Month for January
A LEADER is someone who... York Chester Middle School students share qualities they believe make great leaders in Let Your Light Shine Challenge Video
Class of 2024 It’s Time to Plan Ahead
School life seems to move a little faster after we return from winter break. Our 8th grade students will begin hearing from the different high schools in our area about the registration process and course offerings. It’s important that students take time now to explore all the opportunities that are available so they can be better prepared to make decisions that fit their career plans and goals.
Highland and Gaston Early College will come to York Chester in February to speak to students about the application process, requirements, course offerings and the lottery.
In early March, Hunter Huss will host Freshman Orientation 2020.
If your family has moved, it is important that we have your correct address on file so you will be assigned to the correct high school. Your school assignment will come from the address the county has on file.
If for some reason you will not be attending your assigned school, you will need to go to the county office to request a transfer. We are required by the county to register you with the address we have on file. Address changes will need two proofs of address.
Ambassadors Make Positive Impact on Campus
A Student Ambassador at York Chester Middle School is someone that will represent our school positively and help build community within our school. Student Ambassadors are asked to provide new students with an introduction to York Chester by giving them a tour of the school, helping them with their locker, introducing them to their teachers and providing them with a familiar face on their team. York Chester Ambassadors also assist with many other school activities throughout the year.
Being involved in the Student Ambassador program is a great way to meet new people, develop new skills and play a leadership role on campus!
Upcoming Events
New Year - Holiday
Martin Luther King Day - Holiday
Teacher Workdays - No School for Students
Report Cards Distributed
SAVE the Date for The Great Kindness Challenge Spirit Week at YCMS!!
Get EXCITED!!!
8th Grade Highland School of Technology Presentation at YC
8th Grade Gaston Early College Presentation at YC
Tammy A. Hubbard MA NBCT
Email: tahubbard@gaston.k12.nc.us
Website: https://www.sites.google.com/a/gaston.k12.nc.us/ycmscounseling/
Phone: 704-836-9609
Twitter: @YCMScounseling