High School Weekly Update
9/29/22
Counselor's Corner
“What did you say?”
“Are you talking to me?”
“I’m sorry, what?”
I am sure you have said something like this at one point of your life. Probably more than once. One of my favorite stories that my wife tells about our daughter is from when she was about 4 or 5-years-old. When my daughter couldn’t get my wife’s attention, she would crawl up in her lap and take her face in her small hands, turn her head to look her square in the eyes and say, “Mommy, are you listening to me?”
It is a cute story to tell now and it is also a very important lesson to share. Children need to know the adults in their life (parents, care-givers, school staff) are listening. Really listening. I cannot tell you how many conversations I have with individuals who do not feel as though anyone is listening to them.
All too often adults miss the most important things that matter in the lives of teens because they are not truly listening. We may hear them speaking. We may understand the words they are saying, but do we really catch what they are communicating to us? I can honestly say in my time as a parent of a teenager, I did not. I was too busy. I was too tired. I thought I had more important things going on. I was too dismissive or how aware she truly was. I overlooked the importance of little cues. I was not a very good listener when it came to my own child. And, I missed a lot. I also created barriers to effective communication with her as she was growing up.
The hardest part is that I didn’t truly understand what I was causing until we were well beyond her school-age years and now I continue to work hard to overcome what I could have easliy prevented when she was younger. If I had only taken the time to listen.
I share this bit of insight into my own life to encourage you to take the time and make the effort to listen to your teenagers today. Listen to their stories. Listen to their tears. Listen to the words that cannot be spoken but are clearly communicated through body language. They may not have the proper phrases or ability to share what is truly going on in their lives, but they do want to tell you. They want you to understand them. They want to know you care, not that you want to always fix it, but that you care enough to just listen.
So, I encourage you. If you have not regularly practiced just listening to your teens, it will take some time. Don’t pressure them to talk. But, when they do speak turn off the distractions. Lay the phone down. Postpone that important call. Reach down deep for that last bit of energy. Turn your face in their direction and let them open up. It will not follow a simple path or succinct summary. There may be about 50 different rabbit trails they will go down. Just know if you stay with them and remain attentive long enough without judging or trying to problem solve the first thing that is spoken, you will eventually hear what really matters. More than that, your teen will begin to trust you more than you ever thought possible. They will begin to open up more consistently when they know they are being heard.
If we just simply listen.
National Honor Society Essential Care Drive
Gray Stone Families,
NHS is starting a toiletry drive for the Community Care Clinic in Albemarle! The Community Care Clinic is starting an Essential Care Closet for those in need of toiletry items that food stamps and other grants can’t get them. Some of the most needed items are…
Dish Detergent
Laundry Detergent
Toilet Paper
Paper Towels
Other Toiletry Items
These items must be new and unopened. The drive will last from Monday, October 3rd to Wednesday, October 26th. Please drop items in the boxes in the Commons during this time. Thank you!
NHS
Knight of the Week
This week's Knight of the Week is Ritika Ravikumar. One of Ritika's teachers shared,
Great job, Ritika!
Spirit Week Oct 3-7
Upcoming Athletic Events
Homecoming Festivities
Together in Education
Spirit Wear
The Spirit Shack is full of new GSDS wear! Check out our online store at https://gray-stone-store.square.site. Select your items and pay online. We will have your order ready for pickup the following Friday at the Shack. The Spirit Shack is also open during all lunches on Fridays.
Please email gsdsspiritshack@gmail.com with questions.
Order Your Yearbook Today!
Senior Ads are also available for purchase and need to be sent in online by February 9th (2/9/2023). Please send an email (yearbook@graystoneday.org) to the yearbook staff if you are interested in buying an ad, starting at $90.00.
Let's have a great school year!
Next Week's Lunch Menu
Monday Pasta (Meat or Alfredo Sauce), Garlic Bread, Side Salad
Tuesday Chicken Fried Rice, Fruit, Side Salad
Wednesday Beef or Chicken Tacos, Black Beans, Rice, Salad Bar
Thursday Southern BBQ, Baked Beans, Fruit, Side Salad
Friday Pizza (Cheese or Pepperoni)
About Us
Email: slisk@graystoneday.org
Website: graystoneday.org
Location: 49464 Merner Terrace, Misenheimer, NC, USA
Phone: 704-463-0567
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GrayStoneDay/
Twitter: @graystoneday