Counselors' Corner
January/February Edition 2016
Tis the Season for Love and Kindness
Celebrate National School Counseling Week February 1-5, 2016
This year's theme is " School Counseling: The Recipe for Success." Throughout the week, counselors will talk about the ingredients for building a successful future, the challenges many students will face along the way, and what you can achieve if you believe in yourself.
Check out ASCA's National School Counseling Week section for more info!
Important Dates in January and February
Jan 18 - No school for students, Holiday
Jan 25 - No school for students, Teacher work day
Jan 26 - Quarter 3 begins
Feb 1-5 - National School Counseling Week
Feb 2 - 6th grade 1st Semester academic awards
Feb 3 - 7th grade 1st Semester academic awards
Feb 4 - 8th grade 1st Semester academic awards
Feb 12 - No school for students, Professional Development
Feb 15 - No school for students, Holiday
Feb 16 - Parent Teacher Conferences, no school for students
Feb 17 - Course selection with High School Counselors for 8th grade students
Feb 24 - PSAT 8 for 8th grade AVID students
Feb 24 - Triple Threat Night
This month, you should check out...
What Every Parent Should Know About Bullying
Ignoring Something Doesn’t Make it Go Away
Tara Roybal, School Counselor, M.Ed.
Common sense tells us that ignoring something does not make it go away. In fact, ignoring something for too long can result in significant damage. Just like putting off going to the doctor to examine a pesky mole that has changed or waiting to call the mechanic when a strange clanking noise bangs away as you drive down the road, ignoring a problem often leads to more problems. If we know that ignoring something does not make it go away, then why do we tell our children to “just ignore it” when it comes to bullying? I offer a different solution.
It is human nature to test limits and try creative strategies to get a desired result. For example, think of a time you were standing at the check-out aisle as a toddler was throwing a tantrum because she or he wanted something and wanted it right then! You’ll notice the “I will throw a tantrum to get what I want” strategy only works if the parent, “gives in”. The toddler will continue to test the limit, getting louder and trying more extreme measures to get the desired result. The same is true of bullying. When a child is bullying another child (name-calling, spreading rumors, excluding, etc.) and is not getting what they want (feeling more powerful, getting the person to cry, etc.), he or she will try more extreme measures to get the desired result if it's not put to an end. The old adage of “It will get worse before it gets better” is true. The child doing the bullying will continue to try more intense behaviors before possibly giving up. The difference between a child throwing a fit to get what he or she wants before giving up and a child bullying another child is the hurtful, long-lasting results.
Putting up with bullying does not make a child stronger. From the Center for Safe Schools, children who experience bullying are more at risk for emotional stress. Students that bully are also at-risk. They are more likely to get in trouble, participate in risky activities, and have problems as adults. Bullying is not something that students need to endure. Students are encouraged to report bullying and learn different strategies to deal with bullying behaviors. Speaking up when bullying happens, walking away, and telling a trusted adult instead of participating or ignoring it are all helpful responses.
If you suspect that your child is being bullied, please talk with your child. Work with adults at school who your child trusts, and document and report behavior. Help your child develop new friendships by connecting your child to other children who are positive influences and others with common interests. There are many opportunities to participate in clubs and extra-curricular activities right here at school. We are all part of the solution to end bullying behavior.
According to the Center for Safe Schools, if you suspect that a child is being bullied, DO NOT:
Blame the child
Use the word tattletale
Tell the child to ignore it
Tell the child to retaliate
Expect the child to work it out alone
Force mediation if the child is reluctant
Demand apologies