US Counseling & Advisory Newsletter
February 2023
Dear Students,
Grade 9 students are continuing with their Community Action Projects (CAP) supported by all their Grade 9 advisors. They are also taking a closer look at their interpersonal interactions with each other, a process led by their Grade Level Leader Mr. Cam Ducharme. This process invited them to participate in a Climate Survey in order to identify and work on areas that they may have challenges in. This process is vital for students to be able to work together in a healthy and nurturing way, upholding our core values and living up to our DEIJ statement.
Grade 10 students will be focusing on Careers Explorations in many different ways such as Career Research Projects, led by their Grade Level Leader Mr. Terrance Dillon and supported by all their Grade 10 Advisors. They also participated in a 3 part series on Career Explorations presented by Upper School Director, Felim Bolster and Counselor Tessa John Guerra.
Grade 11 students are continuing to work closely with their Advisors on their Creativity, Action, Service (CAS) projects led by Grade Level Leader Ms. Susi Francey with the tremendous support and assistance of our Librarian Ms. Liz Keating.
Grade 12 students have been really enjoying their Life Skills Workshops and the Senior Buddy Program led by their Grade Level Leader Mr. Ronan Dempsey and all Grade 12 Advisors.
Please do enjoy this Newsletter and let's celebrate all the learning opportunities our students are receiving through our Counseling and Advisory Program in a relaxed, fun and nurturing environment!
Tessa John Guerra
School Counselor
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Sophomore Scavenger Hunt
- An Advisory Pic:- Students create a group photo that represents the Spirit of their Advisory.
- Share the Peer Love Pic:- Students take a photo that represents the love they have for their peer or peers that support and encourage them as well as enhances their life at school.
- Welcome Pic:- Students find a place, person or group (not a student) in the Upper School who makes them feel welcome or at home here at ASM. They create a photo that represents that experience.
You can feel their love captured in this video below!
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Senior Life Skills Workshops
Simple Cooking on a Budget!
Ms. Lee shows them just how!
It is a "simple cooking on a budget" workshop for the seniors advisory. I demonstrated how to prepare fried noodles in 20 minutes.
Shihman Lee
Middle/Upper School Mandarin Teacher
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Sewing a Button
Ms. Walker teaches them how!
Joanne Walker Social Studies HOD-IB Business Teacher
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Physical Fitness For Busy People!
- Fitness goals are a moving target (train for life) and
- How students can obtain their own individual goals through reflection and implementation
Zachary Zeilik
US Science Teacher
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Basic Financial Planning
I focused on what the typical expenses are when you live alone, how to make a balance sheet so that you can project how much you can save over time, what the main expenses are when you live alone (rent, Wi-Fi, Netflix, Amazon Prime... you know, the really important stuff!)😊 what it means to pay taxes and how that works, renting vs. paying a mortgage.
I based my talk on my own spreadsheet that I created and still use to this day.
Students were very eager to learn as they will have to know how to do this VERY soon!
Eric Foinquinos
Upper School Social Studies and Art
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Time Management & Balance
April Stout
K-12 Teaching and Learning Director
and
Katrina Dodds
MS/US PE/Health Teacher
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Car Maintenance
Hunter McCallister Upper School ITGS & Robotics Teacher
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Resume Building & LinkedIn
Liz Keating Middle/Upper School Learning Commons Librarian
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"I think the Buddy Program was a great way to leave our legacy behind. It reinforces our values of being a family at school. When I was in K3 in Lower School I also had a big buddy and I think that it’s really a great way for us to build community. I noticed that they really look up to us and I enjoy being that source of inspiration to them."
Senior
"So far I have really enjoyed our Senior Buddy Program. I remember being younger and looking up to the Seniors so right now I like being that person that they look up to. It is also really fun to play with them. It feels like a wholesome moment when playing with them, since I don’t have to think of anything academic during that time."
Senior
"The Senior - Grades 1 and 2 Buddy Program aims to bring together our oldest and (almost) youngest students to build community, to play, and to learn from each other. Who better to remind our seniors that life isn't all studying, deadlines and college assessments than a gang of 6-8 year-olds who take play seriously?!"
Ronan Dempsey
Upper School English Teacher
Grade Level Leader (Grade 12)
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College Counseling for Juniors
On Thursday, February 9th the College Counselors, John McCracking and Marj Southworth, began hosting a series of required classes covering 7 College Curriculum topics. It is REQUIRED that all juniors attend one of the classes for each topic in the series. There are 4 opportunities in a normal 8 day rotation to attend each class. Attendance is taken in each section. Students find a period in their schedule when they have free time (drop block or study hall) to attend. As indicated, these classes are required and attendance will be taken.
Please see the attached schedule. If a student cannot find a time to attend a class in the series, they should see their College Counselor. The schedule, including topic titles, is attached below.
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Grade 9 Advisory began the New Year diving into their Community Action Project proposals!
By working together in groups and completing the step by step CAP research plan and proposal form, students will be able to showcase their work by May 16th & 24th during Advisory.
In order to be successful in their projects, students can find attached below the comprehensive methodology prepared and shared with them by their Grade Level Leader and Advisors.
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Grade 11 students are using their Advisory to fulfill a very important IB Diploma requirement!
Students are aiming to have at least one CAS Project and at least six CAS Experiences which is exactly what they will be focusing on during Advisory. Their Grade Level Leader Ms. Susy Francey has been encouraging them to use this time to work on either their project, their experiences or on their reflections as this is a big part of CAS.
In addition to their Grade Level Leader, students also have the assistance of their Advisors and Ms. Keating who are more than happy to assist and guide them through this process.
Students have access to all the resources below, prepared by their Grade Level Leader, to help them navigate through their CAS projects and experiences in a very systematic and progressive manner.
STEP 1
STEP 2
STEP 3
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As we end this Newsletter we would like to share with you highlights of our latest Senior Advisory on Valentine's Day.
The Senior Breakfast during Advisory was organized by their moms who volunteerd their time and resources to prepare an unforgetable, beautiful and delicious spread for their kids. Advisors and other staff members, lucky enough to be there, also enjoyed these decandent treats prepared with so much love. We are sending a special "THANK YOU" to these moms for their dedication, positive energy and attention to detail.
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THANK YOU FOR COMING TO THE END OF OUR NEWSLETTER!
- Please go over all the past newsletters where you will find different study strategies under the sub-heading of Study Skills.
- Then go over all the different professions explored under the sub-heading of Career Guidance.
Email: tessajohn@asmadrid.es
Website: asmadrid.org
Location: American School of Madrid, Calle América, Pozuelo de Alarcón, Spain
Phone: 34 917401902