Counselor's Corner
December 2014
What is Happening in the World of Counseling This Month?
Guidance Lessons
Guidance Concepts:
1. Continuing to recognize and foster healthy relationships
2. Understanding that choices have consequences
3. Respecting others
4. Understanding and appreciating own culture and the culture of others
5. Taking responsibility for behavior
Fun Activities with the Counselor!
SAVE THE DATE!
Culver’s for Counseling!
Tuesday, January 13th
3-10 p.m.
(Drive-thru or Dine-in)
Culver’s of Atascocita
10% of all purchases from 3-10 will be donated to support the Counseling Program at PFE!
Fabulous Opportunity for Students!
Earlier this semester the fifth graders had the opportunity to attend a field trip to Rice University as a part of PFE's commitment to preparing our students for college and career readiness made possible by generous funds awarded in a grant from The Humble ISD Education Foundation.
On Tuesday, 12/2/2014 I was interviewed by Laura Pappano, NY Times Writer, who is writing a story about elementary schools and college awareness activities. She received my name from the Rice Welcome Center Coordinator!
After my interview with Ms. Pappano on Tuesday, she expressed an interest in speaking, over the phone, with some fifth graders regarding their perspectives of the field trip and College and Career Readiness at PFE.
Several students were nominated by their teachers and counselor to participate in the interview. Since Ms. Pappano only needed two students the day of the interview, all students nominated had the opportunity to listen to the interview via speaker phone in the counselor's office. The following students participated in the interview:
Chandler R.
Colton L. (was interviewed)
Parker H.
Samantha D.
Mikayla D. (was interviewed)
Lauren G.
(Student names were drawn to be selected for the interview)
Panther P.A.L.s!
Since there are so many eager students patiently awaiting "giving back to their school" through acts of service, Mrs. Lehnert and I will be placing the students into groups so all will have a wonderful opportunity as a Panther P.A.L.
Please click on this website for Panther P.A.L. updates!
This special program, "Panther P.A.L.s" (Peers as Leaders) is for fourth graders as an opportunity to show leadership by volunteering their time in various areas on our campus.
Mentors
PFE Staff members have also volunteered to donate their time to be a mentor to additional students on campus.
Mentoring helps to foster positive, supporting relationships to help students achieve personal/social and academic successes.
Parenting Corner
COOKIES WITH THE COUNSELOR!
Parenting with Love and Logic
Attention PFE Parents:
Interested in learning practical ideas for raising responsible children who feel great about themselves? Then join us for this fabulous chat with the counselor!
In their book, Parenting with Love and Logic, Foster Cline, M.D and Jim Fay, Ph.D. state, “As parents, you have only a few years to prepare your children for a world that requires responsibility and maturity for survival. Responsibility is like anything else – it has to be learned through practice. Effective parenting centers on love: love that is not permissive, love that doesn’t tolerate disrespect, but also love that is powerful enough to allow kids to make mistakes and permit them to live with the consequences of those mistakes.”
Please RSVP to this event:
Thursday, Jan 22, 2015, 02:00 PM
Pine Forest Elementary, Humble, TX
Feeling Puzzled? Looking for ideas to help you at home?
The TECH-SAVVY Counselor!
Humble ISD Education Foundation Wish List Project:
I absolutely love being the counselor of over 650 students! This innovative project takes you past the traditional role of a guidance counselor, into the world of a TECH-SAVVY counselor who incorporates dynamic technology applications into her strong comprehensive data-driven school counseling program! This multifaceted idea tackles the critical needs concerning decreasing disruptive behaviors, increasing individual academic achievement, teaching appropriate social skills, and fostering parent and community partnerships. Rather than posing the question, "What do school counselors do?” one must delve deeper and ponder the question "How are students different as a result of what school counselors do?"
Accountability, iPad, and Apps oh my! This program calling for a TECH-SAVVY approach to counseling focuses on purchasing an iPad Mini, Apps for the iPad, and an online accountability tool. The iPad Mini will be for student use within individual and small group counseling sessions. Dynamic presentation programs will be purchased in order to create videos of Counselor Chat parent topics for all to access.
Through the use of multiple technology resources such as: the iPad Mini and apps; online accountability, file sharing, and communication programs, innovative TECH-SAVVY applications will be infused within a comprehensive data-driven counseling program to better serve our students. The addition of an online accountability tool, “School Counselor Central”, will showcase how the school counseling program is integral to the school system.
Referrals to See the Counselor
All students have access to the counselor through whole group guidance. Individual students may self-refer to the counselor using individual counselor passes. Teachers and staff may also refer individual students to the counselor. In addition to guidance lessons, some students visit with the counselor in small group counseling sessions.
My Contact Information
Email: jennifer.vandenbrook@humble.k12.tx.us
Website: www.humble.k12.tx.us/domain/1363
Phone: 281.641.2107