US COUNSELING & ADVISORY NEWSLETTER
4th December, 2020
GRATITUDE & GOALS
WELCOME TO TRIMESTER TWO
We ended Trimester One with a Sharing Assembly during our Advisory time where our Student Council members addressed us on the importance of community in the midst of diversity, as well as entertained us with a Thanksgiving Kahoot. In the Spirit of Thanksgiving, our Peer Counselors also shared with us what they were grateful for and ended with Michael Jackson's Song - "Heal The World" - very apt for our times. Cheers to our Senior Sofia Freire for her beautiful rendition of this song. The whole auditorium was touched and felt the power of that moment.
We cannot take these moments for granted because in other parts of the world students cannot be in each others physical presence as we are able to now, and we all know that this makes a world of a difference for us. We are happier when we are together and this FACT is experienced everyday and was especially felt during our Sharing Assembly. So we are grateful because we are able to go to school, we are grateful because we are able to stare in each other’s eyes, we are grateful because we are alive.
So as we begin Trimester Two let's set some goals to be better, to do better and to become a better version of ourselves. I leave you with the profound message that was shared with us during the Sharing Assembly by the Student Council delivered by our Senior, Ryan Ricks. Go over it and let it set the tone for the rest of this Trimester and beyond.
Tessa John-Guerra
US Guidance Counselor
Message from the ASM US Student Council
Presented by Ryan Ricks - Student Council Member
ASM US PEER COUNSELORS MODEL AN ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE
"I am thankful because I have a family that supports me, cares for me and will always be there for me."
Sophomore
"I am thankful for my ice skating team. It is wonderful to have friends that share your passion."
Senior
“I am grateful that I have a passion for the arts because they have given me a way to express myself.”
Junior
"I am grateful because my dog, Hana, makes me happy and always relieves my stress."
Junior
"I am thankful for my teachers and how helpful and patient they’ve been during the 2 year IB process."
- Nasstija B
Senior
"I am grateful to a friendly community in the school."
Junior
"Singing this song was a kind reminder of what a wonderful world we have and how fortunate I am to live the life I live. It was also a good reminder that it’s important we start taking care of not only the world but each other, to be kind and empathetic to all."
Senior
Singer
It's only the first advisory of Trimester 2 in the year 2020 and our juniors had to engage in meaningful conversations and sometimes even answer some really tough questions......
This lesson "BIG TALK" was taken from the CBK Advisory Curriculum
Students gather in small groups to discuss what meaningful conversations mean to them. This is done through the use of Y charts with “Meaningful” written on one side and “Conversations” on the other.
Below is the work done by Ms. Susi Francey's Grade 11 Advisory
Working in their small groups, students come up with and write on the chart as many words as come to mind when they can think of “meaningful” and “conversations.”
"Students were reflective during the process and came up with some interesting ideas about what it means to have a deep and meaningful conversation and most importantly who we should have these types of conversations with."
Upper School English Teacher
"11:40 am. Advisory. Your advisor asks you, apparently out of the blue, to define "meaningful" and "conversation". That is "big talk", isn't it? But ASM students are always ready to face challenges and look at the smart definitions we ended up with!!!!"
- Blandine Dailloux - Grade 11 Advisor
US FL Dept Chair/IB Examiner/WSL/MSA VTM
Madame Blandine Dailloux's Advisory used Y Charts to dissect how to go about having meaningful conversations.
The objectives of this class were:
- To think about what matters in conversations.
- To consider how to ask questions that address "big topics".
- To examine our thoughts and feelings on privacy and sharing.
The key skills students learn in this activity are:
- Listening
- Conversation
- Self-awareness
- Expanding ideas
Mr. Dillon's class came up with these focus questions below in order to have a meaningful conversation.
"Exploring Big Talk ideas naturally brings about open, honest and insightful discussions that forges bonds and builds community."
US IB and Social Studies Teacher
According to Education World, there are six key secrets to successful goal setting:
- Write clear and measurable goals.
- Create a specific action plan for each goal.
- Read your goals daily and visualize yourself accomplishing them.
- Reflect on your progress to see if you are on target.
- Revise your action plans if needed.
- Celebrate your accomplishments.
The Importance of Goal Setting to Succeed
CAREER SPOTLIGHT
WE ARE GRATEFUL!!!
Thanks for coming to the end of our third Upper School Counseling & Advisory Newsletter. Please send us your feedback and ideas here on topics to cover in future editions.
Did you miss the other Newsletters?
- 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