Middle School Counseling Newsletter
April 2021
MEET YOUR MIDDLE SCHOOL COUNSELORS
Katrina Rucker (POC)
6th Grade
Email: krucker@georgiacyber.org
Ext: 2124
Derek Therrien
7th Grade
Email: dtherrien@georgiacyber.org
Ext: 2809
Adamika Brown
8th Grade
Email: abrown@georgiacyber.org
Ext: 2135
CHARACTER WORD OF THE MONTH
Honesty is the quality of being honest.
Please join us in Congratulating our April Nominees for "Honesty"
Student Name: D'Anna Webb
Faculty Name: Rosie Lowndes
D'Anna by accident came across inappropriate websites and reported them to me, so we could have our IT team block them. I love her honesty!
Faculty Name: Catherine Wadsworth
Analla is always very honest in math class about whether she understands something we are learning or not! I love how she is brave enough to ask questions in class when she is lost. This not only helps Analla, but other students in the classroom because they most likely have the same question, but do not want to speak up. :)
Student Name: Taya Edwards
Faculty Name: Judy Smith
Taya honestly shared her feelings about a new Time to Climb math activity in Nearpod. Thanks for sharing.
Student Name: Olivia Walker
Faculty Name: Anna Beerman
Olivia is honest with herself and with me when it comes to her work--she works hard, but is not afraid to let me know when she is challenged and needs help! Such a great quality in a learner!
Student Name: Dartanian Vaughn
Faculty Name: Annette Bennett
Dartanian always shares his ideas on Science and is always honest with his opinion.
Student Name: Demarco Watts II
Faculty Name: Kristi Counts
Demarco is very honest when an artwork has not gone as planned. He will hop on camera to share with other students to show that it is ok to make mistakes. Thanks!
Student Name: Emily Baker
Faculty Name: Thomas Brown
Emily is always making sure that her efforts are exactly hers. When she gets help from her learning coach she always makes sure to let me know that she received help. I never have to ask her to complete assignments and never have to question what she is doing while "in class". She is just an all around AWESOME student who will go far in life.
Student Name: Chaves Brown
Faculty Name: Carla Gamlin
Since I am new to teaching online in Jigsaw, there is a lot I have to learn about managing the program and the class. One of the things I had not done was lock the whiteboard in the breakout room that students go to complete their i-Ready lessons. Chaves was the first student to message me to let me know that I needed to lock the board after a student wrote something on it they shouldn't have. He explained to me what I needed to do and even offered to help me out as a cohost if I needed it. Because of his quick response, I was able to get the situation under control quickly and promptly locked ALL of my whiteboards in ALL of my sessions. Thanks, Chaves!
Student Name: Patience Taylor
Faculty Name: Casey Johnson
Patience sent me an email stating she forgot to turn in assignment. She did not come up with computer or technology excuses. She just said she forgot and she was sorry. It was refreshingly honest.
Student Name: Asia Eimen
Faculty Name: Karon A. Stephens
More often than not, students who admit they don't know something, rarely do that publicly. They share it via direct chat or anonymous feedback; not Asia. She is consistently willing to work through think-a-louds, annotate texts on the whiteboard, and other such activities, with no fear of getting it wrong for everyone to see. Instead, she uses the process to openly correct her "failures," so that she and her classmates can benefit from the tools they need to learn, grow, and get it right the next time.
Student Name: Alaina Collins
Faculty Name: Jeanea Johnson
Alaina is honest in that she always admits when she is not doing her best or participating like she should. She is also just such a super hard-worker- in class, in AIM, while reading, during testing. I have seen her grow so much this year and want to show my appreciation.
Student Name: Dwayne Stowe
Faculty Name: Brittany Ingle-Rector
DJ is an excellent student, but an even better human. He is kind, hard-working, and honest. He communicates clearly, asks questions, and gives honest feedback. I know if I need a student's true perspective, I can ask DJ. I'm very proud to be his teache
Student Name: Rebecca Weeks
Faculty Name: Jackelyn Schneider
Rebecca is always honest about her work, even if it is not completed.
Student Name: Chandler Gooden
Faculty Name: April Smith
Chandler is an amazing student who always owns his role. He works hard, but if he slacks off, he will admit it and then do what he can to improve. He will openly ask questions and admit when he doesn't know something in order to be a better learner.
Student Name: Lakaylah Marc
Faculty Name: Crystal Slagley
Lakaylah shows honesty within herself and her work. She is always striving to improve and is honest with herself if her work is not to her high standards. She is a great student!
Student Name: William Wiggins
Faculty Name: Audrian Ward
When William was attempting to circumnavigate jigsaw protections I asked him how he was doing it. He was honest and explained to me what he was doing. I have since been able to correct my setting errors in Jigsaw to keep other students from doing the same thing.
6th Grade Counseling Corner
Information from your 6th Grade Counselor Mrs. Rucker
Upcoming Sessions
April 7th
6th Grade Homeroom Session: Naviance "My Career Interest" Follow-Up
April 9th
6th Grade Career Cluster Lunch Group Meeting - "Law, Public Safety and Corrections Career Cluster Focus”
Time: 12:00pm
6th Grade Bridge Bill Activities
Reminder - *All 6th grade students should complete the "AchieveWorks Personality Assessment" in Naviance. Please note: If you have completed "Do What You Are 2.0" you do not need to complete the AchieveWorks Personality Assessment. The "Do What You Are 2.0" assessment is now called AchieveWorks Personality assessment.
Completing the AchieveWorks Personality Assessment Help Video:
7th Grade Counseling Corner
Information from your 7th Grade Counselor Mr. Therrien (Mr. T)
Upcoming Sessions
April 7th
7th Grade Homeroom Session: "Self-Control and How to Meet Your Needs"
8th Grade Counseling Corner
Information from your 8th Grade Counselor Mrs. Brown
Upcoming Sessions
April 7th
8th Grade Homeroom Session: "Test-Taking Skills and Managing Test Anxiety"
Movement & Mindfulness Wednesday's
Please check your email. We look forward to seeing you there!!! Check your Canvas calendar for the link.
Free Online Tutoring
24/7 online tutoring in 300+ subjects!
TutorMe is an online tutoring platform that allows students to connect with a live tutor right from their home. TutorMe’s network of over 10,000 verified tutors are ready to help with any academic question, no matter how big or small.
For all GCA students Grades K-12!
Access TutorMe services through your Clever student login.
Average time to connect with a tutor: 30 seconds
Tutors available in all subject areas: 24/7
Writing Lab turnaround time: < 12 hours
Summer Enrichment Opportunities for MS Students
Are you interested in learning new things and meeting new people this summer?
If the answer is “yes”, check out the summer enrichment programs for middle school students in Naviance!
How do you find the listing of summer enrichment programs in Naviance?
Step 1: Log into Naviance through your Clever homepage
Step 2: Click the “College” tab on your student homepage
Step 3: Under the “Research Colleges” heading, click “Enrichment Programs”
Step 4: You will see summer opportunities for MS students listed there*! You will see (MS) for Middle School in parenthesis for opportunities that are applicable for middle school students. Opportunities will be continuously updated so keep checking back!
Reach out to your grade level counselor with any questions!
*Please note Georgia Cyber Academy is not affiliated with these organizations. GCA does not endorse the organizations' sponsoring linked websites, and we do not endorse the views they express or the products/programs/services they offer. GCA does not control or guarantee the accuracy, relevance, or completeness of the information from this organization. Details shared are for informational purposes only.
Who Do I Contact
- Scheduling Issues: Counselor /Homeroom Teacher
- Advanced Placement/ Gifted - Counselor/Homeroom Teacher
- Software Issues(Canvas, Jigsaw) – FSL
- Attendance-Compliance Specialist
- Password Resets- FSL
- Technology Issues: Curriculum or instructional platform issues (student courses, G-suite, or Clever, Canvas, Jigsaw, Infinite Campus): technology@georgiacyber.org
Good News!!!
We would like to brag on YOU! Please send your counselor any good news or accomplishments you would like to share on the newsletter!!
Come Join!
Would You Like to Join A Club?
Did you know GCA also offers clubs? Please click on the website for more information:
https://www.georgiacyber.org/clubs/clubs/middle-school-clubs
Free Your Feels!
Free Your Feels is a mental health awareness campaign encouraging Georgia's young people to explore their real feelings and share them fearlessly.
Interested in raising awareness about youth mental health? This toolkit will help you get started. With social media posts, infographics, and helpful tips, you'll be equipped to start the conversation. Click on the Free Your Feel image to the right to access the toolkit!
Resources
GCA Website:
Parent Calendar:
https://www.georgiacyber.org/calendars/parent-calendar
Middle School Calendar:
https://www.georgiacyber.org/calendars/middle-school-calendar
School Counseling Website:
https://www.georgiacyber.org/school-life/counseling
Middle School Counseling Page:
https://www.georgiacyber.org/middle-school
High School Counseling Page:
https://www.georgiacyber.org/high-school
Counseling YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLUW47IA98BA1v7AD3ZqV-g