Gateway School Counseling
January 2023 Family Newsletter
Welcome!
About Us
RULER: The Mood Meter
Try plotting yourself on the mood meter below with your students!
Middle School Registration
Middle School Open Houses & School Selection Forms
Please see the calendar below for the Middle School Open House schedule. You will not see Bluestem Middle School on the Open House calendar quite yet, please see below for more information on Blue Stem Middle School visits.
The 2023-2024 School Selection Forms should have been sent home with your child this past week upon returning from winter break. Please complete the School Selection form and return it to your child's teacher by January 27th.
If you cannot locate your School Selection Form or you have questions regarding school selection, please call or email either of us school counselors. Our contact information is at the bottom of this newsletter.
Bluestem Family Visits
This Month at Gateway
Empathy Lessons
If you would like to learn more about the difference between empathy and sympathy, watch this video below!
Respect & Diversity Lessons
Watch below for a heart warming video about our assumptions:
Help at Home
Setting Goals
- Work With a Partner or Group: Setting goals with your family can be a great way to help each of you follow the plan that you have set up. When other people are there to hold you accountable, you are more likely to reach the goal that you set!
- Celebrate the Small Wins: Instead of only rewarding yourself when you reach your big goal, set small goals to reach on the way there! When you reach one of your small goals, have a reward planned like an ice cream trip or a movie night. This will help you stay motivated on your way to the big goal!
- Give Yourself Grace: Goal setting is challenging and that is a good thing, but sometimes we can become discouraged when we get "off track". Instead of throwing in the towel, remind yourself that you are doing the best you can at this time. When we fail, it gives us an opportunity to reassess. Maybe that small goal wasn't small enough, maybe there was a holiday or family crisis that got in the way of your small goal. Try again! Small progress is still progress.
- Set a SMART goal: The way you decide to format your goal is important. SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Attainable/Achievable, Realistic/Relevant, and Time-Bound. An example of a general goal may be "I want to read more this year". Although this goal might be important to you, how will you know if you have achieved it? A SMART version of this goal could be "I will read 10 pages every night for the month of January" OR "I will read 2 books by February 28th". These goals are specific, measurable, attainable (for some people), realistic (for some people), and time bound. In the second example, you could break the goal down even more by saying you want to have a certain number of chapters or pages read each week. This could be your small goal leading to the big one!
We have a SMART goal for all of you! This week, we want you to talk to your student(s) about goal setting and pick 1 goal to work on as a family for the month of January. You will be amazed at what you can achieve together!
Get Organized Month
- declutter unnecessary papers (old magazines, receipts, junk mail)
- clean out the junk drawer (empty the space completely, throw away any trash, sort the rest)
- declutter your desk or workspace (toss out dried up pens, dust & wipe down the area, sort)
- declutter your kitchen (check the dates on food in your fridge and pantry, clean all of the shelves & drawers)
- do a bathroom deep clean (clean and organize drawers & cabinets, throw away anything that is expired)
- clean out your closet (donate or sell anything that you can't remember wearing in the last year, H&M will recycle any clothes, towels, or sheets that are too worn to donate or sell)
- rearrange or update your furniture (a simple paint job or shift in placement can make an old space feel new!)
- digital declutter (delete old photos, apps that aren't being used, and other files that are taking up your digital space)
- create a calendar and budget (set small goals about spending intentionally)
Holiday Resources
Holiday Community Programs
Holiday Community Programs
Holiday Community Programs
Holiday Community Programs
Coat Drive
United Way
Winter Clothing Support
We have plenty of brand new winter coats and would be happy to supply one to your child if they need!
NEW! Family Workshops
Before we schedule our first workshop, we want to hear from you! Please fill out the following survey to help us pick a topic, day, & time for our first workshop.
Panera Bread Program
This year, Gateway Elementary is participating in the Panera Bread Day-End Dough Bread program. Through this program, Panera, LLC is proud to share their unsold bread and bakery products with 501 (c) (3) non-profit organizations in addressing the need for food distribution in efforts to help fight food insecurity in communities.
This opportunity is made possible by the Midtown Neighborhood Alliance. Midtown Neighborhood Alliance, a nonprofit organization of 17 neighborhoods in Midtown Omaha has partnered with Panera, LLC for over 15 years. The partnership has allowed for various organizations and schools to receive Panera food for families. Gateway is one of the participating schools. We are grateful for this program.
If your family needs any additional support with food, please contact either Kelsey or Ali using the information below.
Introducing Sammy, Gateway's School Dog
Please contact Mrs. Buglewicz-Miller with any further questions or concerns!
Resources
Nebraska Family Helpline
1-888-866-8660
Safe 2 Help
531-299-SAFE (7233)
Your Life Your Voice
Call: 1-800-448-3000
Text: "VOICE" to 20121
Chat: yourlifeyourvoice.org
Email: YLYV@boystown.org
Download the "My Life My Voice" app!
Contact Us
Ms. Ali McGovern
Email: alison.mcgovern@ops.org
Phone: (531)299-9529
Mrs. Kelsey Buglewicz-Miller
Email: kelsey.buglewiczmiller@ops.org
Phone: (531)299-6939