JTMS Counseling Newsletter
November 9, 2020
Marking Period 2 Begins This Week
Starting a new marking period means getting a clean slate. If you are happy with your grades and performance in the first quarter of the year, that's wonderful. Keep up the good work! But, if you feel like you could improve your grades or your understanding of your schoolwork, the time to start is now. It can be helpful to set a goal, because then you know what you are aiming for. JTMS counselors would like to recommend setting a SMART goal. SMART stands for:
SPECIFIC
MEASURABLE
ACHIEVABLE
REALISTIC
TIMELY
Let's say that you're disappointed in your grades for the first marking period, because you got 70's in LA and Science and 79's and 82's in all of your other classes. So, you decide to create a goal to improve your grades. If you say, "I want good grades." Many people would ask- What do you mean by good grades- in every class? What does "good" mean for you? Can you give me a number? What is a number that you could get, if you pushed yourself? When do you want this to happen? There are so many questions left to answer!
But if, instead, you created a SMART goal, it might look like this: "By the end of the 2nd marking period, I will get an 80 or higher in LA and Science, and a 90 or higher in all of my other classes."
Specific means precise. This goal is specific because it says the minimum grades you want in each of your classes. It's Measurable, because the goals for grades are numbers, which can be measured. It's Achievable, because it's something that you could do if you worked hard enough. It's Realistic because it's not so hard that it would be impossible for you to do. And it's Timely, because there is a time-limit on it: the end of the second marking period.
Now, it's your turn! Create a SMART goal for yourself for the second marking period.
And, while you're at it, start thinking long term about your future education and career plans! There's a video below to give you some good ideas for career possibilities.
November 13 is World Kindness Day
What Acts of Kindness Can You Do Today?
Here are some suggestions inspired by the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation:
- Compliment the first three people you talk to.
- Write a kind email to a teacher.
- Say good morning to the person near you on the bus.
- Pick up litter. Spend 10 minutes cleaning a park or your neighborhood.
- Offer to walk a neighbor's dog.
- Spread only positivity on social media.
- Hold up inspiring signs to people driving by.
- Give flowers to a friend.
- Write a kind note to every family member in your house.
- Set an alarm to go off three times on World Kindness Day. When the alarm sounds, stop what you're doing a call/text/email someone simply to tell them how awesome they are.
Essentials with Miss Ellingsen
Thoughts Aren't Facts
Career Plans by the ABC's
November is the Month for Gratitude
JTMS Counseling Department
Miss Ellingsen, Mrs. LaCatena, Mrs. Carroll and Ms. Martino
Email: scarroll@jefftwp.org
Website: www.jefftwp.org
Location: 1000 Weldon Road, Oak Ridge, NJ, USA
Phone: 973-697-1980
Twitter: @JTMScounseling