West Creek High School
COUNSELING CENTER NEWSLETTER
DECEMBER 2015
Every year, Ms. Baggett asks our students that are on our FUEL list to complete a ‘Holiday Wish List.’ Once completed and returned, Ms. Trini transfers the wish lists to anonymous ornaments. We want to make sure ALL of our coyotes know how much we care about them while ensuring they have something to smile about over the holidays.
If you have a student that you think is eligible for the FUEL program, please do not hesitate to send Ms. Baggett the student’s name.
Coaches…you must inform your Booster club before adopting an ornament.
Senior Failure Meetings
If you have any concerns about a student and would like for us to check in, please feel free to contact us.
Angel Tree
Angels are available NOW for adoption in the counseling center.
Please make sure all gifts are wrapped and returned to the Counseling Center by Dec. 14 for timely delivery to parents before Christmas break. Please ensure that you label each gift with the ornament number.
Ugly Christmas Sweater Contest
‘tis the season to ROCK your UGLY sweater. Prize awarded to the ugliest sweater. Participate and get CREATIVE! Contact Ms. Trini in the counseling center for more information.
Dual Credit and High School Exams
High School Exams: Dec. 14-18
Teacher Spotlight
Mrs. Straka
Taylor, Webb, Saragusa, Lehde, Willyerd
Mr. Silvers, Mr. Gority, Mrs. Peck, Ms. Schmucker
Student Spotlight
Four Tips to Help Teachers Rejuvenate During the Holiday Break
By Sherry Lambertson
For The Institute for Excellence in Education
Mount Pleasant MI
http://excellenceined.org/four-tips-help-teachers-rejuvenate-holiday-break/
Last minute shopping, holiday decorating, and traveling can quickly turn the holiday season into another frazzled time of completing to-do lists. When you let the season get the best of you, you find relief when it’s time to go back to the routine of school – but you go back exhausted.
This holiday season it’s time you take care of yourself, not for selfish reasons, but for your students. Your students need your A Game. So rest up. Think of this as half-time. We don’t expect NFL players to run a marathon during half-time. They stretch their bodies, review their strategy, and get their head on straight before they head back into the game. They rejuvenate.
It’s time to stop thinking and doing. Give your brain a break!
Here are four simple ways to help you rejuvenate during your holiday break.
Find Peace during this holiday break. During the year you take care of everyone else. During this hiatus it’s time you give yourself a break. Let your mind empty of everything and just be. Take a soak in the tub, get a message, or rest your head on your pillow. Stop thinking, doing, or taking care of others. This will allow your brain and body to rest. Make time for peace!
Have Fun this holiday season. Work and routine often take precedence. Now is the time to unwind from those routines and enjoy yourself. Read a trashy novel, binge watch the latest TV series you have heard about, stay up late and sleep in. Playing is good for the soul and it allows your creativity to resurface. Spend time this holiday break doing what makes you laugh.
Start Exercising on the first day of break. Yes, I said it. Start exercising now. The body is meant to move. The physical activity stimulates your muscles and gets oxygen to your extremities. But why now…why not after the New Year? It’s about building a routine. While we all have the best of intentions, if we haven’t built the habit by the time we get back to school, the exercise habit will quickly be abandoned for the other things in life that demand your attention. Take a walk or join the gym…and do it now.
Create Family Time during this holiday vacation. Too often our time with our family is in the car, racing from one event to another. During this vacation create opportunities to build meaningful memories with your family. Bake the holiday cookies together or institute family game night. Talk and laugh, sing and dance. Spend time with those that warm your heart.
Taking care of yourself is one of the most important gifts you can give to your students.
When you head back to the classroom in January your students are going to need the best of you. They will have thinking, creating and dreaming to do, and you will be the master facilitator of it all. The responsibility of molding the minds and building the student body is tremendous. You will need to be at your best. So rest up, rejuvenate over this break and come out of hibernation in January ready to support your students as they tackle the world.