HGMS Counseling Connection
May 2021
Hello and Happy May
We hope this newsletter finds you and your families safe and healthy. We are in the middle of testing and we will be glad when testing is over! It has been a wonderful feeling to see many new faces return to in-person learning environment. As students transition back onto campus, they will likely experience a new set of challenges. Many have experienced isolation, loss of loved ones, financial and other stresses during the COVID epidemic- in addition to academic challenges.
Positive relationships are critical to navigating these challenges , and yet they have never been more challenging to build. We know all youth need positive relationships to grow , thrive, and help them weather the storms of life. They provide stability and have lasting benefits. We are here to ensure your child has a smooth and successful transition.
Our wish is for all students to feel positive about their school climate. We have many activities and events planned for students. We hope to finish the 2020-2021 school year strong and motivated for a great 2021-2022 year!
Sincerely,
Garcia Counseling Department
Summer School Opportunities 2021
Attendance Recovery Options
FOSTERING MENTAL WELLNESS
Foodbank Mega Distribution and Resources
5 Strategies for Overcoming Test Anxiety
With testing season underway, your child may be showing signs of test anxiety. Here are five helpful strategies from Psychology Today for overcoming test anxiety.
1. Change your mindset
Do you see stress as a friend or enemy? Most people would say enemy because stress is usually associated with loss of sleep, headaches, poor eating habits, and the list goes on and on. But what if you change how you thought about and interacted with stress? What if stress wasn’t trying to screw up your life, but rather it was trying to help you? In fact, studies have shown that stress isn’t a big problem to your health, or your life for that matter? The problem lies in whether you perceive stress as a friend or an enemy. As an enemy, stress can wreak complete havoc on your life, but odds are you already know that. In reality stress is not your enemy. It wants you to be ready to excel at what you are doing. The mission of stress is not to destroy you, but to help you out. Studies have found that those who understand and accept stress actually live happier lives and aren’t any more prone to disease than those who experience minimal stress in life. If you want to change your response to stress, you have to change your mindset.
2. Plan your time wisely
You’ve got a lot of material to cover in a short amount of time. So, how are you going to tackle this task? The most efficient and productive way is to come up with a study plan. Map out what you need to accomplish and then break the task into small manageable pieces. You probably know by now that cramming will only make your stress levels skyrocket. So, give yourself plenty of time to properly prepare. First, get organized. Start by reviewing the material you will be responsible for knowing and next sort through your notes. Last, develop timeline to review the material and stick to it. Give yourself a few days to spare at the end of your timeline for a final review of all of the notes. Remember, the final review is a just a review, not a cram session.
3. Cover the basics
Basic #1 – Eat well. Your body needs good fuel (food) to work efficiently. Research shows that when people are stressed they often opt for ease and convenience which often translates to junk food. If you want to give yourself the best shot at acing that test then fill up your tank with premium foods and eat nutritiously. On another note, there are also some foods that contribute to and exacerbate anxiety and stress levels. You may want to steer clear of these foods and beverages in stressful times, as they can make your anxiety levels increase.
Basic #2 – Get some shut eye. Sleep is a great way to soothe anxiety and stress. Sleep helps calm the nerves by letting your body and mind relax and reset itself. Unfortunately, when you’re stressed, you may not be getting enough sleep. In a sleep survey approximately 18 percent of teens reported that when they do not get enough sleep, they feel more stressed and 36 percent say they feel tired because they are stressed. So, if you want to give yourself a running start at a good grade, be sure to unwind, get some extra ZZzzzz time.
Basic #3 – Get moving. Exercise has so many great benefits, such as improving your mood, giving you more energy, and helping to decrease stress. With benefits like those, it’s a mystery why so many people report that they don’t do it regularly. This exam season be sure to schedule some extra time to clear your mind by going for a run, walk, bike ride or sign up for a yoga class!
4. Live in the Present
It’s important to take time in your day to regroup, collect your thoughts and focus on living in the present moment. The ability to live in the moment is called "mindfulness.” Often you may get so busy thinking about what’s going to happen in the future (whether you’re going to pass the test) that you may forget to pay attention to what is happening right in front of your nose. Put some time in your day to focus on what's happening right now in your life. Go outside and listen to the sounds that fill the air, see the colors of nature that surround you, feel the breeze as it brushes across your face, breathe in the scents of fresh air, and feel the warmth of the sun embracing you. Take time to be present in the moment, not only will it refresh your senses, but it will help calm your nerves too!
5. Take care of yourself
In life we have to carve out some “me time.” I once heard it said that "Life is 10% what happens to us, and 90% how we react to it.” Talk to yourself positively. When life throws you a curveball say, "I can handle it, " "This will be over soon," or "I have handled difficult things before, and I can do it again." Remember - stress is not your enemy, it’s just trying to help you get through this part of your life.
Cardboard Kids
ChildSafe created Cardboard Kids®, a city-wide public awareness campaign to draw attention to the pervasiveness of child abuse and the fact that every story is different and every child unique.
Cardboard Kids are more than two-foot-tall cardboard figures. They represent one of the thousands of children that are abused and neglected at the hands of adults in our community each year. They start the conversation, not only by creating a visual symbol for children to identify with but also by providing valuable tips for caregivers on how to talk to their children about child abuse and neglect.
Kindness Club Rocks
Course Protection Enrollment
New Student Parent Tours
2021-2022 Registration Begins
Do you need to make a course request change?
-Please keep in mind that we may not be able to make the change, but we will contact you either way as soon as we can
-Deadline is June 4th
O'Connor Class of 2025
April Monthly Stats
individual planning sessions 52
small group counseling sessions 18
responsive services 378
parent consultations 624
Home Access Center
To request a HAC account or report a problem, complete this online form and a technician will contact you via email or phone within two business days.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSekcDWcg7A2sUMXdUpJ0bFpdjpo9G27o02S5IdWx2rdf44IzA/viewform
To login to HAC:
Staying Connected with the HGMS Counseling Department & Garcia Middle School
Garcia Twitter: @NISDGarcia
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Garcia PTA Facebook: www.hgmspta.com