Gateway School Counseling
January 2022 Family Newsletter
Welcome!
Everything You Need to Know About Middle School Registration
Middle School Selection
Be on the look out for the school selection forms to come home with your student(s) the week of January 10th. The forms will need to be returned to your child's teacher by January 28th.
If you have any questions about middle school or school selection, please let us know! Our contact information is located at the bottom of this newsletter.
This Month at Gateway
Focusing in the Classroom
Focusing on the Future
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)
Winter Clothing Support
Panera Bread Program Update
These donations were available on Wednesdays during dismissal on a table near the main 'Exit' doors of the building.
This semester, we will be distributing donations differently and will no longer have a table outside on Wednesday afternoons. Instead, each classroom will receive Panera coupons that teachers can give out to students either based on need or achievement. Donation amounts may vary each week. Some weeks only one student per class will get to pick from the table. This will give more students an opportunity to take home Panera for themselves and their family members.
If you are in need of food assistance throughout the school year, please call Gateway and ask to speak with a school counselor.
General 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