The Buzz with Ms. B
February 2024
Hello Rainwater!
My name is Carly Berterman, and I am SO excited to be the new counselor here at Rainwater. I have spent the last week or so getting to know your students, and I am so impressed with their kindness, attention, and care. I am looking forward to getting to know everyone and being part of the Rainwater family.
A little bit about me – I am originally from Ocean City, Maryland and lived in Baltimore for the last eight years. I received my Bachelor of Science in Psychology at Towson University and my Master of Science in School Counseling at Johns Hopkins University. I completed my last semester internship in Richardson ISD this past fall, so I am very new to Texas!
What you can expect from me – As a school counselor, my main focus is the student, their needs, and how their needs play a part in their performance and their future. If a student’s mental and emotional needs are not being met, it can be extremely difficult for them to perform to their fullest capability in the classroom.
If a student is struggling in this way, that’s where I come in! I provide individual counseling, small group lessons, and classroom lessons to address the issues students are facing. We will work on topics including but not limited to emotional regulation, test anxiety, stress management, conflict resolution, communication skills, college and career readiness, multiculturalism, school pressures, focusing, and more.
How to get in touch – Please reach out to me if you have ANY concerns with your child’s wellbeing. You know your child! If you feel they are not being themselves, have said something out of the ordinary, or you would just like for me to check in, I would be more than happy to speak with you about your concerns. My email is bertermanc@cfbisd.edu
Students are also able to request an appointment with me themselves by filling out a request form and submitting it in the lock box, both of which are on my office door! Lastly, if a student needs assistance getting in contact with me from their teacher, they are more than welcome to ask their trusted teacher for help.
I love this quote from Warren Buffett – “Someone is sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago.” I think about counseling in that way. Sometimes we won’t see immediate change because at the end of the day, these are growing and learning children. But if we start talking now, they will be better prepared to communicate, regulate, and learn as they grow. Thank you again for being part of their lives, and I am excited for the rest of the year here at Rainwater!
Classroom Lessons
This month, I will be introducing myself to the students and focus on building trusting relationships. They will get a refresher on what a school counselor does, why I love being a counselor, and the educational path I took to get to Rainwater! This will lead into a discussion on college and career readiness. We will be having a discussion on their dreams and aspirations asking questions such as…
- What have you already learned about college?
- What excites you about your future?
- What are questions you have about college?
- If you could have any job in the world, what would you do?
This conversation will set the stage for future lessons surrounding college and career. For the rest of the year, I would love to show students about financial aid and scholarships, resources available, how to identify strengths and interests, educational paths that would fit their needs, and more!
For our little littles, we will incorporate college and career conversations while focusing on what it takes to be a successful student. We'll talk about how being hardworking, kind, and safe at school will help us grow to be awesome middle and high schoolers, and one day adults!
Practice at Home
Academic – Schoolwork can be stressful! I remember being in elementary school and doing everything BESIDES my independent work or homework because of how nervous I was to not know how to do it. Using positive self-talk is an extremely helpful coping strategy for schoolwork or other projects because it can help students believe in their abilities and persevere through tough times (not just schoolwork!). Here are some examples of positive self-talk statements:
I am smart. I can solve this problem.
I am in control. I will try my best.
I can do hard things. I will stay focused.
Encourage your students to come up with their own meaningful statements that they believe in and can tell themselves during difficult times at school. Words can be extremely powerful!
Social/Emotional – Have you ever had a day where everything seems to go wrong? The car in front of you turned without putting their blinker on, the person in front of you at the register has a million items to check out, you spill your coffee all over your pants as you walk into work…and then someone says one little thing that makes you go bananas. I’ve had those moments, too, and so have our students. In those times, taking a moment to calm your amygdala, which is the part of your brain that interprets conversations and regulates emotions, can make a difference in how we go about the rest of our day.
When someone says, “Just take a deep breath,” that can be confusing for our kiddos. I love to teach the square breathing method because it’s something I use myself frequently. I even have a breathing square sticker on my water bottle so I can stay hydrated and calm throughout my day. I will try to stock my office with some square breathing stickers, but if you are interested for your child, these are the stickers I have used in the past: Square Breathing Calm Strips (I have no affiliation with this link) It’s helpful for students to trace the textured square with their finger and count while they breathe because they can really focus on taking their time and feeling present.
College/Career Readiness – In February, we will be looking into the future! You may be thinking, “They are just in elementary school, I have plenty of time to think about this!” While technically true, I have worked with children as young as first grade who believe they cannot go to college because of the color of their skin or their parent’s financial situation, so they feel they do not need to try in school because of it. Well, I am here to let everyone know that THERE ARE SO MANY AVAILABLE OPTIONS AND RESOURCES! At home, using positive and hopeful language surrounding college and their future careers can really change a student’s outlook because they model many of their behaviors from you and your conversations. We always want to encourage our students to reach for the stars, because after all…we are Rainwater Rockets!
Counseling Events
-February is Black History Month! We will be honoring the adversity African Americans have experienced in the United States and celebrating Black heritage and culture.
-February 3 – Annie Heads Rainwater Celebration: “Remember the Times” I will be attending this event and would love to meet you all!
-February 13 – Blalack MS counselors visiting Rainwater 5th graders
-February 15 – Wellness Night. I will be attending this event and would love to meet you all!
-February 22 – Blalack MS field trip for 5th graders
Resources
Please reach out to me if you are in need of assistance. We have school and community resources available for families that are in need of counseling in multiple languages, food assistance, housing assistance, addiction support, crisis centers, clothing assistance, and medical care. We want to support our children and our families in any way we can. My email is bertermanc@cfbisd.edu ♥️