Homestead Elementary
Counseling Newsletter- February 2024
Hello Mustangs!
Professional School Counselor
Email: rodgerss@lisd.net
Website: lisd.net/homestead
Location: 1830 East Branch Hollow Drive, Carrollton, TX, USA
Phone: 469-713-5181
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/homesteades
Twitter: @MrsRodgersHES
Homestead is a CREST award winning campus!
"Counselors Reinforcing Excellence for Students in Texas"
CREST - Counselors Reinforcing Excellence for Students in Texas
What is CREST?
Counselors Reinforcing Excellence for Students in Texas (CREST) is sponsored by the Texas School Counselor Association (TSCA) and awarded to school counseling programs that meet CREST requirements. CREST is a continuous improvement document that school counseling programs can use to demonstrate effective communication and a commitment to obtaining results.
Benefits of CREST:
- Advocates for your school counseling program and show how it supports student success
- Documents your school counseling program role in supporting student success
- Shows continuous improvement data for your counseling program
- Highlights program successes for all stakeholders
- Strengthens the campus counseling program by aligning it with the campus improvement plan
- Reinforces the school counselors role in the academic, personal/social, and career development of students
- Links your school counseling program to state, national, and legislative standards
- Provides a tool for accountability
- Receives recognition at the Texas School Counselor Association/Texas Counseling Association spring conferences
- Receives a CREST banner for display on your campus
Second Step Bullying Lessons Continue
In January we worked on recognizing bullying during classroom guidance lessons. Students learned the difference between bullying, conflict, and mean moments. Ask your student to tell you the differences. This month we will build upon our recognition of bullying and learn about how to respond to bullying.
An Opportunity for all LISD Parents
February Book Recommendations
In My Heart by Jo Witek
Recommended Grades: Pre-K to 2
Topics It Covers: Feelings
This is a great book to expand your students’ emotional vocabularies as they learn about the different feelings they can have. It describes the feelings in a way that will help your students learn to identify them in their own bodies, and understand that it is okay to have many different feelings.
Review by Counselor Chelsey
Somebody Loves You Mr. Hatch by Eileen Spinelli
Recommended Grades: 1 to 4
Topics It Covers: Kindness and Friendship
Mr. Hatch is a lonely old man until he receives a message from a secret admirer that says someone loves him. This spurs him on to be warm and kind to those around him, until he learns that the message was not meant for him. Discouraged, he goes back to his old ways only to learn that he IS loved
Review by Counselor Chelsey
One Drop of Kindness by Jeff Kubiak
Recommended Grades: 3 to 5
Gus’s mom died when he was young, and he spent the rest of his childhood moving around. He eventually ended up at a school that was nicknamed Mean School, and he fit right in with the unkind culture. Although Gus, and the people around him, were mean, he could always remember his mother’s voice reminding him about the power of kindness. When a girl named Truly starts attending MEAN school, her kindness is contagious and everyone is transformed from their mean ways. Gus is discouraged when he finds that Truly has left the school, but the principal reminds him that Truly’s kindness can live on in him. Your students will love this heartwarming book about the transformative power of kindness.
Review by Counselor Chelsey
Second Step Healthy Families and Child Protection Curriculum
Parents and guardians,
Please remember when filling out your student's Back-to-School forms in Skyward that you will need to say "yes"/"opt-in" for SB9 lessons labelled as Prevention of Family Violence (For grades k-5, the lesson is called Healthy Families) and Child Protection Unit. Listed below are presentations in which this curriculum is explained in more depth:
Healthy Families Presentation for Elementary Students (English and Spanish)
Parent/Guardian Child Protection Unit Preview Presentation (English)
Parent/Guardian Second Step Preview Presentation (Spanish)
The Healthy Families and Child Protection lessons will be presented spring 2024.
All counseling department curriculum materials are also available for review via the LISD Counseling Services/ Curricula Previews. webpage.
Please reach out if you have any questions.
KIndness Mondays
StopIt App (Tip Line)
Information from LISD Counseling and Social Work Department
In Lewisville ISD, the whole child is at the core of everything we do as a district, including our students' mental, emotional and physical health. With counselors on every campus, LISD knows parents want their children to receive an outstanding education, but more importantly, they want their children to be nurtured and cared for beyond just academics.
The Lewisville ISD Counseling and Social Work Department is grateful to partner with you to support the social emotional needs of all LISD students. We believe education on these issues is key to helping our students become happy, successful people.
Please review these flyers describing different social issues our students may face. If you have any areas that we may assist you or your student, please contact your student’s school counselor.
We appreciate the opportunity to work with your students.
What is Common Sense Media?
Common Sense Media is the leading nonprofit organization in the nation that provides kids, families, and educators with trustworthy information to help them make smart decisions online. Reviews for books, games, media, TV, and movies are provided by Common Sense Media to help parents get involved in their kids technology usage and determine if the content is age appropriate. You can view the Common Sense website by clicking on the button below.