Counseling Connect
November Newsletter
Welcome November!
CHADS Coalition for Mental Health- 8th grade presentations
8th grade students participated in presentations led by CHADS Coalition for Mental Health on the topic of Self-Injury. Students were also able to review the Signs of Suicide presentation that they participated in during their 7th grade year. Students learned about signs, symptoms and facts related to self-injury. Remember, self-injury is not directly connected to suicide, but can be a risk factor for suicide. Self-injury is a coping strategy that some students may use to feel better. It can sometimes be hard for people to understand why people self-injure, so here are 6 reasons why someone may result to self-injury as a coping strategy:
The 6 Reasons
- Distract themselves, alter the focus of their attention, or regain control over their minds when experiencing pressing, unavoidable and overwhelming feelings or thoughts.
- Release tension associated with strong emotions or overwhelming thoughts.
- Feel something physical when they are otherwise dissociated and numb.
- Express themselves or communicate and/or document strong emotions they are feeling and cannot otherwise articulate.
- Punish themselves.
- Experience a temporary but intense feeling of euphoria that occurs in the immediate aftermath of self-harm.
As counselors, if we become aware or are notified that a student is self-injuring we ALWAYS will communicate with that student's parents.
How to Help Teen Girls Reframe Anxiety and Strengthen Reslience by Deborah Farmer Kris
Kindness Week Nov 4 through Nov. 8th
The LSMS Kindness Crew has been hard at work planning our 2019 Kindness Week which occured November 4 - 8! Our Kindness Crew is made up of 30 students from all grade levels that have been trained as Rockwood Anti-Bullying Ambassadors and serve as student leaders in our school. They have planned several activities during this week to help spread kindness in our school and our community.
Monday
Dress Up Theme: Neon Rock Star Day: Stand Out and Stand Up to Bullying
Monday Kindness Melodies will be played over the intercom before school, during passing times and after school to kick off our Kindness Week!
Tuesday
Dress Up Theme: Tie-Dye/Camo Day: Peace Love and Kindness
Spread Peace Love and Kindness Challenge Day: The school announcements will have a Random Acts of Kindness Challenge for today and the rest of the week.
Wednesday (Early Release Schedule)
Dress Up Theme: PJ Day: Dream of Kindness
An Anti-Bullying Movie will be shown followed by discussions to "Dream of Kindness at LSMS". The title for each movie is a link to the Common Sense Media site. If you would prefer that your student not view the movie, please contact their grade level counselor. Students will participate in a discussion about their grade level movie. Students should bring their own water bottle. Our awesome PTO is providing popcorn for all students!
6th Grade Movie: Wonder, Rated PG
7th Grade Movie: Shrek, Rated PG
8th Grade Movie: A Brave Heart- The Lizzie Velasquez Story, Rated PG13
Thursday
Dress Up Theme: Boots & Social Media Day: Stomp Out Bullying on Social Media (SnapChat = Yellow, TikTok = Black/White, Instagram = Rainbow, Twitter = Blue)
Friday
Dress Up Theme: Show Kindness to Those That Served our Country: Red, White, and Blue Day for our Veterans Day Assembly
The entire student body will attend our Veterans Day Assembly. In advisory, students will make a Kindness Chain displaying the various Random Acts of Kindness that were completed this week by our student body!
Counseling Presentations during Student Led Conferences
Career Fair Reminder and Updates- 8th Grade
Try This! Responding to Your Worries with Acceptance by Jeffrey Bernstein
Find a quiet space, and close your eyes if you're comfortable doing so. Take three in-breaths, and with each out-breath say to yourself, Even though I have worries, this does not make me a worrier. Now take a few minutes to gently let yourself absorb this empowering statement. Don't judge how well it seems to be working. Just feel good about valuing yourself beyond your tendencies to worry.
Next, get a sheet of paper and jot down some thoughts, make a list, or draw a picture to represent a new, broader way of seeing yourself than just as a worrier. What new activities can you pursue if you accept yourself in an expanded way and let go of seeing yourself as a "worrier"? How do you think that will make you feel? How will seeing yourself in a broader way help you improve your relationships with others?
Given your brain's Velcro-like ability to hold on to negative thoughts, don't get discouraged if you slip back to seeing yourself as a "worrier." The last thing you want to do is beat yourself up. Instead, just revisit this exercise. Gently practice accepting the thought, I am a worrier. Just because you think something doesn't mean it's true, but you can accept the thoughts nonetheless, without having to buy into it. Then shift to viewing yourself as a person who tends to worry at times and who knows how to cope by using mindfulness skills.