School Counselor Newsletter
February/ March
DREAM BIG Transitions created for Mabel!
Other transition activities will include the new 9th grade transition class for current 8th graders, one on one meetings with 5th graders with the counselor, and the amazing kindergarten orientation provided by our kindergarten teachers each year. We are so excited about working with our students to help make transitions more smooth and easy.
Career Cafe
Mabel's artwork displayed at ASU games!
National School Counselor Week
Gear Up Comes to Watauga County Schools! By: Laura Turner, WCS Gear Up Coordinator
Beginning this spring, Mabel 6th and 7th graders with have the opportunity to participate in the national GEAR UP Movement! GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness for Undergraduate Programs) is provided for through a partnership grant with Appalachian State University! Gear Up is a discretionary grant funded through the United States Department of Education designed to increase the number of students who are prepared to enter and succeed in postsecondary education. The mission of the NC Appalachian GEAR UP initiative is to accelerate the academic achievement of middle and secondary school students in the Alleghany, Ashe, Burke, Clay, Graham, Madison, Rutherford, Swain, Watauga, Wilkes, and Yancey Counties in North Carolina, so that increasing numbers will graduate from high school and enroll and succeed in college. The following Watauga County Schools are participating in GEAR UP: Mabel, Bethel, Cove Creek and Green Valley.
Mabel Student's Lead an Anti Bullying March
On February 12 a large group of students, approximately 75 of them, walked down King St and through the campus at ASU holding signs with an anti-bullying message. This was part of a school counseling unit focusing on students making change in their community and connecting it to Martin Luther King Jr’s many contributions. Prior to the march students watched portions of the Teaching Tolerance film “Mightly Times: The Children’s March of Birmingham, Alabama”. Taking the idea from 3rd grade teacher Bronwyn Merritt , students then chose a problem that they would like to change. All three classes chose bullying. On the day of the march three students stood outside their classroom windows holding signs that said “It’s Time” just as was done in the film. Students then congregated around the flag pole to hear a motivational speech delivered by 5th grader Ella Ugenti. Ugenti talked about how we’ve all probably been bullied or seen someone being bullied, but instead of being a bystander we need to stand up and be an upstander.
Students were able to debrief and talk about their experience immediately after at Owens Field House and then had lunch in Roess Dining Hall at Appalachian State. This project not only gave these students the opportunity to make a difference, but it also allowed them to have some time on a college campus. We felt this way we could give the students an all-around amazing experience.
During the debriefing students were asked to give one word to sum up their experience. Some of the words given were: amazing, impactful, best field trip ever, motivating, awesome, special, everlasting and many others. Mabel 4th Grader said “I’m glad we could change people’s ideas about bullying and help make them understand that bullying is not part of friendship.”
Mabel's march was featured in the Watauga Democrat and mentioned again the editor's "Our View" section.
Signs of Suicide Program Implemented at Mabel
Christy Welch, School Counselor
Email: welchc@watauga.k12.nc.us
Website: http://student-services.wataugasd.mes.schoolfusion.us/modules/groups/integrated_home.phtml?gid=1295317&sessionid=912b271559dee306c13f9c203ce378f4
Location: 404 Mabel School Road, Zionville, NC, United States
Phone: 828-297-2512
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mabel-School-Counseling-Program/757463894311264?ref=hl
Twitter: @Mabel_SC