This week, February 1-5, was National School Counseling Appreciation Week!! It is so exciting to me as a first-year counselor to be able to celebrate this with my classes and explain the importance of the School Counseling Program within a school, and show students what I do in addition to teach classes. We also went over the title of my job, "School Counselor," and I encouraged them to call me that rather than "Guidance Counselor," an outdated title of my position. As a professional School Counselor, I attended two years of graduate studies in order to obtain a Master's in School Counseling, and my degree allows me to do so much more than simply "guide" students, help with attendance, prepare students for middle school, or teach classes. I lead groups to help students who struggle with social interactions; I meet with students individually to help them manage anger; I have helped developed programs that allow peer mentoring between older and younger students; I work with parents/guardians to help understand their child better so they can be more successful; and I do so much more. Although I am not necessarily insulted or offended by the title "Guidance Counselor," I wanted to let students know why I specifically call myself a School Counselor.
Next week, we will be making small "Thank You" posters for the BVPS School Board to honor School Board Appreciation Month. Classes will come together to write notes and draw pictures for the people who truly care about and help maintain the great district we attend. And for the last two weeks of the Appreciation Unit, we will be going over Family Appreciation and Friend Appreciation-- showing love and thankfulness to those closest to us. I am so excited about another school-wide project and opportunity that I will be organizing at the end of this month.
Thank you to those who read my newsletter!! As always, if you have any questions, concerns, or comments, please don't hesitate to write me an e-mail or give me a call.