Middle School Counseling Newsletter - January 2023

MIDDLE MIDDLE SCHOOL SCHOOL COUNSELING COUNSELING NEWS NEWS JANUARY 2023

"Approach the New Year with resolve to find the opportunities hidden in each new day." (Michael Josephson – former professor) Happy New Year! I hope your family enjoyed a very Merry Christmas and that 2023 is off to a wonderful start! As we embark on the new year, it is important to remember each day holds endless opportunities and possibilities. Every day is a fresh start! Please know that I look forward to continuing to work alongside your daughter(as) during the upcoming semester.

CLASSROOM LESSONS

PARENT FEEDBACK

PEER-2-PEER TUTORING

Sixth-grade students will be

As we kick off the second

Peer-2-Peer tutoring is still

discussing various topics when

semester, I welcome your

available for all Viz Middle and

Girl Talk continues in mid-

suggestions as to how I can

Upper School students! The

January. These topics include

better serve our students and

second semester is an

friendships, conflict resolution,

families. Are there counseling

excellent time to join. This

self-esteem, and confidence.

programs you would like to see

program aims to provide a

The third quarter counseling

incorporated into our Middle

productive and positive learning

lesson will focus on conflict

School? What topics would you

experience in which one girl is

resolution, relational

be interested in learning more

the tutor, and the other is the

aggression, and being a good

about from speakers? Please

student. Tutors gain leadership

friend.

email me at

skills while using their

mailto:agiljum@visitationacade

academic knowledge in a

my.org with your suggestions.

subject area to support a fellow

In seventh-grade Owning Up, we recently discussed

student. Students in this

relational aggression and the

program will gain one-on-one

differences between a

attention and positive

situation that is rude, mean, or

reinforcement from their peer

bullying. We will discuss

tutor.

empathy, compassion, and healthy and productive conflict

Students can access more

resolution strategies in the new

information by logging into the

year.

Viz Portal, clicking on the MS News or Counseling tile, and

The first half of the eighth-

then clicking on the Peer-2-

grade class completed Owning

Peer link. This site allows

Up during the first semester.

students to select from a list of

The second half of the eighth-

tutors based on grade level,

grade class will now participate

subject matter, and availability.

in these lessons. This program

Please note: only those with a

is designed to help students

Viz email address may access

with topics such as body

this site. Parents, please work

image, eating disorders, and

alongside your daughter to find

the media's portrayal of

a peer tutor match, and do not

females in our society.

hesitate to reach out if I can assist further.

UPCOMING DATES FOR MIDDLE SCHOOLERS

Girl Talk (Sixth Grade) – January 17 Owning Up (Seventh Grade) – January 17-18 and January 31-February 1 Owning Up (Eighth Grade) – January 5, 6, and 26 Mid-Third Quarter – February 3

SAVE THE DATE Student-led conferences will be held individually with each student, their advisor, and their parent(s). These will be conducted in twenty-minute increments during the school day on the dates below, either in person or via Zoom. More information to come, including a link to register online to attend. Please mark your calendars!

Eighth-Grade Student-Led Conferences – March 23 Seventh-Grade Student-Led Conferences – March 24 Sixth-Grade Student-Led Conferences – March 28

UPCOMING EVENTS FOR PARENTS * The YMCA presents "Raising Mentally Fit Kids: Starting the Conversation" at Visitation Academy on January 25 from 6:00-7:00 p.m. This parent-only event includes a brief presentation, parent panel, and resource fair. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. A flyer with additional details and a link/QR code to register to attend will be emailed soon. * NAMI Missouri (National Alliance on Mental Health) is hosting a virtual course for parents and caregivers of children and youth in Missouri with mental health conditions. This free sixweek course, from January 5 through February 9, meets weekly on Thursdays via Zoom from 6:30-9:00 p.m. Registration is required. To register, visit http://www.namimissouri.org/basics. * Visitation Academy will host a speaker for Middle School parents on the evening of March 1 (time TBD). Details are being finalized and will be communicated soon. This speaker will focus on topics pertinent to parents of middle schoolers.

CHECK IT OUT - RESOURCES FOR FAMILIES Podcast – "Ask Lisa – The Psychology of Parenting" https://drlisadamour.com/how-can-parents-find-joy-and-energy-in-the-new-year/ Article – "Healthy New Year's Resolutions for Children & Teens" (healthychildren.org) by Lanre

Falusi, MD, FAAP https://www.healthychildren.org/English/family-life/family-

dynamics/Pages/Healthy-New-Years-Resolutions-for-Kids.aspx

HAPPY NEW YEAR! "Live simply, dream big, be grateful, give love, and laugh lots." - Paulo Coelho (Brazilian lyricist and novelist)

MRS. ASHLEY GILJUM, MSW Middle School Counselor Grades 6-8 agiljum@visitationacademy.org visitationacademy.org

(314) 625-9225