“February is the month of love; just look around and you’ll nd it everywhere ” – Unknown
Everywhere you look there are signs of pink, red, and hearts
Valentine’s Day is upon us! This has always been my favorite holiday It is a reminder to me, in the midst of the cold winter, of happiness, friendship, love, and celebration. For our middle schoolers, their friendships are the most important thing on their minds and hearts Therefore, we have dedicated this newsletter to navigating friendships While not always easy, this is a time of learning and growth We look forward to continuing to support your students during these exciting and sometimes di cult times!
Classroom Lessons and Programs
Grade 6 will continue meeting with their Girl Talk Leaders in February to continue learning from their Upper School mentors about topics related to middle school.
Parent Feedback
As we kick off the 2nd semester, we welcome your suggestions as to how we can better serve our students and families. Are there counseling programs you would like to see incorporated into our Middle School? What topics would you be interested in
Book Recommendation
The book, The Drama Years, was written by Haley Kilpatrick who is the founder of the Girl Talk Program We have partnered with the Girl Talk organization for many years, as our Grade 6 students work alongside select sophomoreseniors for mentoring. Haley’s
Grades 7 and 8 will have a Counseling Lesson during the weeks of February 10 and February 17. Seventh graders will focus on Empathy Students will learn what empathy means, looks like, and how to show empathy in their school, home and community Eighth graders will focus on Understanding Advertising and its effect on our perception of ourselves and others Students will discuss labels we place on ourselves and others and how to look past the labels.
learning more about as parents/guardians? Please email me at
mailto:agiljum@vizstl.org with your suggestions
book focuses on the “incredible number of biological and emotional changes, making this time (middle school) the most formative – and riskiest – time in their lives.” Practical strategies to navigate middle school are included in this book for not only students, but also the adults in their lives. I highly recommend this book!
Girls on Board - Reminders
As we begin the second semester, we wanted to revisit the Girls on Board approach. All middle school students received this training in the Fall, and the founder (Andrew Hampton) conducted a parent webinar in late October. This approach empowers our students as they navigate the choppy waters of female friendships A link to the parent page of the Girls on Board website can be found here - https://www.girlsonboard.co.uk/parents/.
Principles that underpin the Girls on Board approach -
1 Every girl needs a friend
2 Girls need to nd things to bond over
3 Don’t ever assume you know the whole story and mediation between girls rarely works
4 If the story you are hearing does not point speci cally to bullying or wrongdoing, be a listening ear.
5 This approach will empower girls to sort out their own friendship problems and minimize the distress they might experience.
How can parents help?
1 Do not try to micromanage unless there is bullying really happening Bullying is de ned as actions that are repeated, intentional, and involve a power imbalance.
2 Model good relational attitudes to fellow human beings
3. Acknowledge that your daughter is changing.
4 Stay connected but don’t push it
5. Be there for her; listen and comfort but try hard not to offer solutions.
6 Monitor social media, internet activity, and messages
UPCOMING DATES FOR MIDDLE SCHOOLERS
Girl Talk (Grade 6) – February 11
Counseling Lesson (Grade 7) – Weeks of February 10 and 17
Counseling Lesson (Grade 8) – Weeks of February 10 and 17
MS Wellness Club Meetings – February 6 and 20
MOEDA (Missouri Eating Disorders Association) Presentations for our 8th Graders – more information to come prior to presentations - March 25 and March 28
CHADS Presentations – more information to come prior to presentations
Grade 6 – Bully Free – March 31 and April 1
Grade 7– Peer Pressure – March 31 and April 1
Grade 8– Self Injury – April 14
SAVE THE DATE: MS Student-Led Conferences
Parents/Guardians are invited to attend (in-person and/or via Zoom) on the following dates:
Eighth Grade – Tuesday, April 8
· Seventh Grade – Thursday, April 10
Sixth Grade – Friday, April 11
More details are to come, including a link to register
CHECK IT OUT - RESOURCES FOR FAMILIES
Article – “How Parents Can Help Kids Overcome Five Common Friendship Hurdles” (by Phyllis L Fagell – CNN 2023)
https://www cnn com/2023/04/24/health/children-friendship-problems-wellness/index html
Article – “How to Help Your Teen Manage Toxic Friendships” (Newport Academy 2024)
https://www newportacademy com/resources/empowering-teens/teen-toxic-friendships/? utm source=eloqua&utm medium=email&utm campaign=nh school dtc both december-2024
Article – “Helping Kids Make Friends” (Whitney Raglin Bignall, PhD – The Kids Mental Health Foundation 2023)
https://www.kidsmentalhealthfoundation.org/mental-health-resources/relationships/helping-kidsbuild-friendships
Article – “Six Ways to Help Your Child Thrive Socially in Middle School” (Phyllis Fagell 2020)
https://phyllisfagell com/2020/04/15/6-ways-to-help-your-child-thrive-socially-in-middle-school/
Mrs. Ashley Giljum and Mrs. Catie Tyler
Middle School Counselors
Grades 6-8
Email: mailto:agiljum@vizstl.org or mailto:ctyler@vizstl.org
Website: www visitationacademy org
Phone: (314) 625-9225 or (314) 625-9155