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