Welcome Work: Making It Personal

As students enter their counseling time during block each week, it is my goal as a counselor to make connections and build relationships with each and every student. One way is through our Welcome Work. Every Welcome Work folder has a letter from me which includes a  positive quote or statement. 

The students then open their folders and begin writing/drawing their "Sunshine and Rain Cloud". A "Sunshine" is something that the student is looking forward to or something that happened to them that made them happy or excited. Their "Rain Cloud" is an event that made them upset, sad or angry. Students are encouraged to share their sunshine and rain cloud as we build our classroom community with a foundation of trust and empathy. 

After their students write down their "Sunshine and Rain Cloud", the students complete a "Emotional Check-in". The students learn that all feelings are okay and acceptable. It's our choices and attitude that will guide us through the day. As the counselor, I will find students that might need a little extra TLC for the day and follow-up conversations.

On the back of every folder there is a "Breathing Star". As a group we take five deep breaths using the star. This helps our brain receive the oxygen it needs to learn the lesson we will be learning that day. It's also great practice for anxiety and calming down in stressful situations. As the students practice this technique, they will be able to use this skill on their own and gain control of difficult emotions. 

CHAMPS Classroom Expectations

Welcome back to school! We want all of our students to be successful. Victoria ISD uses CHAMPs from Safe & Civil Schools as a guide to student expectations. Each letter in CHAMPS represents an expectation of the student. Below are pictures my expectations for the activities in my counseling classes on block days. CHAMPs can be modified to fit each teacher's needs based on their schedule and activities.

Mrs. Absher, our instructional coach came up with an adorable chant that I use with all of our students. The kids love it!
C-Conversation "What is my voice level?"
H-Help "How do I get it?"
A-Activity "What are we doing?"
M-Movement "What can my body do?"
P-Participation "What should I be doing?"
S-Success "'Cuz we know that we're the best! Woo!"

Character Counts!

"We must remember that intelligence is not enough. Intelligence plus character - that is the goal of true education." - Martin Luther King, Jr.

Both Guadalupe Elementary and William Wood Elementary will be implementing school-wide character education using the Character Counts Curriculum. Students will be encouraged to display TRRFCC character in the classroom and throughout the community. TRRFCC is pronounced 'terrific' and each letter stands for a character trait within the curriculum: Trustworthiness, Respect, Responsibility, Fairness, Caring, and Citizenship. Students will also be recognized for their outstanding character at TRRFCC Character Ceremonies throughout the year. The dates for these ceremonies are listed below. Please join us in celebrating character at William Wood Elementary and Guadalupe Elementary.


Guadalupe Elementary                                
TRRFCC Ceremony Dates (8:00 am)                             
Respect: September 26th
Responsibility: October 31st
Caring: December 12th 
Fairness: January 30th
Trustworthiness: February 27th
Citizenship: April 24th


William Wood Elementary
ACE Academy Ceremony Dates (8:00 am)
Respect: September 23rd
Responsibility: October 26th
Caring: December 9th
Fairness: January 27th
Trustworthiness: February 24th
Citizenship: April 21st

 All staff learned how character is not something added to their plate. Character is the plate! Teachers used their ELAR, Social Studies, Music, and PE TEKS to think about lessons that they do in the classroom where they can teach character with intention. Students will gain knowledge of the character pillars and see connections throughout the school. 

VISD Proud

VISD Proud and ready for the school year to begin!

Let's Go Stars!                                    Let's Go Aviators!

 

"Pack the Bus" Volunteers Needed (ages 10+)

The Pack the Bus Campaign helps hundreds of VISD students with financial needs prepare for the school year. Volunteers ages 10 and up are welcome!

Pack the Bus Volunteer Scheduled Work Days

• Tuesday August 2^nd – Meet at HEB Plus 6pm – 8:30pm
  • We will be pre-packaging school supplies for customers in the HEB Conference Room. We will meet at the restaurant in HEB Plus
     
• Friday & Saturday August 5^th & 6^th –School Supply Drive at HEB PLUS & HEB

• From 8:30am – 5pm we will be manning booths at both entrances at HEB Plus and HEB Rio Grande.
• Volunteers can choose to serve at either shift or both. The shifts are 8:30am – 12noon & 12noon – 5pm.
• Our goal is to collect school supplies for 3,500 children who need them to start school.

• August 8, 9, 11, 12^th – Meet at Faith Family Church Warehouse 6pm- 8:30pm

• Package school supplies for registered families (appox. For 3,000 children)

• August 13^th   – School Supplies Distribution Day 8AM – 1PM Connection Center
  • Supplies will be distributed at:  FCC CONNECTION CENTER 9AM – 12PM

For more information, please call Mark Longoria at 361-573-2484 or cell 361-655-9899.

National Music Day June 21st

There are lots of songs that can be used in the school setting to help build a positive classroom environment. Below is a list of songs that I like to use for counseling and character lessons. 

Song Title	Artist/Movie/Album
Beautiful	China Anne McClain
Catch My Breath	Kelly Clarkson
Child of mine	Carole King
Do More Today	Jimmy Nash
Everyday	Gracie Harrison
Everything is Awesome	Lego (movie)
Firework	Katy Perry (clean version)
Happy	Pharrell Williams
What I Like About You	Joining the Happy Club (album)
Let It Go	Frozen (movie)
Let It Grow	Thorax (movie)
Magic	Selena Gomez
Mean Girls	Rachel Crow
Music Makes Me Happy	Drake Bell
My Wish for You	Rascal Flatts
Nothing’s Gonna Stop Me Now	Olivia Holt
One and Only	Superchick
Overrated	Ashley Tisdale
Part of Me	Katy Perry
Pearl	Katy Perry
Pose	Frenemies (movie)
Respect	Aretha Franklin
Rise	McClain Sisters
Roar	Katy Perry
Stand in the Rain	Superchick
Stronger	Kelly Clarkson
The Climb	Miley Cyrus
The Gift of a Friend	Demi
The Greatest	Kenny Rogers
The Voice Within	Christina Aguilar
This Girl is on Fire	Alicia Keys
This is Going to be the Best Day of My Life	American Authors
This is Me	Demi Lovato
Touch the Sky	Brave (movie)
True Colors	Cyndi Lauper
Try	Dolly Parton
Unstoppable	China Anne McClain
We	Joy Williams
We Are Family	Ice Age Continental Drift (movie)
Who I Am	Will.I.Am
Who I Am	Natasha Bedingfield
Who Says	Selena Gomez

Rocking In My Summer Shoes!

Have a rocking summer! See you next year!

This was a fun end of year lesson that is a spin-off activity from one of my favorite books, Pete the Cat Rocking in his School Shoes by Eric Litwin.  The students wrote about what they would be doing over the summer and then the student read their book aloud to the class. The excitement came when the class sang along with the guitar at the end of each book.

Here comes Mrs. Castro strolling down the street

walking in her two tan feet. 

Mrs. Castro is flipping in the air with her Flying Fossils group.

Where is Mrs. Castro going? 

To her gymnastics class!!

I'm rocking in my summer shoes!