Constitution Day

We ended last week with some projects by our history and social studies classes. They were given the task of decorating our hallways with posters and pictures of things they thought represented the United States and it's history. I didn't get a picture of all of them, but the ones I did, I included here.
Our kids are so creative. Every year the pictures are different than the year before and always unique, one from another.

This week, though it's only Wednesday, I've had students wanting to drop career tech. classes. We're over 1/2 through the quarter, this isn't doable at this point without loss of major credits. We've had mean girl stuff going on and I had a student misunderstand something I said in the class counseling lesson, got very upset and that resulted in a visit from his parents. It's all good. It turned out fine. There was and is no upset, which I'm glad. Though I didn't need to, according to parents, I apologized to the student for not being more clear. I don't want him to be uncomfortable during my sessions, nor do I want any awkward feelings with him. Everyone messes up. Whether it was on my end or his is irrelevant. I just want to make it right. On Friday, I'm off to one of our state universities for a counselors' day. Though I've been to several such events at others universities, I've never been to this one. I have, however, been to this university many times, LOL. Funny how that has worked out. I'm looking forward to a work day away, learning about admission requirements and processes at this university, taking a tour and the wonderful lunch that is in store. Make it a good one everyone!

What a busy time it has been! I finally got to start classroom lessons in the elementary! For the lower 3 grades I used Mrs. Potatohead to introduce me and my role. I think that is my favorite lesson.

For sixth grade I used a connect four lesson I found online. Those kids have seen my intro. lesson several times and probably have everything memorized, though they were good sports. The grades in between I used a power point that I also found online. It included a Kid President video and a movie clip. IT WAS GREAT! Between going to all the elementary classes I managed to get out a letter to senior parents. With the FAFSA deadline changing to October, I felt compelled to make sure parents were aware of the importance of getting this completed by the deadline. I have also been scheduling meetings, workshops, college reps. and trivia weeks. I have found some great material on TPT. I was out of curriculum. Last year I bought my own (!). The two principals offered to purchase material this year, for which I was so glad. We're on the threshold of so many things! Make it great!

We are off and running here! All of our teachers are full time. This year we have quite a few new students between our JH/HS grades. I also just heard yesterday that one of our students who graduated last year will be playing football at OU! He got his uniform yesterday! Of course, he won't get any playing time this year, but that gives him a whole year to grow and improve. Look out next year! We're not OU fans at our house, but I'm so proud of this student and his potential. We're a very small school, so news like this is huge! It's been an exciting start! I'm getting new curriculum for my elementary lessons this year. I can't wait to start using it. I found some great bundles on TPT. Since testing is so different this year I'll have more time to spend in that building. I'm hoping for a longer, more consistent schedule. The kids have already been asking when I get to start lessons in their classrooms. I will also get to start having lessons with the 7th/8th graders. I've never had time for these two grades, so that it also exciting to me. We're going to be doing some career exploration to start.

The temperatures are cooler already here, which makes me sad. I think we're going to close the pool this week. That is the final sign summer is over. I love the pool. It's my favorite thing to do in the summer - float and read. The pool and I have a date nearly every day. I return to school August 1st each year and work quite a ways from home. That means my pool time is restricted to Saturdays if I'm home. Since the weather has been cooler, I haven't been in it on those days in a while. The forecast for the next couple of weeks is the same so, we made the decision to close it. Therefore, I'm sad, really sad, to see summer go. But, new things come with the new season.

Wow! It is been a very long time since I've blogged! I have been encouraged by some counselors on my Instagram feed to get back in the game. Today is my first official day back. The administrative team and secretaries are back today, teachers next Monday and students a few days later. Where did the summer go? I have been doing lots of reading and thinking about ways to improve my service to the students. I am going to try and start a class lesson weekly or bi-weekly with the junior high students. I am still thinking of a way to get information to the high school students. They don't come in much and they need to for scholarship info. and career goals. Today has mostly been going through the incoming senior transcripts to make sure credits are what they're supposed to be and then wrapping up things that happened over the summer. I had a great summer with family and friends. Hopefully you all did as well. It's going to be a great year.

September news

August has passed and now, September is about to follow suit. It was a great month. I started my elementary lessons the week after Grandparents' Day, which is the week we celebrate that day with different elementary grades inviting grandparents to eat on different days and everyone doing special projects to decorate our cafeteria. Our school also hosts a book fair during that week. I thought I'd add to it by starting lessons, too! :D The first lesson is always a meet the counselor type lesson. The early elementary grades get to see Mrs. Potatohead as me. The older grades get to see various pictures and play a game. I realized mid-lesson that I really need to update my pictures! This year the game was a jeopardy style game on the smartboard reviewing some of the things I mentioned, plus some extra school related questions. The kids loved it. Last week was also celebrated Constitution Day. The JH/HS history and social studies classes made some great posters to decorate our hallways along with what was done in class.
I love the bill of rights for our school that students came up with. There is a place for everyone to sign, which was cut off in the picture. My next lessons in the elementary I will be using "Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day' and "The Rainbow Fish". My book club for 7th gr. girls is rocking right along and I'm starting one for boys as soon as the books come in. We have been in school just over a month now and our first College Week of the year is going on this week. Kids have been answering trivia questions daily and getting prizes. At the end of the week the college representative from that school will be here. I already have two Career Cafes scheduled for October and plan on getting more together soon.

Starting the new year!

It has been a great start to the new year. We have lost some students to other schools, yet gained others that are going to fit in very well. I am looking at getting some new curriculum for my PK-6 lessons. I used my favorite last year with every grade. I'll be starting my book club with seventh grade girls soon and the first lunch bunch is about a week away. I wanted to share pictures of my beginning of the year bulletin boards. the elementary board is from Pinterest. One of our MS students helped me with it and I think it turned out great. The MS/HS board is from a book I have called, "Counseling on the Walls". There are many bulletin board themes in it and varying grade levels. It comes with a CD to print things out. I have only used it a couple of times, but so far I found it to be a great resource! I hope everyone has (or had) a great start to the 2015-16 school year. Just remember we're only a few weeks away from Labor Day (break).

Testing Season That Never Ends

This has been the longest testing season ever! It's the last week of online testing. We already had our regular testing schedule and this week was saved for any students absent on those regular testing days. Well, little did I know that some of those absent during regular days would also be absent during the 'make up' days. Tonight is 8th grade graduation. I managed to finish the morning testing session in time to be a part of the rehearsal. Friday is our senior graduation. I hope to not still be testing by then so that I can go over for rehearsal for that, too. I don't have a huge part of either ceremony. For the 8th grade I figure out the valedictorian and salutatorian, figure out the 7th grade escorts, order diploma covers, get the names for the diplomas and proof the speeches all ahead of time. Then during the ceremony I read the names off so the principal can hand diplomas out, shake their hands and pose for a picture. Senior graduation is very similar. This year I am reading off the scholarship information because the superintendent is not going to be in attendance. The principal asked if I wanted to be on stage or off. I chose off. However, there are steps and I can see myself tripping while going up or down them. I may rethink that. I am 45 minutes away from school, so tonight and senior graduation night will be long nights since I don't go home in between. Next week for awards assembly, it will be the same. Even though we have less than two weeks left, I made bulletin boards for both buildings.

I love how both of them turned out. I am so proud of our elementary staff. They won a $40,000 technology grant that will put six iPads in every classroom and provide a new buzzer system for the academic team. That building received an award in Washington, D.C. last year as a Blue Ribbon Certified School (or something like that). Their accomplishments are nothing of my doing or contribution, I am so proud of them and to say I work here and with them. Soon it will be summer break and flip flop season. I have several books to read this summer, most for school. I won a gift card to Half Price Books recently. I can't wait to use it to find more. I forget how excited I get about books until I go to the bookstore and see them all. I hope everyone has a restful summer break.

TESTING, TESTING, 123 TESTING

Wow, I can't believe where we are in the school year! We are in our 2nd week of end of year achievement testing. Everything I do for the elementary (through 5th grade) is behind the scenes. I order, affix labels, inventory, separate documents and compile boxes with tests, security sheets, class roll, pencils and scratch paper; I take it all back in and send it off when everything is finished. The teachers do all the testing unless there is an absence and the student needs a test made up at a time when others are unavailable. The elementary prepares the schedule. For the middle school and high school it's a little different. I do all the same as above, plus I make the schedule and help administrate everything. EV-ER-Y-THING! From the first week in April through the 2nd week in May, I am in a computer lab, morning to lunch then after lunch to end of the day, administering tests. Ugh. I don't get to go to classrooms for elementary lessons or do much of anything else. We don't test on Mondays. That helps since I still have administrative duties and senior scholarships, transcripts, ACT reports, etc. to do. On one hand, testing seasons makes for some pretty mundane days. After all, the testing script has to be read to every group of testers. I should have it memorized by now. After the script is read and students begin, of course, everyone knows, you watch the kids. While I don't recommend playing on phones or doing some handy work (such as crocheting or knitting), watching a movie on a tablet or anything similar, I do find it ok to read. I get so much reading done. Sometimes I research vacation and have it all planned by the time the season is finished, then we're ready to book about the time school is out. We don't take vacation until late July, but it's all taken care of by the end of May when I do this. Sometimes I just catch up on things I've wanted to read for a while. That is the case this year. I have getting so much Bible time, reading much more than my usual 3-4 chapters at each setting. I've also been reading "How to Hug a Porcupine".

I've been wanting to read this book for a while and wished I'd known about it when my own daughter was that middle school/pre-teen age. I've just gotten in to it and already have found it so good. I highly recommend it. I have other books that I plan on reading later, in the pool, during the summer. I thought about next week how we will be turning the calendar from April to May and how much I enjoy that one calendar turn. However, I realized I enjoy the turn from May to June oh so much more since I officially start summer break at the end of the day on May 29th.

SPRING BREAK

I just came off of spring break. It was wonderful to have the time to relax. If you knew me personally, you'd know I'm all about my grand baby, who is now 22 months old. We see him almost daily and we willingly change plans if something comes up and a sitter backs out of some evening or weekend plans with them. Well, surprise, surprise, I didn't watch him during the day at all throughout the week of spring break. We maintained our evening 1 1/2 hr. time, but I didn't even mention anything about the day time. I knew if I watched him once, it would lead to two or three days. I knew if I watched him at all I wouldn't get things done around the house that I intended. These were things that had been needing done for months, such as clean the craft room, wipe down the walls (cobwebs and dust collect on the texture of the walls, who knew). There were more tasks throughout the week, but I need not to bore you with my activities around the house. The entire first semester we took trips during every holiday or long weekend. This time at home was greatly needed as was the time without my grand baby to get things done. I think things are now in good shape to get by until summer break.

I plan on doing one, maybe two more college week type activities before school is over. I've started a girls' group with three elementary girls. We are using the G.I.R.L.S. book. It is really a great resource, though on the expensive side. Before the week is up, I will have scheduled the online testing sessions for our spring tests. We begin retakes next week. On one hand I dread testing season every year. It takes me away from classroom lessons, adds to my already incredibly busy schedule and fills my office with boxes. I have 30 boxes sitting in my small office right now. Sad thing is, at least 12 of those boxes had 1 book or 5-10 sheets of paper in them and were filled the rest of the way fill bubble wrap. I still don't understand why, being a small school, they couldn't combine some of the contents of the boxes so that there are fewer or just reduce the number of test manuals. I am the only DTC, I think one manual to use and one as a spare are plenty, instead we get 12. However, on the other hand, I look forward to testing, because I get a lot of reading done during that time. Since I'm in the room with students working on computers and it's a small group, after reading directions and between walking around, I read, a lot. It also means once testing is over, school is just about 2 weeks from being over as well. So, I'm looking on the bright side. Testing is going to go smoothly and I can almost see the end of things for the 2014-15 school year!

Threshhold of testing

We are not quite in the testing season, though there are many tasks that are now either complete or at hand for testing. All student data has been uploaded to the testing company. Wouldn't you know it, the day after that took place we received a new student. Those of you in education for any length of time at all know this is no surprise. What else can we do but chuckle. Today I conducted a second test administrator and proctor training. I was also able to finish the testing schedule. We start testing the end of March/first of April with a retest window. Then we move right to our regular testing window for two weeks. Afterward, we have one week to make up any tests for those absent. That will take us all the way to May. Wow, thinking of it that way makes me realize the year is so close to being over! Last week was my week in the elementary. Between that, testing duties, pantry, book club and seeing individual students, it was quite a week! Scholarships are coming in almost one on top of another. This is great, though I'm not sure our students are taking full advantage of the information. We are on our last official college week.

The representative will be here on Friday. Until then students will answer trivia questions for prizes and to be entered into a drawing by the representative. This week's prizes are a little different than what we've been having. Same or different, it's always wonderful when they send us things for our activities. I think I'm going to do some games (bingo and scavenger hunt)with answers that pertain to our staff here on campus. Hopefully I can come up with more games to make it a full week.

National School Counselor's Week 2015

Happy #NSCW15 everyone! I have been celebrating this week in two ways. Friday I left school after only being there for a few hours. I had to take our 20 mo. old grandbaby to the doctor. Monday morning (this week) we went back to the doctor. My husband was off work so he watched the grandbaby for the after noon while I came to work. Tuesday I stayed home all day. Yesterday I was back and hopefully will be the rest of the week. I scheduled a hot cocoa bar for the staff to celebrate #NSCW15. I sent out invitations and had everything planned - before the whole sick grandbaby issues.

It was originally scheduled for Tuesday. But, I wasn't here. So I had to reschedule it for today. It worked out even better because today is a much colder day and the hot cocoa has just made the day so much better already.

I've seen some posts from counselors around the country where schools and/or students have done things for their counselors. I've also seen many posts from counselors doing things for their staff. Either way, I'm glad to be in education and glad to be a counselor. I still feel like I make a difference in students' lives. I try not to think about the ones that give up, drop out, don't come for visits to my office for social, emotional or academic assistance or even listen to what I tell them when they do decide to check in. I try to focus on the ones in which I make a difference. Though I've not made a different in all, there are many I have. I'm grateful for everyone. I started this blog because of others' blogs I had been reading. Those blogs were such inspiration to me and what I do, I wanted to (hopefully) inspire others. Thank you all for what you do each day, reaching kids and staff in a multitude of ways. I will pat you on the back even if no one else does. I know you're making a difference!

Another College Week

Last week was full of lessons in the elementary. It was so much fun to get back to the 7 Habits lessons and those kiddos. While getting started in one second grade class, I mentioned that it seemed as if I hadn't been there for a long time when really it was just a couple of weeks ago. One little girl looked at me and said, "Yes, and you were wearing that same thing the last time you were here." I was laughing so hard I almost couldn't compose myself again. I guess I need to keep a list of what I wear the days I go to the elementary, or at least that class!

We have had two college weeks back to back. Unfortunately last week's college (university) didn't send any prizes, nor did the representative show up for the presentation that was scheduled last October. That happens occasionally. This week is another college and we have been given some wonderful prizes for the trivia questions each day.

The representative has confirmed her visit at the end of the week so we are good to go. I had students send their answers through Twitter and Instagram. It has worked beautifully. Instead of a stead stream of students in my office giving me answers and preventing me from getting anything accomplished (I love seeing them, though), they use social media. Then I give them their prize as I walk the hall on my way to something else or I stick them in students' lockers. It seems the number of followers for our account grows each day.

Seniors are rolling right along with scholarship applications and getting transcripts forwarded (something I do for them). Sophomores have been getting applications in to attend the technology center next year. Before I know it testing season will be here. I've already attended one test training and there are more to come. After testing season the school year will basically be finished. My how time flies!

It's just the middle of the first week after Christmas break and I am exhausted! Monday, it was a steady stream of students and teachers in my office needing schedule changes and other things. I walked in to my office and didn't even get everything put down before it started. At about 1:00 I realized my lunch of cottage cheese was still in my bag, hanging on my coat rack. I managed to squeeze in making a cup of coffee around 10. It sat on the maker until about 11:30. I put it in the microwave to warm and had to run it through three cycles because every time I started it, someone came in. When it was finished it just sat inside there until eventually I ran it again. So around 1:30 I was drinking my first cup of coffee of the day. The good part of all this is that the day whizzed by. Tuesday was almost as bad, but since then it has slowed down significantly. Today, a representative from our career tech school came out to speak to the 8th and 10th graders. I've had lots of transcript requests this week by seniors.

While on a short trip over Thanksgiving I saw several framed chalkboards with the Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook icon painted on them (or all three). They were various sizes. The cheapest one was $25. I thought what a neat idea, to have a school account and post different hashtags for the student to tweet or follow. I know many schools have social media sites. I wasn't going to pay $25+ for a board so I found one for $5 and made my own chalkboard paint. I had lots of acrylic paint around. At first I was just going with the twitter icon, thinking students could hashtag and we wouldn't have to set an account up.

The icon was easy to create and I didn't want to paint the Instagram icon. The more I thought about it the more I realized a higher number of students have Instagram accounts than any other site. I gave in and painted the icon and set us up a school account. So far it is a huge success and I expect that over time more and more students will begin to follow it.

I still have to set up a 7th grade girls' group. We're going to start reading the book, "Wonder". I loved reading this book a couple of summers ago and I really hope the students get something out of it. We will keep it small, maybe four students. I also start back my classroom lessons next week and sessions with an individual student on Friday. The start of the second semester means we are that much closer to summer and warmer weather!

All Good Things Come to an End

It's finally here! The last day before Christmas Break! It has been a fun filled day already. The elementary grades are showing movies throughout the day. Two grades at a time go to the auditorium, students are given a bag of popcorn and staff make a big deal out of it. One of our teachers is standing at the door reminding them to not talk, silence cell phones, not to put their feet on the seats, etc. just like a movie theatre. I LOVE it! I have been an elf all morning, delivering gifts all over campus to and from secret pals. I've sent several transcripts off to colleges and universities and am trying to think of those things scheduled for the first week we return that need attention now. We had an ugly sweater contest this morning. I'm not sure what happened, if everyone forgot, thought it was another day or just got busy and had no time, but we one had one participant (our JH/HS principal). We all got a great laugh out of his sweater, though and he still received the prize!Next year we will try to coincide with the actual Ugly Sweater Day (I didn't know there was such a day), and staff will have more time to plan. This was our first. We also have a Christmas door decorating competition. I'm posting those pictures plus a few more, just because they're all fun. The elementary winner is All I Want For Christmas is My Two Front Teeth with the pictures of the toothless kids.The JH/HS winner is Down Through the Chimney.What you can't tell with this one is that the lights under the fire flickered, making it look a little more real. The winner of the Admin./Library/Counselor door is the Frozen Let it Go door. I love the 3-D snowflakes! Just as quickly as the first semester passed, so it will be with the second. I hope everyone enjoys their Christmas Break with lots of family, food and fun, along with the true meaning of CHRISTmas. Over the break I plan on just that, plus some research and planning for the rest of the school year, how I can reach more of the student body and make a more positive impact them. I've been asked to help with setting up of a scholarship so I will be gathering information for that as well. Merry Christmas! a

Gotta love it!

Last week's elementary lessons were the last ones for the semester in the building. I was able to make it to every classroom, PK-6th, even with technical difficulties and being gone one day. The elementary building didn't get to participate in the bullying assembly we had during the month of October. There was some discussion with the classes during each classroom lesson, but it just wasn't the same, full blown, bullying lesson as they would have received in the assembly. Plus, I'm sure I wasn't nearly as exciting during the classroom lessons as the group that conducted the assembly.

I used Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer as my lesson. I only pulled out certain scenes instead of showing the full movie.

Time wouldn't allow a showing of the full movie anyway. Some classes were combined and I had to put the classroom teachers to work, starting and stopping the movie, throughout the lesson. It all worked beautifully.

I found questions and worksheets that fit multiple grades. Though I didn't have them complete worksheets, I pulled questions from them so that I had something to ask the lower grades, as well as the upper grades. A couple of the sixth graders, who had never seen the 1960s version of Rudolph commented about the lameness of the movie (I was gone out of the room, but still within earshot). Everyone else commented positively.

It fit nicely for the different grades and this time of year. It also fit well with the amount of time I have with each class. I honestly didn't realize there was so much bullying going on in this movie! What a great tool for our students. I don't have time now to list the other blogs where I found the questions and scene numbers, but if you want to contact me I'll be glad to pass it along to you over Christmas break and you can plan it for next Christmas. I'm trying to think of something, now, for next Christmas. Maybe How the Grinch Stole Christmas will work! I've seen some things on Pinterest. You can bet I'll be researching that between now and then. This week we are wrapping up Winter testing sessions and the semester like everyone else. Our JH/HS is having a dress up spirit week. Each day is a different dress up day, like it would be for Homecoming week or Red Ribbon Week, though it is Christmas themed. We have a door decorating contest going on right now. The class that wins receives a pizza party upon returning to school in January. That will be judged sometime early the morning one day this week. Tomorrow, the administration (including me) will be hosting a breakfast for our entire staff at 7:30 a.m. (lots of cooking will be going on tonight in preparation for that). Friday we will have an ugly sweater contest with our teachers competing for a prize. I can't wait to get some pictures of that! Can the week be any busier? Gotta love it!

December Fun

It has been a fast paced week! With the new month here, it is time for new bulletin boards. I debated even doing them since we're just here three weeks and by the time I figured out something to do the week was 1/2 over.

I gave in and scrambled to get something up. I searched (thank you Pinterest) and did parts at home. Finally, I had one completed by Wednesday afternoon (Elf) and the border on the second one Thursday morning to complete it (Nativity).

I have been in a computer lab literally all week giving make up tests (I am DTC). Two days I had to take my lunch with me to the lab and one day I didn't have time for lunch. It is also college week. Trivia questions were posted all over school and students have been running in and out of my office or catching me coming and going in the hallway to give me answers. It's been great, really, and our most successful college week so far! The prize yesterday was a t-shirt. I gave them all out before school even started! Those that missed a shirt received candy, which they were happy about, too. Just another confirmation that most students will do anything for chocolate. Two things this week have really made me smile, reminding me why I love it here. The first is the December dress up calendar. It's really for the elementary, though our JH/HS staff get it, too. Each day of December everyone is to wear something different (holiday scarf and mittens one day, slippers another, warm up suit still another, and so it goes the entire month). Today is a Disney birthday to today is that theme.

The JH/HS staff doesn't really participate, but I love this each year I see it. The second is the chalk board on my door. This happened last year when I had one up at another school, so it's not specific to here, but I love I the same.

I love students leaving me notes here and there throughout the year. I leave notes on their lockers periodically (see last blog post), so they will occasionally write something for me. That chalk board will be a treasure to me at the end of the school year. I'm not sure what I will do for next school year (erase notes from this year and start over).

Thanksgiving!

We have a short week this week, like most other schools, due to the Thanksgiving holiday. Today is our last day this week. I am thankful for so many things. Like always, I am thankful to my Savior for the many earthly blessings He continually gives. I am thankful for my family and the support they offer, both regarding my job and with life in general. Last week I stayed home two days and kept my grandbaby due to an emergency at his regular sitter's. After the second day, my husband volunteered to make supper, though he had been sick for several days, telling me that I needed a break after being on baby duty non-stop. My daughter (grandbaby's mom), keeps me on my toes. With her there is never a dull moment. I get bogged down with doing things for school, consumed sometimes even at home, and they pick up where I leave off to run errands or get things finished. I am very thankful for all my coworkers this year. It's no secret I had a very rough year last year professionally. I returned to this school, where I was several years ago and where I began my counseling journey. I am reminded regularly how thankful those around me are at my return. This gratitude toward me causes me to have such appreciation toward everyone. Today, I am allowing students to go to the food pantry and pick out what they would like in their bags to take home. Since we are out longer than a regular weekend, most will be home more and eating/snacking around more.

I found some cute Thanksgiving notes online and managed to get them on all lockers, junior high and high school, after hours yesterday so that they were there when the students came in this morning.

I also found cute water bottle labels and candy wrappers for printing. I left those for all the staff, maintenance, cooks, teachers, aides, administration and office staff, yesterday. I was looking for something very reasonable that I could do for everyone.

I'm big on couponing. I often get cases of water for around $2.00. Two cases are enough for everyone. The bag of chocolate was $10. I have enough chocolate left over to do something another time for everyone. I plan on doing a lot of cooking, a lot of playing with my grandbaby, and a lot of resting over the break. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Veteran's Day

Last week we celebrated Veteran's Day. I'm in charge of the assembly for our school. Though there were some kinks along the way (always), everything turned out great!

Our elementary runs through sixth grade. I wanted them to be a part of our assembly even though it was for all grades PK-12th. Because of our school connections, I was able to obtain real military uniforms from every war and one from someone currently serving in the mountains of Afghanistan. I was in awe of the WWI and WWII uniforms to say the least.

We chose not to use the one from Korea, but went another way instead. I chose 6 sixth graders who usually don't get to do a lot. Those students got to dress in the uniforms. One girl dressed as a nurse in the Korean War instead of a male soldier. She and her mom got her uniform together and it was perfect! I also had two girls from the same grade read various things pertaining to Veteran's Day (the history, what a veteran is/does, a poem, and several introductions). We had the kids walk in carrying the two flags (American and state). Our MS/HS band students played the National Anthem and America the Beautiful. Besides the two girls doing all the reading, the students in uniforms went individually to the mic, introduced themselves and said, "I am a Veteran. I fought in..." Once all six had done this, the band instructor played TAPS. At the end all six students walked to the front of the stage and saluted our veterans who attended the assembly. Those in the audience held up papers to make an overhead flag across the auditorium. This was done once with the elementary kids and again with the JH/HS kids.

The person snapping this picture told me the elementary kids were better at it than the junior high/high school kids. (Go elementary!) I'm so thankful to all veterans throughout history. I have a history of servicemen in my family. I cancelled elementary classroom lessons for the week. Everyone attended the assembly and those teachers covered the day more in their classrooms. I spent the rest of the week in training to prepare for the upcoming testing season and then uploading student data to the testing site. I literally locked myself in my office Friday in order to complete the upload. While waiting on some feedback, I came out once, late in the afternoon, in order to fill pantry bags. When I returned some students had left a cute (and tastey), surprise on my desk.

RRW is over

What a great week it has been. I had lessons in the elementary building using some of the worksheets from my previous post. I separated the dot-to-dot worksheet for the Pre-K and K students so they would just have to complete the one prescription bottle. The other classes we either used a different worksheet or none at all. The lower elementary grades we played a game I saw on another counselor's blog or on pinterest. I'm not sure if it has a name but it used two pumpkins and a variety of products.I showed each product to the students, asking about them and then discussing the product.

After the discussion I asked the classes in which bucket each item should be placed, the orange (STOP) bucket/pumpkin or the green (GO) bucket/pumpkin. For the upper elementary, JH and HS, I put together a slide show about the history of RRW along with slides showing various types of drugs, alcohol and tobacco. I wanted the theme to catch the students' eyes so I put that on each slide with some movement. I gave information on what a natural high was and many, many examples of it. While the slides that pertained to drugs were showing the song, "This Is Your Life" by Switchfoot played. Once it switched over to the natural high slides the song switched to "Because I'm Happy" by Pherrell Williams. We then played the pills vs. candy game online. The JH/HS got to play all three levels of the game. We also saw the youtube video "To This Day". All week we dressed up to show how much fun we could have without drugs. My goodness though, taking down all the posters, banners and ribbons is just like taking down Christmas decorations after Christmas is over. While all this was going on I also helped with scholarship searches in the high school, transcript sending and delivering for seniors, EXPLORE and PLAN make ups and state reporting as part of my administrative duties.

Somehow I managed to put up a bulletin board in the JH/HS hallway, too. I think I'm going to do the iHELP board on my door, but go through Staples to make it permanent.

Red Ribbon Week Prepping

I spent my week making up some lessons in the elementary that I had to skip last week due to administrative duties. I go into elementsry classrooms every other week, some on Tues. and some Thurs. The teachers are wonderful. They have been very encouraging with the feedback on my lessons and flexible when I've had to make up time in order to keep everyone "on the same page" with lessons. We had a short week due to fall break and an extra day from P/T conferences. One of my principals was out, first his step mother was having surgery, then his brother went to the ER followed by ICU due to heart issues. There was a lot of drama with kids while he was out. Some I felt comfortable handling, some I didn't and had to put on hold as far as a decision in discipline until he returns, which I hope is this next week. Red Ribbom Week, as you all know, started Thursday and carries through to the end of next week. We chose to just celebrate one week. Thursday after school we put ribbons on the outside of the school and red cups in the fence so those driving by out school would see something was going on. Inside we hung banners throughout the HS/JH and elementary. The kids are dressing up and elementary is getting stickers. The HS/JH is getting an assembly. I'm stepping away from my lessons out of the Seven Habits for Happy Kids book that I've been doing in the elementary. This week I'm doing RRW lessons. The following link,

http://hagginwoodtrusdca.schoolloop.com/file/1235051427790/1281197202357/4679557137138500689.pdf

leads you to many lessons at a variety of levels for students.

This link: http://pillsvscandy.org/ will take you to a fun little interactive game for the smart board. It's a game where students chose which picture shows candy and which picture shows drugs. I'm using this game for the lower elementary classes.

I still have some administrative things to take care of this week (state reports), some scholarships to pass out to seniors, essay competition forms for 6-12 grades and I'm already working on our Veterans Day assembly.

Have a great week everyone!