Counseling
In our community, we will:
- Work to be safe
- Inspire Kindness
- Show Respect
- Embrace Responsibility
We are now in year five of our school wide positive behavior system (PBIS). We are continuing to focus on Who’s Wise Words of kindness, respect, responsibility and safety at school. You may notice Who’s Wise Words posters around the school and may have heard your children talking about “positive pellets”. Positive pellets are distributed by staff in the building when we notice students following one or more of Who’s Wise Words by showing kindness, respect, responsibility, and safety.
Over the summer I was fortunate to join a team from Marion Cross that attended the BEST Institute in Killington to continue building our multi tiered system of supports (MTSS) at MCS. Our focus this summer was on implementing restorative practices within our MTSS framework. A restorative approach involves principle-based processes and practices that can be applied to help things go right as well as respond when things go wrong.
February 7, 2025
Counselor's Corner
Welcome to another exciting week in Class Counsel with Ms. Keel! We’ve been busy learning important lessons about safety and respect, and I’m thrilled to share our progress with you. Let’s dive into what we’ve been up to and what’s coming next.
Last week
In Miss Shannon’s Pre-Kindergarten class, we began exploring the Zones of Regulation, focusing on the Blue and Green Zones. Our preschoolers identified feelings associated with each zone and discussed strategies to help them feel better. In Kindergarten and First Grade, our young learners discovered a crucial rule about touching. They learned that only certain adults can touch private parts, and only for health reasons. We identified private body parts and discussed who might need to help keep them healthy. In Second and Third Grades, students reviewed the Touching Rule and applied it to a story about staying safe. Fourth Graders wrapped up their Safety unit, reflecting on all the vital lessons learned over the past two months. In Fifth Grade, students are nearing the end of their Safety unit, revisiting the Private Body Parts Touching Rule and applying it to a story about keeping someone safe. Finally, our Sixth Graders explored ways to stay safe in the face of cyberbullying.
Next week
Looking ahead, Kindergarten and First Grade will apply the Touching Rule to various scenarios and discuss how to use the Three Ways to Stay Safe in different situations. Fourth Grade will enjoy a six-week break! In Fifth Grade, we will review all the essential rules from our Safety unit and apply them to a story about staying safe. Sixth Grade will delve into the role of bystanders in bullying—can they help or make the situation worse?
Things to remember
As we continue our journey, please remind your children about the importance of speaking up if they feel uncomfortable or unsafe. Encourage them to practice the Three Ways to Stay Safe in their daily lives. Together, we can create a supportive environment for our students!
Until next time!
Thank you for your continued support and engagement in your child’s learning journey. Let’s keep the conversations going at home about safety and respect. I can’t wait to share more updates with you next week! Have a fantastic week ahead!
Ms. Keel