Dear Parents:

Throughout the course of the year I will be initiating small-group counseling sessions. These groups will meet once a week for 30 minutes during the school day. The groups will meet for 4 sessions. These sessions may not be in consecutive weeks, due to field trips, assemblies, holidays, etc.

Listed below are the small group topics and their descriptions. Permission slips will be sent out for each of the groups two weeks prior to the start date for each group. If you feel your child is having difficulty in one of the following areas and it is interfering with your child’s academics, please sign the permission forms and return them to your child’s teacher by the date specified on the form.

I would like to help you and your child make this school year as successful as possible. If you would like to discuss your child or if you have any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to contact me.

The groups and their descriptions:

September: School Readiness– We will discuss how to transition from a non-academic, non-structured environment to a daily structure and routine. Participants will learn how to prepare themselves for the day by following a routine and practice independent learning and preparation.
             Adjusting as a New Student- We will discuss rules and routines at Kenmore Elementary. Participants will learn who the various staff members are in the school as well as the school environment and they will be paired with a buddy from their class.

October: Emotional Awareness (grades K-2)- We will discuss how to understand and express our emotions and feelings. Participants will learn appropriate ways to handle disappointments, and anger. Participants will also role play various social skills that they may encounter in and out of school.
                Leadership (3-5)- Participants in this group are chosen by the teachers and administrators. There may be at least one from every class. Participants will be able to define the words leader and leadership. Participants will identify ways in which they are leaders and describe character traits of a leader, interview a leader, become aware of important behaviors that will enhance their performance as a leader.

November: Friendship Skills- We will discuss specific behaviors that may keep students from getting along with their friends and ways to substitute appropriate behaviors. Participants will learn how to make new friends.
                    Bullying- This group is for students who feel bullied or picked on by other students. We will discuss ways to stand up for ourselves by using appropriate words and confident body language.

December: Anger Management- We will discuss why we get angry and what happens if we act out those feelings inappropriately. Participants will learn appropriate ways to express anger and that it is perfectly okay to be angry as long as the feelings are dealt with without hurting others, without hurting oneself, and without breaking things.

January: Organization- We will learn how to organize our desk, book bag, and folders.

February: Grief- We will discuss our loss and the stages of grief. We will learn that all of our feelings are okay. We will make a memory page or a memory box about the loved one we have lost.
                 Divorce- We will discuss the positive and negative things about divorce. We will explain that divorce is no the child’s fault and that many others are experiencing the same feelings he/she is having. We will talk about what to do if parents argue and why children should not take sides when that happens.

March: Self-Esteem- We will discuss the meaning of self-esteem and the difference between high and low self-esteem. We will discuss that the way we feel about ourselves is something we choose.

April: Behavior-  We will discuss how to make good choices. Participants will learn how to think ahead to the consequences of their actions. Participants will also learn about the difference between stealing and borrowing, tattling and telling. Participants will also learn about interrupting, cheating, and bullying.

May: Decision Making- We will discuss the decision making process. Participants will learn that decision making is the path to problem solving.

                                                            Sincerely, Mrs. Jennifer Poteet