What is new in the Counseling Department!!
Welcome back Erwin Eagles! This year has just begun and there are many ways for students to start off on the right foot. We will have many programs set up this year for you to be a part of so take some time and make some decisions about what YOU WANT to get out of this new year. IT IS ALL UP TO YOU TO BE SUCCESSFUL! 

**Large Group Topics that will be taught during the Fall are as follows: 6th Grade - Bullying & Harassment; 7th Grade - Study Skills; 8th Grade - Peer Pressure

**Small Groups that will be formed this fall are as follows: 6th Grade - (School Success); 8th grade - (Self Esteem)

  **Peer Mediation: This is an opportunity for you to be a part of a great program which you can apply for this fall. This group of students will be mediating conflicts between peers with disputes, teaching homeroom classes, teaching on the bully response team, and being role models for our student body. This group is made up of students whose goals are to make the Erwin environment more accepting and to work on issues of bullying and prejudice among other pressures. CELEBRATE DIVERSITY!!

**PHRASE TO THINK ABOUT... "EVERY SETBACK IS A SETUP FOR A COMEBACK"

**Parent Alert - Gang involvement is on the rise! Look out for any negative changes in your child and pay attention to the kids your child is hanging around with. As a parent, you have every right and responsibility to be nosy when it comes to your child. Let us know if we can help you with concerns!!

**Parent Alert - Cyber Bullying is a new form of harassment that affects millions of children between the ages of 8 and 17 each year. BE ALERT when it comes to your child and their computer behaviors. BE ASSERTIVE in providing limits for your child with computer use. (*Just a note: MYSPACE accounts for children under the age of 14 are illegal) - BE AWARE that many students are getting adult information and using adult behaviors online and you, as the parent, are the first line of defense. Let us know if we can assist you in discussing techniques to address online safety.

**Some topics and resources of interest:

 EATING DISORDERS - 1. Bruch, H. (1973)Eaing Disordes, Obesity, anorexia nervosa, and the person within. New York: Basic Books 2. Brumberg, J.J.(1997). The body project: An intimate history of American girls. New York: Random House. 3. Hesse-Biber, S.J.(1996). Am I thin enough yet? The cult of thinness and the commercialization of identity. New York: Oxford University Press.

TEST ANXIETY - 1. Proeger, C., & Myrick, R.D. (1980). Teaching children to relax. Florida Educational Research and Development Council Inc. Research Bulletin, 14(3), 51. **Websites of Interest: www.parent-institute.com

TEST ANXIETY EXPOSURE HIERARCHY (READ THE FOLLOWING STEPS TO START PREPARING FOR UPCOMING TESTS AND LOWER YOUR STRESS!!!!) 13. You are preparing for the test that will be administered in one week. 12. You are in class working on skills for the test. It is a week before the test. 11. You are discussing the importance of the test. It is now Friday morning. 10. It is Monday morning before the test. You are studying and planning your schedule for tomorrow. 9. It is the night before the test. You are thinking about the test you will take in the morning. 8. It is the day of the test. You are eating breakfast. How are you feeling? 7. It is Tuesday morning, and you are walking into your classroom. 6. You are sitting in a classroom waiting for the test to begin, and they hand you your test. 5. You start the test and read the first question. You do not know the answer immediately. 4. You are taking the test and read a few more questions that are confusing. 3. You realize that peolpe are starting to finish the test, and you know that you need more time. 2. You are taking the test, and it is time for lunch. 1. You turn the test in.