WELCOME TO THE

KOUNSELORS KORNER

I trust that you had an enjoyable summer.  It wasn't very long...but it was HOT!!!!!!!  Nevertheless, vacation is over and we are more than ready for your smiling faces.

I am the new Sixth Grade Counselor at West Rowan Middle.  I, too, feel like the 6th graders.  I previously had been at Isenberg Elementary School.  So this is an adjustment for me as well.

But you know what...everything is going to go very well.  I am excited to be in this new role and most of all to be a part of the exciting team here at WRMS.

I want to share a couple of wonderful websites for you and your parents to peruse at your pleasure.  These websites have free resources, research-based data and printables for your use:

 www.familyeducation.com -Healthy Moms, Healthy Families is awesome.  This site provides health tips, healthy cooking ideas, nutritional food choices and printables that have coloring activities, puzzles, skill builders, etc.  Go to the Message Board for discussuons.  And there is a "Moms Coffee Break Site. Sign up for the free newsletter.

www.charactercounts.org - Learn about the values know as the Six Pillars of Character.  Receive weekly commentaries from Michael Josephson.  A wealth of information.

www.surfnetkids.com - I can't begin to describe this site.  Not only does this site give tips and ideas...it also provides valuable lessons.

Information awaits you on these sites.  They are invaluable and I believe that they will be so helpful.

A recent news article entitles "A Parent's Backpack: Supplies for a Successful Year.  This article states that at the beginning of each school year, you are inundated with all kinds of information from various orientations and open houses.  What is missing in all of this and could serve as a helpful checklist is an inventory of items detailing those supplies necessary to equip parents to serve as effective partners in their children's learning adventure.

Cathie Broocks, the author of this article, states that this list cannot be filled at the local stores, but necessitates a trip inland, to the heart of a parent's committment to his child's learning process and an equal committment to those professionals assisting in the journey." There are five items that should meet the needs of most families and a variety of grade levels...

1. Select a two-part family routine.  This would include a standard nightly bedtime and a special place to complete homework.

2. Establish age-appropriate home chores which parallel classroom expectations.

3.  A parent should guide and not save a child from mistakes.  Every child should be given the freedom to fail.

4.  A large "benefit of the doubt" should extended to teachers, school administrators and school friends in an assortment of uncomfortable situations or tales retold by your child.

5. Maintain a sense of humor.  This item is light and will fit easily in any bookpack.

Go to www.independenttribune.com and find this article by Cathie Broocks.

I am looking forward to a very successful year and solicit your support as we. TOGETHER, do all thar we can to insure that WE provide ther necessary opportunities for our students.

Free free to contact me anytime.

"Coming together is a start...

                        Keeping together is progress...

                                            Working together is success!"