Counselors' Connection

Have you seen our drops lately?

Informational Session--STUDY SKILLS & JUST RIGHT BOOKS

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

8:15 a.m. in the Media Center

Please plan to join the counselors, our media specialist, and PTA representatives for a presentation on study skills and choosing books for your child.  Learn more about how you can help your child meet the study expectations of our teachers, and discover what Just Right Books are all about.  Contact one of the counselors for more information.

HEALTHY CHOICES WEEK --- October 31-November 4

Red Ribbon Week is a national event each year that promotes drug awareness and prevention. At Murdock, we would like to highlight drug prevention by focusing on overall healthy choices that our students can make.  We hope you will join us in celebrating and modeling healthy choices!

 

MONDAY – Pledge to Be Drug Free – YOU CAN’T TRICK ME BECAUSE I’M DRUG FREE!  Students will sign a "Pledge to be drug free" banner this week.

 

TUESDAY – Eat Healthy Day! – Fruits and Vegetables make you feel better and have been shown to improve your memory too!  Students are encouraged to EAT A PIECE OF FRUIT AT LUNCH TODAY AND A VEGGIE AT DINNER TONIGHT!

 

WEDNESDAY – Drink Water Day – Water keeps us cool, cleans the toxins out of our body, and helps keep our energy up!  Today's suggestion is to KEEP A WATER BOTTLE AT SCHOOL AND DRINK WATER WITH DINNER TONIGHT!

 

THURSDAY – Tell a Joke Day – Research has shown that laughter reduces levels of certain stress hormones and can even lower blood pressure! It’s good for the mind, body, and soul!  Students are encouraged to SHARE A JOKE WITH YOUR CLASS TODAY AND WITH YOUR FAMILY TONIGHT!

 

FRIDAY – Exercise Your Body Day – Just 30 minutes of exercise a day does the body good! It relieves stress and keeps your body healthy.  5 MINUTES OF EXTRA RECESS TODAY TO GET YOUR EXERCISE IN!  And DON’T FORGET TO JOIN IN THE TURKEY TROT AT MURDOCK ON SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5 for some great exercise!

              

 

Bucket Fillers

Murdock is becoming a bucket-filling community!  Our current classroom guidance activites in all grades involve teaching the concept of being bucket fillers.  In promoting a respectful school culture, the counselors are sharing the books Have You Filled a Bucket Today? with kindergarten and 1st grade students and How Full Is Your Bucket? --For Kids with 2nd through 5th graders. 

We are encouraging students and staff to make bucket filling a habit by giving sincere compliments to others, helping others without being asked, and generally showing respect.  We don't want to be bucket dippers by saying or doing mean things to others.  In 2nd through 5th grade we are practicing by writing "drops" that can fill others' buckets.  By the beginning of next week, all students will have been introduced to the bucket filling concepts.  Ask your child about how they can demonstrate respect and appreciation for others, and check out our wall of drops in the hallway between the cafeteria and the media center throughout the year!

 

Informational session--THE ABC'S OF STANDARDIZED TESTING

Tuesday, September 20, 2011  

8:15AM in Room 15

Please join PTA representatives, Murdock's counselors, and Nicole Hartsell, Murdock's school psychologist, for a presentation on standardized testing.  Come learn about the various standardized tests that students will take throughout elementary school and how to intrepret the score reports.  Contact one of the counselors for more information.

 

Newcomers Welcome

We enjoyed meeting all of our new students in 1st through 5th grade as well as many of their parents last week. Last Wednesday we welcomed the new 1st and 2nd graders and last Thursday we welcomed the new 3rd through 5th graders. Overall, there are almost 70 new students so far this year! The students enjoyed their donuts and learning Who's Who at Murdock! On Friday we were able to meet many of our new parents to the Murdock community. It was great to see everyone and welcome you to Murdock!

Classroom guidance started this week and we are so glad to be back in the classrooms! Over the next couple of weeks we will be reviewing with the students the various ways we are here to support them as their school counselors. Check back to learn more about other lessons that we will be conducting in the classrooms throughout the year!

Gathering for Parents new to our Murdock Community

 Parents of 1st through 5th grade students who are new to Murdock should have received an invitation to attend a gathering at school this Friday morning.  We were excited to greet parents of Kindergarten students through our Coffee, Tea & Empathy drop-in on the first day of school.

If you did not receive an invitation and would like to hear more information about our school community from the administrators, school counselors, PTA and Foundation representatives, please join us on Friday, August 26 at 8:30 a.m.  We will meet in Room 15 which is in the first grade hallway.

Welcome to a new school year!

The counselors at Murdock wish to extend a warm welcome to our new families and those returning to our school community!  We have looped up with our students to their new grade levels and will continue to do so each school year.  Mrs. Toole is now the counselor for K,2,4 and Mrs. Haskett is the counselor for 1, 3, 5. We believe that looping up with the kids allows the most continuity for the kids and for us. With the new school year upon us, we want to communicate our program's mission, and inform parents of how we can be of support.

The mission of Murdock Elementary's school counseling program is to provide a safe and supportive environment for all students regardless of individual differences.  All students will have access to support and learning in the areas of academic, career and personal/social growth.  Our ultimate goal is for students to make self-directed, realistic and responsible decisions, and to be successful contributors to society.

 

 

Rising 6th Graders

It's time to start planning for next year! Here are some dates you need to know:

DODGEN rising 6th graders

Feb. 8 - 6:30 pm - There will be a general PTSA meeting with general information presented to students and parents. Band/orchestra/chorus programs will be highlighted.

May 3 - 6:30 pm - Meeting for rising 6th grade parents and students.

 May 11 - 10:00-2:00 Registration for students new to CCSD.

 HIGHTOWER rising 6th graders

 Feb. 28 - 6:45 pm - 6th grade Preview Night for all rising 6th grade parents

 Mar. 23 - 9:00-1:45 - Selected 5th graders visit Hightower to shadow 6th grade students

 May 9 - 12:45-2:15 - Hightower visits Murdock students

 May 17 - 9:30 - 11:00 - Murdock visits Hightower for tour





Hello 2011!

Wow! Where did 2010 go? It seems like it was just yesterday that we were starting out the school year and now it is half way over! We are so glad to be at Murdock this year and we just want to say thank you to the entire Murdcok community for making us feel so welcomed. It didn't take long for us to see what a special place Murdock is!

Mrs. Toole has been busy working with the 1st, 3rd, and 5th graders in classroom guidance. The 1st graders enjoyed learning all about good study skills from Barney Bear. The 3rd graders have been working hard on both helpful academic and personal/social skills such as doing your best, understanding mistakes, problem solving, anger management, and understanding others. In 5th grade we have worked on goal setting, decision making, and understanding how our behavior effects others.

Ms. Haskett has been busy working with the K, 2nd, and 4th graders.  Kindergarten students have been learning the I-Care Rules with help from I-Care Cat.  Students learned that these friendship rules can help them get along with each other this year.  The 2nd graders focused on academic skills such as active listening, responsibility, organization, putting forth their best effort, and handling frustration in the classroom.  In 4th grade, the focus has also been on academic skills including staying "tuned in" in the classroom, goal setting, responsibility, and individual learning styles.

In addition to classroom guidance, we work with students in small groups and individually as needed. Please don't hesitate to contact us if you ever have a need!