At this time of year I know some of you are already preparing for next year, so I thought I’d add a little way to get to know your students and their stories better. If you’d like to do this yourself and share with me, that would be great too. Have a fabulous summer. You deserve it!
“There are scores of people waiting for someone just like you to come along, people who will appreciate your compassion, your encouragement, who will need your unique talents. Someone who will live a happier life merely because you took the time to share what you had to give.” Leo Buscaglia
This week I am fortunate to attend the Inspiring Leadership Form at The University of Regina. I look forward to listening to women who have had many challenges in life and turned them into opportunities to learn and grow and inspire young women to take leadership roles at an early age. As Dr. Vianne Timmons says to make sure we surround ourselves with others who lift us up.
Presently, I am running a leadership group for a group of grade five students. I recognize that in order for them to take on leadership roles, I must model positive leadership and expose students to as many leadership opportunities as I can at an early age.
Being a leader isn’t always easy. It involves being brave, having courage, love , hope, passion, risk, self awareness, strength and trust among many other qualities. Sometimes it means having a thick skin, not allowing negativity to stop us from reaching higher. Having a growth mindset helps young leaders learn that failure is not a bad word. It is how we learn and grow and gain the strengths to be positive leaders in many ways throughout life. We each have a role to play in being leaders.
As School Counsellors we are in a unique position to not only model leadership , but to provide opportunities for students to thrive as leaders of today and tomorrow who are advocates and not afraid to become the kind of people they are meant to be … not perfect, but full of potential helping to make this a better world.
Collaboration and connecting with other leaders will help us to find our voice and be the kind of leaders our young people need.
Inspiring leadership begins with me and I hope with you too.
All too often people do not truly know what School Counsellors do. I recognize you go about your days silently helping a child, so thank you. I think about the many colleagues I have know who worked tirelessly to promote the profession , but more importantly who did small things daily that may have gone unnoticed. They each found ways to do what was in the best interest of a child hoping that life could and would be more positive for them in the long run.
I have been fortunate to surround myself with professionals who notice and know that School Counsellors matter.
There are too many School Counsellors to thank, but know that I am truly grateful for all your support, resources and ongoing help whenever I need it. I know that you are just a click away thanks to #scchat.
Below you can find some daily announcements that you may wish to use during School Counselling week or make up your own using these as a guide.
FOR YOUR DAILY ANNOUNCEMENTS
Monday: This is Canadian School Counsellor Week / National School Counselling Week. Today we challenge each student and staff member to express your gratitude to someone at school by telling them thank you for… You could even write a post card to them. The cards will be available all week in the Counselling area. Being grateful improves your overall happiness. Do it today! You make a difference.
Tuesday: It is Canadian School Counsellor Week / National School Counselling Week. Today we challenge students and staff to do one small good deed and when you do please post it to twitter, instagram or facebook using your school hashtag. Have a fabulous day. You make a difference.
Wednesday: This week is Canadian School Counselling Week / National School Counselling Week. We challenge you today to take 10 mins. out of your day to exercise or practice mindfulness. Have a great day! You can make a difference.
Thursday: It is Canadian School Counsellor Week / National School Counselling Week. Today we challenge students and staff to let one of your family members know how important they are. Pick up a card in Student Services and tell people what a difference they make in your life and give it to them. Remember you can make a difference today.
Friday: It is the last day of School Counselling Week / National School Counselling Week. Your School Counsellors want you to know we are here for you anytime. Come see us. Today we challenge you to show an act of kindness and try not to get caught (that’s the best kind of kind) . Recognize that you can make a difference.
This week is a time to be grateful and reflect. I am so grateful I have a principal who fully supports a Comprehensive School Counselling Program and if you do too , make sure you take time to thank them.
To you my dear School Counselling friends and colleagues without you I never would be able to do what I do. Together we are undoubtedly better. So join us whenever you can in #scchat . Post often to the hashtag and tell us what you are doing. Sharing , connecting and chatting with colleagues from across the world is the best PD ever.
I want to shout it from the mountain tops that School Counsellors are working everyday to help students in numerous ways in schools across the world even though you may not understand what it is that they truly do.
Often when I am looking for a twitter chat I notice #scchat is left out , so if you have never heard about it look no further.
SCCHAT is held the first Wed. of every month from Sept.-June 6:30MT 8:30ET #scchat is an International School Counsellor chat for those across the world, but even if you are not a School Counsellor we welcome you in . School Counselors ,administrators and teachers collaborate all the time. We need each other . We are better with each other . So come along with us. Drop by any month for a little chat. We’d love to connect with you.
You can learn more about our founder, chats and co-moderators here.
#1 SCHOOL COUNSELLORS ,COUNSELLOR EDUCATORS #scchat
#2 EDUCATORS #EdChat
#3 PARENTS #Parents
#4 PRINCIPALS #Principals
#5 EDUCATORS #MasteryChat
#6 STUDENT VOICE #StudentVoice
#7 DIGITAL CITIZENSHIP#DigitalCitizenship
#8 GLOBAL ED #GlobalEdChat
#9 EDTECH #EdTech
#10 EDUCATORS #AchievementGap
For those of you interested in specific subject areas here are other Education hashtags you may wish to follow:
ART #ArtsEd
ENGLISH #engchat
HISTORY #historyteacher
LANGUAGE foreign language #Langchat
MATH #Mathchat
MUSIC #MusEdchat
PHYS. ED #PhysEd
SOCIAL STUDIES #SSchat
SCIENCE #Scichat
STEM #STEMchat
COMPUTER SCIENCE #CompSci
For those interested in Grade Level hashtags
EARLY CHILDHOOD #EarlyEd
ELEMENTARY #ElemSchool
HIGHER EDUCATION #HigherEd
HIGH SCHOOL #HighSchool
PRE SCHOOL #PreSchool
For a list of dates and times of weekly Education chats you can click here.
“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; because there is not effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly. So that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.” – Theodore Roosevelt
Angela is a School Counselor from Monmouth County , New Jersey She was the 2017 @NJSCA School Counsellor of the year as well as the c0-founder of @reigningit. She has attended several Universities including the University of Pennsylvania, M.S.Ed., Psychological Services; School Counseling Cert. Rider University, MA, Organizational Leadership. The College of New Jersey (TCNJ), M.Ed., Instruction and William Paterson University, BA English, Education. Honors in Humanities, Supervisor and Director of Guidance Cert. Did you know that she loves creating platforms to elevate the stories and voices of others? If you check out @reigningit you’ll find out why
She wants School Counselors to know that the ASCA Ethical Standards speak to our mission: “School Counselors are advocates, leaders, collaborators and consultants who create systemic change by providing equitable educational access … School Counselors demonstrate their belief that all students have the ability to learn by advocating for an education system that provides optimal learning environments for all students…School counselors as social-justice advocates support students from all backgrounds and circumstances.”
You can find her in #scchat as well as on twitter @angclevland. You can also check out all the amazing things she does on her wonderful blog
“You cannot change others ,but you can change yourself.”
Joanne is a High School Counsellor in Calgary, Alberta and got her Education degree from the University of Saskatchewan and her Masters degree in Counselling from the University of West Alabama. Did you know that she loves hiking, connecting and laughing with her team as well as travelling and learning new things?
She wants all her students to know that the most popular students to successful adults – all have had struggles throughout their lives, and not everyone or everything is at it seems. You might tend to think that the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence, well it is not. As well, she wants students to know that accessing support or help is considered a strength, not a weakness. We all learn from each other. There is always a solution or steps to move towards that solution each day.
Her message to other School Counsellors listen, support, access help for others and yourself, and take breaks. Counselling is so difficult yet so rewarding. draining and energizing. Empower your students, and your peers — it’s amazing what happens when students/colleagues feel supported and valued. Lastly — love yourself, and look for the positives in people and life — it makes your journey so much more fun. You can find Joanne in #scchat and on twitter @briseboisjoanne.
Each day I listen to the stories of a child
I listen with my whole heart
Some days are so complex, yet I am determined to find an opportunity to leave an indelible impression on youth
Only other School Counsellors truly understand what it is that I do
I am fulfilled knowing that one small word or action can make a difference in the life of a child
I am here to HELP
Passion and purpose is why I keep doing what I do
I am a School Counsellor and I could not feel more gratitude that I get to touch the life of a child each day of the school year
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