~Jr. High School~ SEL & Wellness

Happy New Year, junior high school families! As we step into 2025, January is a time for fresh starts, new goals, and building stronger connections with ourselves and others. This month's theme is "Self-Awareness and Goal-Setting," an important part of social-emotional learning (SEL) that helps students recognize their emotions, set meaningful goals, and grow as learners and individuals.

Why it matters: Self-awareness helps children understand their feelings, strengths, and areas to grow. Setting goals builds confidence and resilience as they learn to overcome challenges.

Skills to practice:

• Identifying emotions and understanding their impact

• Reflecting on strengths and areas for improvement

• Setting achievable and specific goals

• Celebrating small successes along the way

Here are some activities to practice SEL skills at home:

1. Feelings Check-In: Ask your child, “How are you feeling today?” and encourage them to describe why. Naming emotions builds emotional vocabulary and awareness.

2. Goal-Setting Together: Set a family goal for January (e.g., "Have dinner together three nights a week" or "Take a family walk every Sunday"). Let everyone share progress and celebrate.

3. Celebrate Growth: Acknowledge small efforts, whether it’s finishing a book, solving a tricky math problem, or trying something new.
   
   

Conversation Starters:

• What’s one thing you’re proud of this week?

• What’s a small goal you want to work on this month?

Try this 2-minute breathing exercise with your child: "Balloon Breathing"

1. Sit comfortably and imagine holding a balloon in front of you.

2. Breathe in deeply through your nose, filling your belly with air like you’re inflating the balloon.

3. Slowly breathe out through your mouth, pretending to let the air out of the balloon. Repeat 3-5 times.

This exercise helps children calm their bodies and minds, preparing them for learning and other challenges.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is observed on January 20, 2025 this year. MLK Day is a federal holiday and is held on the third Monday of January. It celebrates the life and achievements of Martin Luther King, Jr., an influential American civil rights leader. He is most well-known for his campaigns to end racial segregation on public transport and for racial equality in the United States.

TCHATT provides telemedicine or telehealth programs to school districts to help identify and assess the behavioral health needs of children and adolescents and provide access to mental health services. Cuero ISD is proud to be part of this program that helps students get access to mental health treatment and resources. This program is free for students and is available throughout the year, even in the summer. If you would like more information about TCHATT, you can visit their website https://tcmhcc.utsystem.edu/tchatt/ or contact Lacy Timpone at ltimpone@cueroisd.org.

Ruby Rodriguez, M.Ed. ~ Director of Special Programs

Lacy Timpone, M.Ed., LPC ~ School Climate Specialist

Courtney Kalinowski, M.S., LPC ~ School Climate Specialist

Kathy Scott, LMSW~ School Climate Specialist

Website: https://www.cueroisd.org/
Location: 960 E Broadway St, Cuero, TX, USA
Phone: 361-275-1900
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cueroisd