Counseling Newsletter - LFK8

Edition 1 - Back to School Edition

The counseling team is excited to have our students back on campus. We hope you had an enjoyable summer break. A new school year provides everyone with new beginnings.

Our Student of the Month awards focus on three qualities - Academic Excellence, Outstanding Effort, and a Leadership focus in the area of our HERO traits. Teachers and staff will be looking for students who portray excellence in one of these areas. Students of the Month will be recognised during BEAR time. The Leadership expectations, theme and focus for this month are highlighted in this edition's newsletter.

Character Trait of the Month

The HERO character trait and expectation for August/September is Honest.

Definition of Honest: If you describe someone as honest, you mean that they always tell the truth, and do not try to deceive people or break the law.

Challenge of the Month - Make a daily commitment to being honest and to demonstrate honesty.

Show honesty in your daily actions, even when it's difficult. You can also speak up against unfairness.

The Empty Pot - A Folktale about Honesty

Click on the photo to watch the video

Why Honesty is Often Difficult

Click on picture to read about why honesty is often difficult

September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month

Are you or someone you know in crisis?

Be the one to help save a life! Read about the 5 Action Steps you can take to help.

1. Ask

2. Be there

3. Keep Them Safe

4. Help Them Stay Connected

5. Follow Up

Suicide & Crisis Hotline

For more information, click on the picture.

Be The One to Help

Save a Life

For more information, click on the picture.

Suicide Prevention Resources

Click the title above to take you to resources

Parent Information Evening

Each year, we present the Signs of Suicide lesson to our 7th grade students. We provide a Parent Information Session prior to the provided lesson. Due to low in person attendance, this Information Session is recorded and provided to all parents to watch at a time convenient to you and in the privacy of your own space. If you have any questions about the student lesson or the parent information session, please reach out to Mrs. Miller or Mrs. Tilley.

Counselor Classroom Guidance Lessons

The school counselors will be providing classroom guidance lessons throughout the year in addition to facilitating our second year of Too Good for Drugs program through our district partnership with Partners 4 Wellness.

Quarter 1 lessons will include:

6th grade: Study Skills and Organization.

7th grade: Signs of Suicide. This topic is a required curriculum by the State of California. The program used is an evidence-based suicide prevention program that has demonstrated a 64% reduction in self-reported suicide attempts.

8th grade: Preparing for High School

Too Good for Drugs Lessons will be spread out during the 2nd and 3rd quarters of the school year

Signs of Suicide

Parent Information and Resources by Mindwise Innovations

Too Good for Drugs

For more information on this program, you may read about the program here.

SMALL GROUPS AND GUIDANCE WORKSHOPS

In addition to the many classroom guidance lessons provided by our school counselors, a variety of small groups will be offered throughout the year. Students will be screened and identified for specific groups using data collected throughout the school year and through Needs Assessments completed by students, parents, and school staff. Groups may include Stress Management, Student Success Skills, Girls Groups, Self Regulation, High School 101, and other groups as needs are identified.

The Guidance Team is seeking to offer Career Exploration workshops throughout the school year. Career Cafe workshops will assist students with identifying their interests and helping them discover careers they may find an interest in. This is the first step in identifying a plan for their future. Discovering possible careers will help them determine the next step in their education whether it be specialty college/trade schools, intern/apprenticeships, 2 year or 4 year colleges or military service. Some Career Cafes may have invited speakers from a variety of Job Families which will supplement our Career Day to be held later in the spring.

Seeking Career Speakers - for LFK8 College and Career Week

Career Day Speaker Interest Form

We would appreciate gathering an early interest from all those interested in participating in either a Career Cafe or our annual Career Day presentation by completing the Interest Form linked above. (Click on the Title)

Guidance Page Resources

Did you know we have a Guidance webpage that offers multiple tips and resource information?

Our Guidance page includes Resource Information and/or links on the

Academic Domain such as study skills, test taking, tutoring resources, and useful links for help with English writing and Math skills; Personal-Social Domain including stress management, conflict mediation, grief, as well as our Counselors Corner; and the College and Career Domain with information about high school graduation requirements, college admissions, and career choices.

College and Career Guidance Initiative

A free, all-access pass to a bright future where students may explore careers and colleges based on their personal interests. Students may complete interest surveys to help guide you to post-secondary pathways that meet those interests.

Four Year Planning - 8th Grade Students

Counselors will help 8th graders develop a Four Year Plan through enrichment workshops offered during BEAR time throughout the year or via individual requests from students.

Antonio's Lair

The counseling wellness center funded by several grants in 2024.

Confidentiality

Confidentiality is imperative to a counseling relationship.

College Pennant Pinwheel

A small display of College Pennants to show the variety of colleges available to students.

Counseling Referral Form - click here

If you would like to speak with a counselor or have the counselor speak with your child, you may use this form to request to meet with a counselor or refer your child to the counselor.

Mrs. Deborah Miller - School Counselor A-P

MEd, PPS - School Counseling

Email: dejmiller@capousd.org
Phone: 949-589-6543

Mrs. Alex Tilley - Middle School Counselor Q-Z, Elementary Counselor

MEd - School Counseling

Mrs. Tilley is available in person on Thursdays, Fridays and every other Wednesday on the Middle School side and Monday, Tuesday, every other Wednesday for our elementary students. She may also be reached via email.

Email: aktilley@capousd.org
Phone: 949-589-6543

Mrs. Lauren Ades - School Psychologist

MS, PPS - School Psychology

Email: lkades@capousd.org
Phone: 949-589-6543 133

Mrs. Denice Summers - Guidance Technician

Email: djsummers@capousd.org
Phone: 949-589-6543

Mrs. Jessie Crachy - Registrar, Guidance Secretary

Email: jachrachy@capousd.org
Phone: 949-589-6543

Non-Discrimination Statement

The Board of Trustees desires to provide a safe school environment that allows all students equal access and opportunities in the district’s academic and other educational support programs, services, and activities. The Board prohibits, at any District school or school activity, unlawful discrimination, including discriminatory harassment, intimidation, and bullying of any student based on the student’s actual or perceived race, color, ancestry, national origin, nationality, ethnicity, ethnic group identification, age, religion, marital or parental status, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or gender expression or association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics.