🙏🍂🦃🎃The year is going by so quickly! How are we already in November? By now we've completed two six weeks, UIL practices are well underway, basketball season is fast approaching, and we had a successful Red Ribbon Week. I am so proud of our NMS students for participating in our kindness challenge last month, there were a total of about 35 students who got recognized for their kindness towards others. That's so great!! I hope this continues. Now that November is upon us, our focus for this month is Gratitude. So, I ask you, what are you grateful for? I am grateful for my family, our health, and the opportunity to be your counselor. I have enjoyed talking to each and every one of you all thus far!

I will begin Individual Planning (academic/goal centered) appointments with each student here on Campus. I will begin with the 8th graders and work my way down to the 6th graders. We'll work on SMART goals for the year, focus on grades and attendance, and addressing any school-related needs, as well as what supports students need to be more successful.

Happy November! 🙏🍂🦃🎃

The vison for the Frank Newman Middle School Counseling Department is to GUIDE students to their highest potential by CREATING self-disciplined, motivated and responsible learners who will be our FUTURE LEADERS that will respond to worldly issues and advocate for equity for humankind. The comprehensive school counseling program will focus on academic, career, and social emotional needs to support students' college, career and military readiness.

The mission of the Frank Newman Middle School Counseling Services program, in partnership with other educators, parents/guardians and community stakeholders is to provide a comprehensive, developmental counseling program that PROVIDES EQUITY AND ACCESS FOR ALL STUDENTS that addresses academic, social-emotional, and career development. The program ensures all students are self-directed, life-long learners who are college, career and military future ready.

• Native American Heritage Month
• National Gratitude Month
• National Career Development Month

• Students will focus on gratitude and career exploration this month.
• Guidance Visits: Understand the meaning of gratitude and how to cultivate it in their everyday lives. Focus-service learning.
• Individual Planning: Grade 6-8-Creating Fall Semester SMART Goals
• Individual Counseling Appointments- an appointment form will be displayed below. Utilize this to set up appointments to see the counselor. Appointment form can also be found on the NMS website under "Counselor" section.
• Promoting Kindness and Gratitude through various activities on campus
• Assist student with stress relief and focus strategies for TTAP and interim Assessments
• Thanksgiving Holiday

• November 14th @ Lytle
• November 21st @ Home

• November 14th @ Home
• November 21st @ Jourdanton

The Beginning of the third six weeks is November 4th, 2024.

November 11th-15th, 2024

November 18th-22nd, 2024

Thanksgiving Break will be from November 25th-29th.

Mrs. Bustamante-Miranda is available for appointments during the school day. There are some weeks that Mrs. Bustamante-Miranda visits classrooms, but she will make time to visit with individual students by appointment on those days, as well.

School Counselors work with students individually for an array of different issues/concerns. These issues can include, but are not limited to, academic, social, emotional, personal, and emergent concerns. Students are reminded that individual counseling is confidential in nature unless they report someone hurting them, they hurt someone else, they want to hurt themselves, or they give permission for the counselor to speak with his/her parent/guardian or another trusted staff member on his/her behalf.

Teachers can refer students for counseling services; just as students can self-refer.

In the event of an emergency, the proper protocols will be followed with regards to student safety and confidentiality.

Mrs. Bustamante-Miranda provides group counseling services to students. Group counseling services are based on individual student, school and community needs, which are assessed through student data, a referral process or other relevant data. Mrs. Bustamante-Miranda sends out a student needs Assessment to determine what topics students would like to discuss in group settings and then invites students to participate in those groups.

Sessions will:

• help students overcome issues impeding achievement or success
• help students identify problems, causes, alternatives and possible consequences so they can make decisions and take appropriate action
• are planned, goal-focused, evidenced-based and short-termed in nature

School counselors do not provide therapy or long-term counseling in schools to address psychological disorders. however, school counselors are prepared to recognize and respond to student mental health crises and needs. When students require long-term counseling or therapy, school counselors make referrals to appropriate community resources (ASCA, 2019) and maintain collaborative relationships with providers to align service coordination.

Do you have any suggestions for the newsletter? What other types of resources do you need for school? Are there any websites that you'd like to share with others? Send me an email with your suggestions...and I'll add them to the next newsletter.

Email: Kharri.bustamante@cotullaisd.net
Website: Frank Newman Middle School (cotullaisd.net)
Location: 608 Carrizo St.
Phone: (830) 879-4376 EXT: 3020