It has been so nice to see so many familiar faces and new ones with our incoming 6th graders! I hope everyone had an amazing summer and is feeling refreshed as we start the new 2024-2025 school year. I will be sending out quarterly newsletters with information regarding our monthly themes, district events, counseling resources and so much more.

Returning students: I hope we can continue the GREAT work that you all did in wellness last year and I hope to teach you more about what a School Counselor does!

New students: I am excited to meet all of you and hope we get the chance to spend some time together one-on-one! I truly believe that you will LOVE being at the Middle School.

I look forward to our time together this year and I encourage you to reach out at any point if you or your student need any additional support.

Kindly,

Tamrah Rouleau

Please feel free to contact us if needed. We look forward to working with you and your child(ren).

Jodi Callinan, Counseling Department Lead

Tamrah Rouleau, Middle School Counselor

Kaitlyn Schena, NJSHS Social Worker

Amanda Nieves, School Psychologist

Manya Cetlin, Counseling Admin / Registrar

As with the beginning of any year, changes can infiltrate our routines, and this year is no different. To help ensure your child finds success this year, here are some things to consider:

Communicate with your child’s teachers- ask your child questions, clarify classwork and homework expectations, attend the open house, inform teachers of anything happening at home that may affect your child at school. Teachers are better able to meet you and your child’s needs when they are able to openly and honestly communicate with you.

Communicate with your child- remember to ask your child about his/her school day, their homework, their friends, and anything else they wish to share with you. They may have important insight and information to share with you. Let their voice be heard!

Parents, get involved- at Newmarket Middle School, there are a variety of ways that both parents and students can get involved. Parents can attend PTO meetings and volunteer at various events throughout the year. Our parent network is what makes us strong!

Students, get involved- In addition, we urge our students to also get involved in extracurricular activities such as sports teams, clubs, ambassadors, etc. Your child will have an even greater experience in middle school by discovering his/her likes and passions through these activities!

We will be providing lessons and resources surrounding monthly themes. These themes are focused on positive character traits that all tie into students Being Kind, Being Strong, and Being Well.

Be Kind

Social skills like listening, friendship, solving conflicts, and leadership.

These skills are taught alongside Empathy, Respect, & Cooperation

Be Strong

Skills that help students focus, stay organized, and set goals.

These skills are taught alongside Responsibility, Courage, & Perseverance

Be Well

Skills that help students handle their emotions and deal with stress.

The monthly themes for 2024-2025 are:

September: Respect
October: Responsibility
November: Gratitude
December: Empathy
January: Perseverance
February: Honesty & Kindness
March: Cooperation & Integrity
April: Courage

May: Creativity

School Counselors help all students in the areas of academic achievement, personal/social development and career development, ensuring today's students become the productive, well-adjusted adults of tomorrow. This can be done in an individual or group counseling setting as well as classroom lessons.

Simply put, school counselors helps ALL STUDENTS acquire the KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDES, and SKILLS needed to be successful in academic, career and social/emotional development.

At NJSHS, that happens at 3 different levels.

Tier 1- ALL STUDENTS receive wellness lessons during the specials rotation. These lessons teach students about many different social-emotional skills, such as identifying and expressing emotions appropriately, coping skills, communication skills, and problem solving skills.

Tier 2- SOME students receive small group counseling and/or instruction. Small group counseling and instruction is for students who need extra help learning specific skills. Small group counseling is typically short-term.

Tier 3- FEW students receive short-term individual counseling. Individual counseling is meant for students who have higher individual needs or need help with a problem that is not appropriate for a group setting.

**If a student needs more support beyond what I can offer, there are other options available. Please contact me to inquire about these supports**

What are some areas of focus?

Academic Development:

· Classroom support

· Goal setting

· Transition

· Study skills and organization

· Individual plans for academic success

Career Development:

· Education on job clusters

· Interests/skills survey

· Career exploration

· Connecting interest, activities, and performance to career opportunities

Personal and Social Development:

· Developing a positive mindset

· Interpersonal skills

· Problem solving/resolving conflict

· Strengths and resiliency

· Healthy decision making

· Respect for others and self

Please reach out to me directly if I can offer any support or guidance.

Tamrah

"When things outside of school are making it hard for you to succeed in school."

Mental Health

If you are concerned about your child's mental health impacting their day to day functioning, I will meet with you and your child to hear what is going on, and if needed make recommendations for strategies, make referrals, and/or provide brief in school counseling to make sure they are ready to learn.

Problem Solving

Is your child having trouble with their peers? Are they doing well academically, but still struggling in school? I will work with the student to find what is causing their problems, and come up with strategies to make their school experience better.

Resource Finding

If your family is struggling financially, I have a wide range of resources to connect you with. I have helped families access clothes, school supplies, fuel assistance, SNAP, and even worked with local agencies to fix families' ovens, get them furniture, and help pay their electric bills. You don't need to struggle on your own, if you reach out I may be able to help.

End 68 Hours of Hunger provides low income families with bags of extra food to take home, providing extra meals for Friday evening through Sunday evening. Qualifying families receive free/reduced lunch, SNAP benefits, or Medicaid. If interested, please reach out to Kaitlyn Schena or fill out this form and return it to the school.

The following information will be shared with Newmarket Community Church and the Children's Chamber Fund in order for your family to receive the voucher.

Qualifying families either:

• Receive free/reduced lunch
• Receive SNAP benefits
• Qualify for Medicaid

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf9J6iw3rvaKRqC9K1Dc3wp-DucwDNf7jk5QuKjGzxMkvWw1w/viewform

SOS prevention education will be provided to all middle school students during Health class throughout the year.

Suicide Prevention for Students:

SOS Signs of Suicide is an affordable, evidence-based suicide prevention program that has demonstrated a 64% reduction in self-reported suicide attempts.

October 23-31: Use Red Ribbon Week as an opportunity to continue talking to your kids about drugs. Let them know that alcohol and drug use will not be tolerated. For more information and resources check out the site here: https://www.redribbon.org/about

Each year, millions of Americans face the reality of living with a mental health condition. However, mental illness affects everyone directly or indirectly through family, friends or coworkers. We believe that mental health conditions are important to discuss year-round, but highlighting them during the month of October provides a dedicated time for mental health advocates across the country to come together as one unified voice.

Resources for families include but are not limited to:

National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI)

National Institute for Mental Health (NIMH)

NH Rapid Response Access Point

NH National Alliance on Mental Health (NHNAMI)

Counseling Office Direct Number: 603-292-7943