Counselor's Corner

November a month of gratitude, giving, and global kindness.

📣 Families! Here's What's Happening This Month:

With World Kindness Day on November 13th, there’s no better time to bring kindness to the forefront in our schools and communities. Small gestures, heartfelt thanks, and simple acts of kindness can create waves of positivity that extend beyond a single day.

Join us in making kindness the norm—one step, one act, one heart at a time. Together, let’s inspire students, families, and communities to embrace compassion and empathy this season and beyond.

"Lovely November, Have you seen my heart...in your castle of yellow leaves?" 🍂

Character Traits being talked about at McDougle this month:

Kindness, a quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate, and it can also mean being selfless, caring and compassionate. It's about doing intentional acts of kindness to make others feel happy and supported without expecting anything in return.

Here are some ways to teach kindness to children:

Model kindness: Children learn social skills by watching and emulating the actions of those around them.
Acknowledge kind and unkind acts: Encourage and celebrate acts of kindness in their daily lives.
Talk about kindness: Discuss kindness with your children and explain how it can make others feel.
Engage in small acts of kindness: Try activities like making thank you cards, making a paper chain, or playing a game about taking turns.
Normalize talking about emotions: Give your children the verbal tools to express how they are feeling.
Some examples of kind acts include:
Smiling

Saying hello

Holding the door for someone

Listening

Volunteering

Giving compliments

Donating to charity

Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of others. It's an important skill that can help children develop into kind and connected members of society.

Here are some signs that a child is developing empathy:

Showing concern: They may try to comfort a friend or sibling who is upset.
Considering other perspectives: They may be able to understand why someone is sad or angry.
Apologizing: They may apologize when they make a mistake or hurt someone's feelings.
Asking questions: They may ask questions like "Why is he crying?" or "What's wrong with her?".

Here are some ways to help children develop empathy

Have conversations: Talk with your child about their feelings or the feelings of others they've noticed.
Discuss current events: Read newspapers or news magazines together, or watch the news. Ask questions like "How would you feel in a similar situation?" or "Is there anything we can do to help?".
Show patience, love, and understanding: Be empathetic without lowering your expectations.

Compassion is a feeling of caring for others, treating them with kindness, and wanting to help those in need. It's empathy in action.

Here are some examples of compassion in children:

Giving a hug
Making a card
Saying something kind to a friend or family member who is feeling sad
Reaching out to a peer who has been left out
Wanting to help others, even if they do not know them

Here are some ways to teach compassion to children:

Encourage your child to think about resolving problems instead of arguing about who is to blame.
Encourage open communication and active listening.
Compassion is a virtue that can enrich a child's personal growth and help create a more understanding and philanthropic world.

McDougle is a PBIS school

What is a PBIS school? A Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) school is a school that uses a framework to support students' academic, social, emotional, behavioral, and mental health needs. PBIS is an evidence-based practice (EBP) that's designed to create a safe and effective learning environment for all students.

PBIS schools use a multi-tiered approach to prevention, which means they develop targeted and individualized interventions and supports for students. The goal is to reduce unnecessary discipline and promote a climate of greater productivity, safety, and learning.

Some key components of PBIS include:

Common philosophy and purpose
Clarifying expected behavior
Teaching expected behaviors
Encouraging expected behavior
Discouraging unwanted behavior
Ongoing monitoring
Effective classroom practices

Learning All About Native American Heritage Month

Native American Tribal Facts

Cheri Madsen (Omaha-Ponca)

Cheri Madsen is a Paralympic wheelchair racing athlete and is the first Native American female to win an Olympic exhibition bronze medal. Alex Davidson - Getty Images

Deb Haaland (Laguna Pueblo)

Deb Haaland made history when she became the first Native American to serve as cabinet secretary in the United States Congress. But this wasn’t the first ceiling she broke through. After running for Lieutenant Governor of New Mexico in 2014, Secretary Haaland became the first Native American woman to be elected to lead a state party. In Congress, she focused on environmental justice, climate change, missing and murdered Indigenous women and family-friendly policies. Kevin Dietsch - Getty Images

Gil Birmingham (Comache)

If Gil Birmingham looks familiar, that’s because he’s been a staple of film and television for decades. He’s best known for his portrayal of Billy Black in the Twilight Saga film series and currently as Tribal Chairman Thomas Rainwater in the Paramount Network's television series Yellowstone. Axelle/Bauer-Griffin - Getty Images

Sharice Davids (Ho-Chunk)

When Sharice Davids was sworn into the 116th House of Representatives, she made headlines by becoming one of the first Native American women elected to Congress, alongside fellow Native American Deb Haaland. She was also the first openly LBGTQ+ Native American woman elected to Congress. She is currently the representative for Kansas’ second district, where public education and affordable higher education are two of her biggest interests.

Chip Somodevilla - Getty Images

Temryss Lane (Golden Eagle Clan, Lummi Nation)

Temryss Lane is most famous for her soccer skills on the field, playing both professionally and internationally. In addition to being a well-known sports journalist and analyst, she frequently speaks on culturally specific solutions that address challenges to wellness within Indigenous communities. Jeff Golden - Getty Images

John Herrington (Chickasaw)

In 2002, John Herrington became the first member of a Native American tribe to fly in space. His mission took him to the International Space Station where he honored his heritage by carrying six eagle feathers, a braid of sweet grass, two arrowheads and the Chickasaw nation’s flag on a planned spacewalk. He is also a retired United States Naval Aviator and engineer. Getty Images - Getty Images

Louie Gong (Nooksack)

Louie Gong is an artist, educator and public speaker who was raised by his grandparents in the Nooksack tribal community. Although he is best known for his highly sought-after, hand-drawn custom shoes, Louie has received international recognition for his art. His latest project, The Sasquatch Collection, in conjunction with Brooks Running and the Snoqualmie Tribe Ancestral Lands Movement, pays homage to Indigenous lands.

courtesy of Instagram

Quannah Chasinghorse (Diné/Lakota)

Quannah Chasinghorse is an Indigenous model and activist with a shared heritage of Lakota and Navajo ancestry. She is known for using her platform to support Indigenous sovereignty and sustainability. She made headlines at the 2022 Met Gala by combining contemporary looks with intricate Native jewelry and headpieces. Arturo Holmes/MG22 - Getty Images

Zahn McClarnon (Lakota)

Zahn McClarnon is a veteran film and television actor with roles in Longmire, Westworld, Fargo and more. He also became part of the Marvel cinematic universe when he played a recurring role in the Hawkeye series for Disney+. Amanda Edwards - Getty Images

To Contact Mrs. Millsap

Email: smillsap1@kleinisd.net
Location: 10410 Kansack Lane
Phone: 832.484.7563