K-5th Grade School Counseling News
January 2025
Welcome to the K-5 Counseling Corner
Dear Students,
Happy New Year! We hope you had a wonderful winter break and are excited to start 2025 with fresh energy and enthusiasm. January is a great time to set goals and work on building healthy habits that help you succeed in school and beyond.
This month, we’re focusing on a very important character word: Resilience. Resilience means staying strong and bouncing back when things get tough. Whether it’s solving a tricky math problem, learning something new, or handling a mistake, resilience helps us grow and keep trying.
Here are some ways to show resilience:
• Take a deep breath and try again if something doesn’t go as planned.
• Ask for help when you need it—your teachers and friends are here to support you.
• Celebrate your progress, even the small steps forward!
We are so proud of how hard you work every day. Remember, challenges help us grow stronger and smarter. If you ever want to talk about something that’s on your mind, we’re always here to help!
Let’s build a resilient and amazing start to 2025 together!
Warmly,
PGB-EGB School Counselors
Mrs. Edgecombe (K-5 Counseling Lead)
Mrs. Lowe (3rd Grade Counselor)
Mrs. Newman (4th Grade Counselor)
Mrs. Hawkins (5th Grade Counselor)
Primary and Elementary School Worker
Ms. Cassandra Doss
Email: cdoss@georgiacyber.org
Phone ext. 12846
I am super excited about the 24-25 school year and working to support you! My virtual office is always open. Please don't hesitate to reach out.
National Mentoring Month
Each January, we come together as a community to ignite these passions and help turn these wildest dreams into reality with National Mentoring Month. By harnessing our collective voice, MENTOR advocates for supportive relationships for young people, mentoring as a legislative priority, and raises awareness around how mentorship can change a young person’s life.
National Thank You Month
National Thank You Month is celebrated in January, and is a time to express gratitude to those who have made a difference in our lives. Here are some ways to celebrate
Dr. Martin Luther Luther King, Jr. Day of Service
Observed each year on the third Monday in January, Martin Luther King, Jr., Day is a federal holiday designated as a National Day of Service to encourage all Americans to volunteer to honor the life and legacy of Dr. King and improve their communities
Counseling Lessons
We are going to have a great time this year as we explore careers, build character, and learn skills to help you become the best students you can be and ACE the school year!
** Please understand if your student does not get called on or recognized individually in class, emails are always welcome if your child wants to share something with their school counselor**
Character Word of the Month: RESILIENCE
SAY IT: Resilience: Getting back up when something gets you down
KNOW IT: Tell your trusting adult about a time in your life when it was hard to get back up when something got you down.
Do you know someone who has shown great resilience by continuing to get back up?
Name a subject at school or a skill in sports you find challenging.
How could you show resilience when that subject or skill gets you down?
SEE IT: Take a few minutes and listen to this song…maybe you can even sing along and let this be a resilience challenge for you to continue to “get back up when something gets you down.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAhtLeP4rUk
BE IT: Set some goals for you and your family or friends that might be a little challenging. Pick a sports skill or exercise goal that seems out of your reach. Don’t get discouraged if you don’t reach your goal, but celebrate each time you get back up and try again. Discuss with your friends or family how you can continue to develop resilience.
MOTIVATIONAL MONDAYS
The K-5th grade School Counselors will lead our Motivational Mondays initiative. This is where your child receives a message of encouragement from their Counselor on Mondays. If you haven't received a message yet...be on the look out... Motivational Monday messages are coming to an "inbox" near you!
Free Your Feels! Georgia crisis line for Georgia youth that need support
Free Your Feels is a mental health awareness campaign encouraging Georgia's young people to explore their real feelings and share them without being afraid.
Interested in raising awareness about youth mental health? This toolkit will help you get started. With social media posts, infographics, and helpful tips, you'll be equipped to start the conversation. Click on the Free Your Feel image to the right to access the toolkit!
Thank you all for attending the Minion Reasons to Be a H.E.R.O. Attendance Pep Rally! We are thrilled to announce that EGB is our grand prize winner for achieving the highest attendance.
Additionally, congratulations to Leah P. from EGB for winning the Six Flags tickets!!
We would also like to recognize our other grade band winners:
PGB: Bailey M.
Congratulations to all our winners! We hope you enjoy your prizes!
Keeping up with GCA Counseling!
Georgia Cyber Academy: www.georgiacyber.org
Parent Calendar: https://www.georgiacyber.org/calendars/parent-calendar
Elementary Counseling Website: https://www.georgiacyber.org/school-life/counseling/k5-counseling
School Counseling Website:
Mission Statement
The mission of the Georgia Cyber Academy’s (GCA) Counseling & Student Support Services Department is to provide a comprehensive program that is accessible to all students and assists students with acquiring the skills, knowledge and attitudes needed to become effective students, responsible citizens, and lifelong learners. The student services program is an integral part of the school’s total program with a commitment to individual uniqueness and the maximum development of human potential. We use a variety of differentiated interventions to ensure each student receives equitable services. The program addresses the personal/social, educational, and career needs and desires of each GCA student . The department’s ultimate goal is for students to graduate with the competencies necessary to be able to make self-directed, realistic, and responsible decisions and to be successful contributors to society.
Vision Statement
Through a holistic approach, the Georgia Cyber Academy Counseling Department will empower all students to reach their highest potential by using a comprehensive school counseling program that promotes academic, career and personal/social development. Our program will foster the growth of each student as a civic minded contributor with their local communities and beyond. Upon graduation, students will be college and/or career ready and will have the competencies necessary to be able to make self-directed, realistic, and responsible decisions to be successful contributors to society.
Belief Statement
The GCA Counseling & Student Support Services believe:
- Students’ ability to learn is dependent upon having their basic needs met.
- All students are unique, and when given a safe, nurturing environment, will succeed to their fullest potential
- All students should have access to a high quality education
- All students have the right to be heard and treated with respect
- Members of our department are advocates for every student
- The services and interventions we provide should be data driven and developmentally appropriate
- Staying abreast of ethical standards and developments within our profession is necessary to effectively serve our students
- Applying the ASCA Ethical Standards for School Counselors empowers school counselors to make decisions based on the highest moral principles to promote the maximum development of every student