What is going on in the Counseling Department this quarter...

*We are in the process of teaching 6th grade students about labeling and "Filling each others' cans" to encourage each other and support one another.

*We are working very hard on our school's new anti-bullying approach, "Erwin RESPECTS"; look for lots of information to come in the near future....

Meanwhile, if your child is experiencing bullying, please encourage them to tell an adult at school so that it can be addressed and dealt with in a timely manner. There is an anonymous support resource for your child as a student at Erwin located online under guidance: "report a bully". 

          **S.T.A.R.S. (Students Teaching About Real Life Situations)  Our STARS have begun teaching about substance use and abuse to students in homeroom. This lesson details the different stages of addiction and how it negatively affects lives. October is Red Ribbon Month and we celebrate being drug free.

**PHRASE TO THINK ABOUT... "EVERY SETBACK IS A SETUP FOR A COMEBACK"

**Parent Alert - Gang involvement is on the rise! Look out for any negative changes in your child and pay attention to the kids your child is hanging around with. As a parent, you have every right and responsibility to be nosy when it comes to your child. Let us know if we can help you with concerns!!

**Parent Alert - Cyber Bullying is a vicious form harassment that affects millions of children between the ages of 8 and 17 each year. BE ALERT when it comes to your child and their computer behaviors. BE ASSERTIVE in providing limits for your child with computer use. (*Just a note: MYSPACE accounts for children under the age of 14 are illegal) - BE AWARE that many students are getting adult information and using adult behaviors online and you, as the parent, are the first line of defense. Let us know if we can assist you in discussing techniques to address online safety.

**Some topics and resources of interest:

 EATING DISORDERS - 1. Bruch, H. (1973)Eaing Disordes, Obesity, anorexia nervosa, and the person within. New York: Basic Books 2. Brumberg, J.J.(1997). The body project: An intimate history of American girls. New York: Random House. 3. Hesse-Biber, S.J.(1996). Am I thin enough yet? The cult of thinness and the commercialization of identity. New York: Oxford University Press.

TEST ANXIETY - 1. Proeger, C., & Myrick, R.D. (1980). Teaching children to relax. Florida Educational Research and Development Council Inc. Research Bulletin, 14(3), 51. **Websites of Interest: www.parent-institute.com

TEST ANXIETY EXPOSURE HIERARCHY (READ THE FOLLOWING STEPS TO START PREPARING FOR UPCOMING TESTS AND LOWER YOUR STRESS!!!!) 13. You are preparing for the test that will be administered in one week. 12. You are in class working on skills for the test. It is a week before the test. 11. You are discussing the importance of the test. It is now Friday morning. 10. It is Monday morning before the test. You are studying and planning your schedule for tomorrow. 9. It is the night before the test. You are thinking about the test you will take in the morning. 8. It is the day of the test. You are eating breakfast. How are you feeling? 7. It is Tuesday morning, and you are walking into your classroom. 6. You are sitting in a classroom waiting for the test to begin, and they hand you your test. 5. You start the test and read the first question. You do not know the answer immediately. 4. You are taking the test and read a few more questions that are confusing. 3. You realize that peolpe are starting to finish the test, and you know that you need more time. 2. You are taking the test, and it is time for lunch. 1. You turn the test in.