Dear Parents and Guardians,

As we continue beyond the first few weeks of school and, hopefully, past those first-day jitters, you may notice that your students are beginning to engage in new interpersonal relationships/friendships.

This week’s Counselor’s Corner offers some supports for talking with your student about maintaining healthy friendships and handling potential peer difficulties they may experience.

Tips for Discussing Friendships with Your Child

• Encourage Open Dialogue: Ask your child about their friends and how their day went. Try to create a space where they feel safe sharing their feelings.
• Listen Actively: Show interest in their experiences. Use open-ended questions like, “What did you enjoy about today?” to start conversations.
• Promote Empathy: Help them understand different perspectives and discuss ways to respectfully resolve conflicts.
• Support Problem-Solving: Teach your child strategies for handling disagreements, like using “I” statements and finding common ground.

• Encourage Positive Interactions: Praise them for their efforts in building and maintaining friendships. Highlighting their strengths and positive interaction

Tips for Handling Difficulties with Peers

If your child encounters difficulties with friends/peers, it's important they know where to turn for support. Encourage them to:

• Talk to a Trusted Adult: Encourage your child to approach a teacher, school counselor, or any trusted adult who can provide guidance and support.

• Seek Peer Mediation: At school, we offer peer mediation services to help students resolve conflicts in a constructive manner. Your child can request to speak with a counselor if they feel this could be helpful.

• Reach Out to You: Let your child know that they can always come to you for support and advice, and reassure them that seeking help is a sign of strength, not weakness.

With your support, our students will thrive both academically and socially. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to the counseling office.

Classroom Lesson Theme: RESPECT

September marks the start of Counselor Classroom visits/ Character Lessons. This month’s focus is RESPECT.

Ms. Ferrell

School Counselor