COUNSELOR’S CONNECTION: October 2012
TIGER TRAIT: RESPONSIBILITY “Be accountable for your actions”: During this month teachers will continue reinforcing responsible behavior. Care class lessons will focus on responsibility with health and safety on recognizing and avoiding tricky people, preparing us for National Red Ribbon Week. PreK-2nd will have a power point presentation starring Yello Dyno (a puppet). Upper grades will compare prior YelloDyno lessons to stranger safety(3rd) and internet safety (4^th) watching safety dvds starring Safe-Side Super Chick. Fifth Graders will review internet safety and watch a video called "The Boy who was Swallowed by the Drug Monster" a cartoon based on a real story about a boy who is befriended by a teenager and tricked into smoking a "magic pipe". It shows the effects of drug addiction on school and family.

RED RIBBON WEEK/SAFE AND DRUG-FREE SCHOOLS: Drug Education is part of the Health TEKS for grades K-5. Schools across the nation will celebrate Safe and Drug Free Schools “National Red Ribbon Week” at the end of the month. Our campus will celebrate National Red Ribbon Week from October 22-26.  Hays Caldwell Council will provide all students with a special red ribbon in honor of The Texas Red Ribbon Campaign. During this week we’ll celebrate in a variety of ways including wearing fun clothes to coordinate with a daily theme. Please discuss safety and health topics at home with your children. Although exposure in your home may be minimal, it’s never too soon to talk about topics such as: helpful medicines, harmful drugs, resolving conflicts, and gun safety. The most common harmful drugs to acknowledge at the elementary age are called gateway drugs. They are those that are legal for adults and often accessible in the home thus giving potential to “opening the gate” down the road to illegal drugs. They include alcohol, tobacco, and inhalants (ie: cleaning sprays, liquid paper, etc.). Talking with kids about drugs does not encourage them to try them. It provides gentle awareness and prevention.

Here are some websites that may interest you:

http://www.nfp.org/redribbon.htm (National Family Partnership)

http://ritter.tea.state.tx.us/rules/tac/chapter115/ch115a.html (Elementary Health TEKS)

http://yellodyno.com (Safety and Abduction Prevention)

http://thesafeside.com (Internet and Stranger Safety)

http://www.dsisd.txed.net/index.aspx?nid=799 (My webpage! Scroll down to the main page to see helpful links, including community and tutoring resources)

* Here’s what’s happening on our campus regarding dress up themes. 

I will add samples of our daily announcements to the link off of this subpage. Our 5^th grade leaders will help me read them each day. These will give you a sample of how we address these themes.