Prayer for a Happy New Year

May the Lord make my New Year a happy one…
Not by shielding me from sorrow and pain, but by strengthening me to bear it if it comes.
Not by making my path easy, but by making me sturdy enough to tread any path.
Not by taking hardship from me, but by taking all cowardice and fear from my heart as I meet hardships.
Not by granting me unbroken sunshine, but by keeping my face bright even in the shadows.
Not by making my life always pleasant, but by showing me where men and His cause need me most and by making me zealous to be there and to help …
God, make my year a happy one.
—Guideposts magazine (January 1973)

     I hope that everyone had a blessed and peaceful Christmas break, as well as a wonderful start of a new year and new decade!

     There are some exciting things happening in January!  The guidance lessons are focusing on self regulation (a relatively new way of saying coping skills).  All of the classes are learning about identifying personal feelings through physical clues and actions.  We talk about "small feelings" and "big feelings."  Then students learn about ways to cope with various feelings.  The first basic coping skill taught is breathing.  It is referred to as "belly breathing" in a lot of classes.  This involves learning how to take slow, deep breathes to help get oxygen to the brain and calm the mind.  In some of the upper classes we compare the loss of control to "flipping your lid."  Pretend that your thumb is the part of your brain that controls emotions, while the other four fingers are the "thinking part" of the brain.  If you make a fist with your hand, tucking your thumb under the other four fingers, it can demonstrate how the "thinking part" of the brain has control over emotions.  When a person "flips their lid," the four "thinking" fingers rise up, causing the thumb or feelings to be out of control.  As a person takes slow deep breathes, the thinking part of the brain gains control again, resulting in the feelings part of the brain to be controlled as well.  It may be difficult to explain in writing, but when the classes use their hands to demonstrate, it seems to be a very effective way to learn about feelings and coping skills.  The older classes will learn about a larger variety of coping skills, such as journaling, using positive affirmations, coloring and exercising, just to name a few.
     On to an exciting piece of news!  In January, the counselor at the 4-6 Campus, Natalie Anderson, and I will begin a program called Coffee with the Counselors.  We will be meeting once a month to discuss parenting issues.  Krystal Goins and Debbie Crowe will be joining us to teach about the Love and Logic method of parenting.  Here are a few statements, from the Love and Logic website, introducing this style of parenting:

"Raise happy and well-behaved kids with positive, loving tools

The Love and Logic approach to parenting is built around the science of caring and respectful relationships.  An authentic, loving connection between parents and their children forms the foundation of good behavior and healthy decision-making.

Sounds easy enough but never before in history have parents been faced with so many challenges! Our approach provides a variety of simple and effective strategies for parenting children from birth to adulthood. Whether you’re embarking for the first time with your new baby or navigating the turbulent teens with your child, our strategies and techniques will help you create calm and loving solutions."

Please join us for the first presentation.  Both Debbie and Krystal are retired educators from Daviess County Public Schools.  They have been teaching the Love and Logic method for several years and are quite entertaining in their presentation.  I have attended several of their trainings and presentations, which are not only fun and engaging but also full of wonderful techniques for parenting in this day and age.  Coffee with the Counselors is open to any parent or guardian of a student in the Owensboro Catholic Schools, kindergarten through 12th grade.  Our first presentation will be on January 24th, from 11:30 to 12:30, at the K-3 Campus.   Coffee will be provided.  I hope to see you there!  Here is the link to the Love and Logic website if you would like more information on this style of parenting.   https://www.loveandlogic.com/a/info/love-and-logic-parenting

As always, please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.  I can be reached at (270)-684-7583 or at kim.bennett@owensborocatholic.org.

     In a world where you can be anything, be kind.  We are continuing to focus on acts of kindness during the month of December.  The Kindness Rock Garden is almost complete.  This month, we are putting everything we talked about in October, into action.  The students are doing kind acts for each other in their classroom.  The kindergarten and first grade students have "kindness tic-tac-toe boards" that will help encourage them to do kind acts for others.  The second and third grade classes have "kindness bingo boards" to help encourage them to do kind acts.  The students will also be watching for kind acts done for/to them.  When they notice a kind act being done for them, they will write/draw a picture of it on a construction paper chain link that will be collected at the end of the day.  The links will be stapled together to form one chain that will begin in the hallway, by my office.  I am challenging the kids to create a chain that extends from the end of the hallway leading to the gym, to the doors at the end of the kindergarten hallway!
     Students are being encouraged to extend their acts of kindness to other classrooms in our building as well as the larger Owensboro community.  Each class will be making holiday book marks for another class in the building.  During their guidance class, they will color book marks and randomly draw a class in which to give them.   To encourage kindness within the community of Owensboro, each class has "spiritually adopted" an agency/home/mission within our city.  For example, Mrs. Cheri Hayden's class has "spiritually adopted" the Glenmary Sisters.  The students are educated on how each agency helps our community.  They are praying for their agency during their daily rosary and in guidance class the students will be making Christmas cards for their agency.
     The Great Kindness Challenge was developed to be student led, meaning that it would focus on student action.  It was not meant to add to the teachers' or parents' list of things to do.  During the December guidance classes of the past, I have talked with the students about what they can do to help others, that does not rely on a parent donation or a teacher reminder.  It is with much hope that the Great Kindness Challenge encourages the students to take control of what they can do as an individual.   They may not have the resources to give as parents and other adults can, but they can pray.   Matthew Kelly, who is a motivation speaker for the Catholic faith, speaks often of prayer: how to pray, when to pray, etc.  What a beautiful gift to give and have given to you.  Hopefully, this act of prayer will be one of the many "seeds" planted within your child, that will grow and flourish in years to come.  I remember my 4th grade teacher, Sr. Margaret Joseph, teaching our class to pray whenever we heard the sirens from a fire truck, police car, or ambulance.   I went to St. Pius Tenth Elementary school, which was located on Highway 60 East.  You can imagine how many times we said a Hail Mary when we heard sirens.  To this day, I still say a Hail Mary when I hear sirens.  Think about all the situations when prayer is the only action we can take.  My hopes is that activities like this will encourage our children to turn to prayer, in everything they do.  So ask your child about their kind acts and kind acts done for them.  Ask them about the spiritual adoption of an agency.  Hopefully, they will have lots to say!
     Speaking of Matthew Kelly, I am including the link for his advent program.  By signing up, you will receive a daily email containing a video that focuses on the season of Advent.  His programs often give suggestions on small daily actions that draws us closer to God.  The theme for his advent program this year is "Amazing Possibilities."  https://dynamiccatholic.com/best-advent-ever
      I hope that everyone enjoys the month of December.  Try not to get lost in all the hustle and bustle.  Please remember that it's ok if you don't have that picture perfect Pinterest Christmas.  Remember the real meaning of the advent and Christmas seasons.  As always, please let me know if there is any way that I can help you.  I can be reached at (270) 684-7583 or through email at kim.bennett@owensborocatholic.org
       

     Halloween is almost hear and Thanksgiving is fast approaching!  I hope everyone had a great fall break, with lots of rest and fun!  There are lots of exciting things going on at the K-3 Campus.  We started the second quarter with Retro Bill, who talked to the students about being kind to each other.  This was a great presentation, as he incorporated Christianity into his talk several times.  That Monday ended with the Boosterthon pep rally.  The students have been so excited about this program.  Jumpin' John incorporates many character traits we discuss in guidance class, into his daily visits to the classroom.
     We have a lot going on in guidance class this month and in November.  In October, the students are painting rocks to make a "Kindness Rock Garden," thanks to a student leadership grant we received from the Marilyn and William Young Foundation.  We are utilizing this grant to improve the area between the library and art modular units.  In guidance class, we are reading the book, "Only One You," by Linda Kranz, which is a story of a little fish that is setting out for adventures in the great big world.  Before she leaves, her parents give her words of wisdom to live by.  The book ends by saying, "There's only one you in this great big world.  Make it a better place."  We are stressing the following thought: "In a world were you can be anything, be kind."  The book is illustrated using rocks painted as fish.  After reading the book, the students get to paint their own "fish" which will then go in the rock garden.  It is going to be such a neat space for them to use, when it is completed.
     In November, the students will be learning about feelings.  The kindergarten class will see a power point about a dinosaur named "Cry-ceratops" and identifying different emotions by looking at facial features and body language.  They will then make a booklet about feelings.  The kindergarten transition class will learn about identifying emotions through facial expressions and body language through feelings centers.  First grade students will be playing a jeopardy type game that identifies feelings using facial expressions.  Second grade will be playing a Thanksgiving Day themed feelings bingo, and third grade students will be playing a game that helps them voice their feelings in appropriate ways.  All of the classes will be incorporating the Second Step lessons that teach feeling, as well. 
     Be on the look out for the K-3 Veteran's Day project.  We are hoping to honor all those who served in the United States Armed Forces.  The students and teachers have put a lot of thought and effort into this tribute.  I can't wait for everyone to see it!
     As always, if I can be of any service, please contact me at (270)-684-7583 or through email at kim.bennett@owensborocatholic.org.

     Hello everyone!  Welcome to all our new friends and welcome back to all returning families!  My name is Kim Bennett and I am the school counselor here at the K-3 Campus.  Each month I send out a link to my blog, through the SeeSaw app.  In the blog, I review what each grade level will be doing in my class.  The students come to my classroom once a month for fun and interactive lessons, that I hope they will use now and throughout their lifetimes.  We cover topics like being a good friend, ways to self regulate, being responsible and cooperating with others to name a few.  The lessons are from curriculum provided by Counselor Keri and the Second Steps program.  If you ever have any questions about the lessons, please give me a call or send me an email.  This particular blog will be for both August and September.
     As we get into the second full week of school, everyone should be getting into a groove and finding their routine.  This can be hard to do at first.  Every student and family is different so if your family’s routine is different from a peer’s, that is ok!  What’s important is that you know what is best for your family.  I encourage families to establish a routine that includes homework time and a specific bedtime.  Consistency is the key.  Even if your child does not have homework yet, try to set a routine where they unload that back pack and attend to school items.  Obviously this will look very different for a kindergarten and a third grade student, but the approach can still be similar.  If your child is in kindergarten, teach them how to unload their backpack.  You can walk through it with them until they get the hang of it (and that may take a very long time, which is ok).  By doing this, you are teaching them that homework is important and is not an option.  It is also teaching them responsibility.  But most importantly, you are instilling confidence in them that they can do this task.  I cannot stress enough how important feeling confident is for a child.  Sometimes it may seem and actually be easier for you to do this for them, but such small steps can help contribute to such large gains, later in life.  For some parents it is just hard to let go.  Trust me when I say, “I get that.”  Just this past weekend, my husband and I took our oldest to U of L.  Leaving him there wasn’t the hardest thing I have ever done but it was up there on the list.  Taking your oldest (and maybe your middle and your youngest) to kindergarten or a new school can be just as difficult.  Our very wise art teacher, Mrs. Julie Warren made a great point when we were talking about this very subject.  We are raising our children to grow and spread their wings so they can fly.  But man!  As a parent, watching that happen can be so bittersweet.  Here is an article that might help if you’re struggling with this.  https://bridgechristian.wordpress.com/2016/07/05/putting-the-basket-in-the-water-trusting-god-in-the-next-phase-of-your-childs-life/  Here is a quote from the article:  "There comes a time-many actually-in the lives of our children where we have to put the basket in the water.  We have to let go and trust the plan of the Father."  
     So what are we doing in class this month?  The kindergarten students will be l doing an introduction game and learning about listening skills.  The kindergarten transition class will also play a game about listening skills and learn about behaviors that can help them be successful in the classroom.  The first and second grades will be playing games that teach listening skills as well as cooperating with others.  The third grade classes will be doing activities that focus on goal setting for the academic year. 
     Please let me know if there is anything that I can do to help your student or your family.  I can be reached through email kim.bennett@owensborocatholic.org or at (270) 684-7583.

    
     

     As we continue in the season of Lent, I can't help but feel a little excited, maybe because of the warm weather!  This is one of my favorite times of the year!  Easter is coming soon!  I have always thought that Christmas is great, but Easter is even better!  Christmas is just the beginning of the story.  Without Easter, without Jesus dying for us on the cross and rising from the dead, Christmas would be the equivalent of "Once upon a time......" with nothing following it.  The Paschal Triduum is such a sorrowful time wheen we remember all the horrible things that Jesus experienced on this Earth.  But it was all done with love and mercy for us.  For me.  For you.  As the song goes, "What wondrous love is this."  I hope everyone has a Blessed Easter and can experience the love and mercy that was given to us.
      "What do you want to be when you grow up?"  We have all asked this question and have been asked this question.  April's lessons will focus on careers.  The lessons will introduce them to many different careers.  The older students will learn how personal preferences effect the career a person can choose.  I have not covered this topic before, but there are some great lessons planned for the students.  The third grade students will have an interactive power point that asks them to choose from six different activities, with each activity being color coded.  For instance if a person prefers learning about math equations, then that student will go to the red center.  They will be asked to do this through ten different slides.  After going through all the slides they will decide which color they chose the most and then go to that color/area.  From there they will learn about the specific career cluster they chose, including the various careers in that cluster.  For example, Business Services is one career cluster that lists the following careers: entrepreneur, delivery driver, chef, bank clerk, accountant and sales agent.  Each career poster lists the daily tasks, work place, tools, skills, work values and education that is related to that specific career.  The second grade students will be doing a similar activity where they have to choose their preference of activities, as indicated by the interactive power point.  Their activity also is color coded.  At the end of the power point they have to determine which color they have the most and then return to that color/area.  They will then be asked to solve the following problem: "Your class is needing supplies (pencils, books, crayons, etc.)  In your group, create a plan for how you could the get the supplies needed." They will then develop a plan from the mindset of the career cluster, in which they were placed.  An example would be a gardener from the agricultural sciences career cluster, could sell plants to raise money for the supplies.  The first grade students will watch a "Safari Career Day" power point and discuss various skills and interests of the careers in the story.  They will then think of their own interest, skills and possible career choices.  The kindergarten transition class is watching a power point about careers and then playing a go fish game or a dominoes game that is career focused.  The kindergarten classes are doing centers that focus on community helpers and safe/healthy choices.
     In putting all of the lesson's together, I did a little research about careers.  Having once seen a video called "Shift Happens," several years ago, I googled "Shift Happens 2019."  The video for 2018 popped up.  Here is the link if you have a moment to watch.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TwtS6Jy3ll8   It is fascinating.  The video talks about how fast our world is changing in regards to information, education and careers.  Here are some of the quotes form the video:
     -Many of today's most in-demand jobs didn't exist 10 years ago.
     -Researchers predict that 65% of today's grade schoolers will hold jobs that don't yet exist.
This one is mind boggling:
     We are currently preparing students for jobs that don't yet exist using technologies that haven't been invented, in order to solve problems we don't even know are problems yet!

     I'm not certain of the fact checks on the videos, but the video is intriguing and can get a person thinking about what is coming or could possibly occur.  Hopefully some of the concepts I teach in the guidance classes will still be helpful for students as they grow!
     As always, please let me know if I can be of any assistance or can help in any way.  (270) 684-7583 or kim.bennett@owensboro catholic.org
                                           I hope you have a very blessed and happy Easter!

    

      “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.”  This reading from the gospel of Matthew goes on to say, “If anyone cause one of these little ones-those who believe in me, to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.”  This bible verse comes to mind as we, as parents, teachers and staff are faced with a newest fad to race through the internet.  I am talking about the Momo challenge.  This new challenge is like a bad car wreck, in some aspects.  You know you shouldn’t be looking at it but at the same time you can’t pull your eyes away.  This challenge, that encourages children to do harmful things to themselves (some even cause death), has been around for over a year, but has recently emerged because it is targeting very young children, through YouTube Kids.  The people, who are implanting this message in various internet sites, have circumvented the many parental blocks that can be put in place.  Just imagine the incredible things that could be accomplished by these highly intelligent people creating this hot mess, if they would only put their intelligence toward the good, instead of such evil.  October’s guidance lesson focused on internet safety.  One of the rules that was taught was the following: if you see something that makes you feel scared, sad or unsafe, you should tell a trusted adult.  We discussed that “Uh-oh” feeling that kids can get sometimes, letting them know something is not right.  Should they have that feeling, then they should tell an adult.  On March 1st, I visited the 2nd and 3rd grade classes to remind them of internet safety rules.  I also stressed that should they come across something that specifically tells them not to tell a parent/adult, that they should definitely tell a parent/adult.  We also talked about how they have some power and control in this situation, which was to turn whatever they were watching off.  They do not have to look at it!  And then tell an adult, who can help keep them safe.  Notifying the website may be an option, however keeping them safe on our end of things will have immediate effects.
     On to the guidance lessons for March.  The focus this month is friendship.  The kindergarten students will be playing a game where they have to pay a lot of attention to how they are treating the other students in the class.  First graders are doing friendship centers..  The second grade students have a power point presentation and then play a kahoot game on the iPads.  The third grade students are doing a friendship escape room, which is one of my favorite lessons!   
      We are at the beginning of the Lenten season.  I read a very good article examining what a person should do or give up for Lent.  The article approaches Lent as an invitation that Jesus is sending us.  So often we look at Lent as a dreaded time of year where we go without a lot of our comforts.  However, this article challenges the reader to view the season of Lent a little bit differently.  Here is the link if you want to check it out! www.foxnews.com/opinion/three-questions-to-ask-yourself-before-practicing-lent-this-year
     As always, please let me know if there is anything that I can do to help..  I can be reached at kim.bennett@owenborocatholic.org or (270) 684-7583

     And just like that, we are into February!  Responsibility is the theme for most of the guidance classes this month.  This is such an important pillar for character!  There are so many other characteristics tied to it, as well.  I hope you notice your student making an extra effort to be responsible.  Kindergarten transition will have a power point called, "That's Not My Cape."  They will then play a game reinforcing what they have learned in the power point.  First grade will have a power point from their safari friends that demonstrates the importance of being responsible.  They will then play a game of musical chairs.  Whenever a student is out, they will draw a card and decide whether that card demonstrates a responsible behavior.  Second grade has a power point that lists behaviors that will help a person be responsible.  Then they will play a game where they are divided into 4 teams.  Each team has to decide if the case scenario read aloud in showing responsible behaviors or not.  If the behavior is responsible one student from each team will race to get a pineapple card.  The team with the most cards at the end wins.  Third grade is playing a power point game where they determine responsible behaviors.  Kindergarten is focusing on tattle telling.  We have a dinosaur story to review and then will be playing a game to determine if certain scenarios are a "tell" or "don't tell" situation.
      Teaching our kids to be responsible is an ongoing situation (at least in my home it is.)  As I may have mentioned before, laundry is the usual hot topic when it comes to chores-as in bring your laundry to the laundry room.  I wish I had a dollar for every time that I have said, "If it's not in my laundry room, then it doesn't get washed."  I would be independently wealthy!  My statement doesn't seem to have much meaning until there is an immediate crisis, such as no clean underwear!  There is a phrase that states: "Lack of planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part."  Ouch!  That is a rough way to learn a lesson.  Yet there are those kids that will make that mistake over and over.  Yes, I have one of those living in my home.  Sometimes it does seem like I am talking to a concrete wall, but I'm not going to stop because I feel that way.  I hope you don't either.  Here is an article from the Focus on the Family website that gives suggestions for age appropriate chores.  There are some hyper links within the lists that offer suggestions to implement that particular chore.
www.focusonthefamily.com/parenting/parenting-challenges/motivating-kids-to-clean-up/age-appropriate-chores
     As always, please let me know if there is anything that I can do to help.  I can be reached at kim.bennett@owensborocatholic.org or (270)684-7583.