Step-Up, Service and Stress

I'm not sure how we are already staring Thanksgiving weekend in the face, but we certainly are!  Before we break for 5 days I wanted to share with you some of the things that have been happening in the counseling world at PHS.

The 6th grade boys and I have now had three meetings together through their version of Step-Up.  When we return from break we are excited to have Kathy Lamb, high school counselor, and a group of male senior students come in to talk with our young men.  The boys did a great job brainstorming a long list of questions to ask their visitors.  Their questions ranged from "What sports do you play?" to "What do you do when all of your friends are going to a party/event, and you need to stay home to study?"  I am anxious to watch their interactions next week and hear their responses. 

Though the next two days of advisory have been set aside for socialization and bonding time, each group has been hard at work determining a way to give back to our community next month for their service project.  A handful of advisories are banding together to assemble care kits for Heart to Heart International, which has sent all of their existing care kits to the Philippines.  Other advisories are adopting a family, ringing bells on the plaza for the Salvation Army and even supporting a charity created by one of our own students which seeks to provide toys to children in need.  It is an honor to watch these young hearts fill with excitement over making a difference in the life of someone else.  It is clear that this community is one that values gratitude and generosity.

If you missed the Parent Awareness presentation last Thursday morning, I wanted to share with you the links to a couple of videos that were shown.  We examined teenage stress through the lens of perfectionism.  We had a thought-provoking discussion as well and I thoroughly enjoyed the time spent with our parents.  I walked away with a deeper understanding and appreciation for the challenges of raising a teenager! 

video: Dr. Dan Peters

video: Dr. Brene Brown

Finally, in this time to be thankful, I wanted to express my thankfulness for the PHS community.  All of you have made the transition to a new school such a positive experience!  Every day I look forward to coming to work and that is truly a gift!  I sincerely hope your families have a restful and enjoyable long weekend.