A Note From the Counselor
About Birthdays…. 
Birthdays are an exciting time for our children and families celebrate them
in many ways. Children often invite
classmates to their birthday parties. Unfortunately, some children feel rejected
when they are not invited to a particular party.
Imagine sitting at a lunch table and watching other students receive an
invitation to a party that you are not invited to.
This can be devastating for children.
In order to avoid hurting the feelings of classmates, we will not allow
children to hand out invitations to only selected children at school.
If your child is having a birthday party please consider the following
options:
¨ Invite
the entire class
¨ Invite
all the girls or all the boys in the class
¨ Mail
invitations to those being invited – consult the PTO “Informational
Directory” for address information.
Thanks you for your support as we strive to create an atmosphere where children are considerate of each other's feelings. This, in turn, creates a better environment for learning.
Throughout the year I will work with various individuals and groups of students. If you have any questions or concerns please telephone me. I will do my best to help make this an X-cellent year for your children.
An Additional Note:
As a counselor who is new to the Miller community, I scheduled a visit to every classroom. This gave me an opportunity to meet all of the children, and in turn, it gave the students an opportunity to meet me. Please ask them about te "shell collection". It is truly a pleasure to meet and work with all of your children.
Mrs. Susan Fennecken
Tame
the Teasing
Teasing
is not only unkind, but can lead to future personality or self-esteem problems
for both the victim and the teaser. Here
are a few things parents need to know about teasing.
OBSERVE
· Does
your child tease a lot? Parents
often overlook seriously aggressive behavior.
Listening to the comments your child makes and watching your child’s
interactions with peers can help determine whether you have a teaser in the
making. If so, take action.
Talking to a school counselor about how to minimize this behavior is an
excellent first step.
· Monitor
your child’s Internet activity.
With e-mail, instant messaging and chat rooms the Internet has become the
newest teasing forum. Talk with your
child about appropriate use of these communication methods.
Make sure your child avoids using the Internet to spread rumors, damage
reputations, or humiliate others.
· Is
your child a silent victim?
Many victims are too ashamed to tell their parents.
Pay attention to changes in your child’s behavior and social activities
(e.g., loss of appetite, sleeplessness, headaches, nervousness, school
avoidance) and let your child know that he or she can talk to you if someone is
being cruel to them.
PREVENT
· Be
Prepared. Children
are most likely to pick on others who are, or who come across as, weaker or
different. If your child is markedly
different from his or her peers, prevent any possible teasing by helping your
child develop strong self-confidence and self-esteem.
· Work
with the school.
Does your child’s school have a policy that addresses teasing?
If not bring it up for discussion. Many
schools have character education programs that may also help prevent aggressive
behavior.
· Strength
in numbers.
Boys and girls with a good group of friends are less likely to be the
victim of teasing. Help your child
cultivate a group of buddies. Encourage
social and group activities— from Scouts to sports teams—to give your child
peer support.
TAKE
ACTION
If
your child is the victim of teasing:
· Report
it to the school.
Elementary and middle school children can be very sly in their abuse of
others, much of which escapes detection by adults.
Report any harassment to the teacher as soon as you become aware of it.
Involve the school counselor and, if necessary, the principal.
Schools are more aware than ever of the negative implications of teasing
and are implementing programs to address the problem.
· Teach
coping skills. There are
excellent materials written for children who are victims of teasing.
Ask if your school counselor has a program to help children cope.
Check out online resources. (e.g., www.no-bully.org, www.antibullying.net,
www.bullying.org, www.ncpc.org) and books for children and adults.
Role-play with your children about how to respond when they are being
harassed, showing them how to come across as strong and self-confident.
Above all, take action to help them realize that it is the teasers, not
themselves, who are troubled.
· Work
together until the problem is fixed.
You, your child, your family members,
teachers, counselors, and the school will all need to work together until the
issues are resolved.
Most
importantly, children need to know that their home is a safe haven, a place
where they will not be teased by siblings or parents, a place where they can
relax and be themselves.
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