Guidance Corner-Mrs. Elliott
February 2016
I just returned from a six month deferred leave. It is great being back! I look forward to working with students, teachers, parents, administration, outside agencies and our community to help support student success. Mrs. Kirk did an excellent job assisting the members of our school community during my absence. She will be missed.
“So what do school counselors really do?”
The primary mandate of a school counsellor is to act as an advocate for all students by creating a caring environment that supports their personal, social, career, educational and mental health needs to help them achieve their full potential. It is a proactive, comprehensive role that includes providing preventative and intervention services that are integrated into the school program.
Canadian School Counselling Week is February 1-5. The goal of this week is to help raise awareness regarding the programs and services that are an important part of the school counselling profession. I will be joining the celebration to promote this special week. I will be visiting classrooms to raise awareness about the Comprehensive Guidance Counselling program at Bluenose Academy. I look forward to conversing with students and teachers during these visits. School announcements and posters will highlight how school counsellors can help promote student growth.
Grade 9 Transition Sessions
School Counsellors and teachers from Park View Education Centre are planning a variety of sessions for our Grade 9 students and parents to provide information about registering for high school. The dates of the events are listed below:
NSSC Tour
Our Grade 9 students will be visiting the Nova Scotia Community College on April 6th. During the tour of the facility, students will learn about the campus, programs, and get a chance to get a sense of what student life is like at NSCC.
Volunteer Youth Award Nomination Deadline Feb. 20th
This award recognizes youth aged 13-24 who has made a significant contribution as a volunteer. The deadline for applications is Friday, February 19th. One nomination can be made per school. This award recognizes over 70 volunteers throughout NS. If you would like to nominate someone for this award, please contact me.
PRO Kids
Parents/Guardians of youth 18 and under, who are in financial need can apply for assistance for recreation, sport, cultural and extra-curricular activities. Must be a resident of the District of Lunenburg (includes Mahone Bay). Assistance may also be available for equipment or clothing and transportation costs as it relates to the activity. For more information, please contact Janice Rand, PRO Kids Administrator for the District of Lunenburg. Phone 902-541-1335. PRO Kid applications are also available at Bluenose.
Bell Let’s Talk Day
On Wednesday, January 27th, individuals used their technology to help support mental health across Canada by participating in the Bell Let’s Talk Day. Bell donated 5 cents for every text, mobile call, and long distance call made by Bell and Bell Aliant customers, every tweet using #BellLetsTalk, and every Facebook share of the Bell Let's Talk Day image. The results are in. This event raised $6 295 764.75 more for Canadian mental health initiatives.
One of the biggest goals of this campaign was to bring awareness to the ways to fight the stigma of mental health. It highlighted 5 ways to enable Canadians to engage in conversations about mental health and help support those who live with mental illness:
February 2016
I just returned from a six month deferred leave. It is great being back! I look forward to working with students, teachers, parents, administration, outside agencies and our community to help support student success. Mrs. Kirk did an excellent job assisting the members of our school community during my absence. She will be missed.
“So what do school counselors really do?”
The primary mandate of a school counsellor is to act as an advocate for all students by creating a caring environment that supports their personal, social, career, educational and mental health needs to help them achieve their full potential. It is a proactive, comprehensive role that includes providing preventative and intervention services that are integrated into the school program.
Canadian School Counselling Week is February 1-5. The goal of this week is to help raise awareness regarding the programs and services that are an important part of the school counselling profession. I will be joining the celebration to promote this special week. I will be visiting classrooms to raise awareness about the Comprehensive Guidance Counselling program at Bluenose Academy. I look forward to conversing with students and teachers during these visits. School announcements and posters will highlight how school counsellors can help promote student growth.
Grade 9 Transition Sessions
School Counsellors and teachers from Park View Education Centre are planning a variety of sessions for our Grade 9 students and parents to provide information about registering for high school. The dates of the events are listed below:
- Presentations for students will take place on Friday, March 4, 2016. At this time, students will be given materials on course selection.
- Parent Information Session at PVEC will take place on March 23rd at 6:30.
- On-line student registration will take place at Bluenose Academy on March 29th. On this day, students will need to have all their registration paperwork completed and their $40.00 student fee.
NSSC Tour
Our Grade 9 students will be visiting the Nova Scotia Community College on April 6th. During the tour of the facility, students will learn about the campus, programs, and get a chance to get a sense of what student life is like at NSCC.
Volunteer Youth Award Nomination Deadline Feb. 20th
This award recognizes youth aged 13-24 who has made a significant contribution as a volunteer. The deadline for applications is Friday, February 19th. One nomination can be made per school. This award recognizes over 70 volunteers throughout NS. If you would like to nominate someone for this award, please contact me.
PRO Kids
Parents/Guardians of youth 18 and under, who are in financial need can apply for assistance for recreation, sport, cultural and extra-curricular activities. Must be a resident of the District of Lunenburg (includes Mahone Bay). Assistance may also be available for equipment or clothing and transportation costs as it relates to the activity. For more information, please contact Janice Rand, PRO Kids Administrator for the District of Lunenburg. Phone 902-541-1335. PRO Kid applications are also available at Bluenose.
Bell Let’s Talk Day
On Wednesday, January 27th, individuals used their technology to help support mental health across Canada by participating in the Bell Let’s Talk Day. Bell donated 5 cents for every text, mobile call, and long distance call made by Bell and Bell Aliant customers, every tweet using #BellLetsTalk, and every Facebook share of the Bell Let's Talk Day image. The results are in. This event raised $6 295 764.75 more for Canadian mental health initiatives.
One of the biggest goals of this campaign was to bring awareness to the ways to fight the stigma of mental health. It highlighted 5 ways to enable Canadians to engage in conversations about mental health and help support those who live with mental illness:
- Language matters – pay attention to the words you use about mental illness
- Educate yourself – learn, know and talk more, understand the signs
- Be kind – small acts of kindness speak a lot
- Listen and ask – sometimes it's best to just listen
- Talk about it – start a dialogue, break the silence