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Thursday, February 23, 2012
 
 Designing High School Course Plans Aligned to College and Career Readiness Minimize

On March 29th, Dundee Middle School 8th graders will take the EXPLORE test.

EXPLORE helps students to plan ahead by identifying content areas they may need to improve a nd by helping them choose high school courses that will prepare them for college.

EXPLORE prepares students not only for their high school coursework, but for their post-high school choices as well. It marks an important beginning for future academic and career success. Through EXPLORE, students' strengths and weakness can be identified early in their educational development, when they have the greatest opportunity to establish a four-year program of studies that will help them acheive their career and educational goals.

EXPLORE also includes a career exploration component that stimulates students thinking about future plans and relates personal characteristics to career options.

EXPLORE is an assessment from ACT. In high school, students will also take the PLAN and MME, which in part is the ACT assessment.

If students or parents are interested in more information, check out any of the following sites:

For iPhone or iPod touch, using the practice feature, students can answer practice questions and gain feedback. www.act.org/mobileapps/actstudent

Also for iPhone or iPod touch, ACT College Search helps focus and narrow prospects for postsecondary education. Searching by names and/or selecting preferences, students can narrow the number of institutions to investigate more thoroughly. Students can view the profile, visit the webpage, and save their favorite two- and four-year postsecondary institutions in the U.S. www.act.org/mobileapps/collegesearch

A new ACT practice question is posted each day-- FREE! www.actstudent.org/qotd
    
 Bully Revolution Assembly Minimize

On Wednesday, January 11th, 2nd-6th graders attended the Bully Revolution assembly presented by Jayme and Madison McElvany of Monroe.

Students are invited to become an official member of the Bully Revolution team.

This is totally FREE.

 

To become a member of Dundee Middle School's Bully Revolution team,

please assist your child on the internet at bullyrevolution.com

and click on "register" or "sign up".

 

All registered students will receive a membership card and certificate.

 

Becoming a member simply means that they are pledging to

Stand up, Speak up, and Team up to put an end to bullying!

 

T-shirts are available at the same website, but not required for membership. 
    
 Dean of Students Minimize

 

Parents often wonder what school counselors do. The more important question is “How are your children different because of what school counselors do?”
 
As the Director of Student Services at Dundee Middle School, I strive to implement the district’s comprehensive guidance and counseling plan which has been designed to meet the needs of every student. Through various programs, I am able to provide classroom guidance lessons, individual student guidance, responsive services, and system support.
 
Childhood and adolescence is marked by the formation of attitudes about family, peers, self, school, social groups. Students begin to develop character values, communication, and decision-making.
 
In response to the needs of the students in our building, I will provide:
 
q Classroom guidance lessons to help them understand themselves and others. Through these lessons, I will assist students in developing their conflict management, coping strategies, decision-making, peer relationships, and social skills.
 
q Individual student guidance to help students set goals, understand their own strengths and weaknesses, and prepare for the transition to the next stage of their life.
 
q Responsive services to assist students with particular needs, such as adjusting to a new school or coping with grief following a crisis. Responsive services are provided through individual and small-group counseling, and consultation and referrals to other professionals.
 
q System support enhances school climate and relationships among members of the school community. I provide such services by coordinating parent workshops, community support services, and consultations with other staff to facilitate collaboration and a greater understanding of students’ developmental needs.
 
Please feel free to contact me to explore ways to work together. I enjoy working with you to motivate our children to strive for success!
 
Kerri A. Riggs, MA, MS, SCL, NCC, NCP
Director of Student Services
734-529-2350 ext.2253
    
 Career Exploration Info Minimize
Career Preparation Web Site Resources
 
ACT (career & college information/ACT preparation)
Michigan Department of Career Development
Differences in Learning Strategies
Learning Network
 
U.S. Department of Education (career planning & college information)
Bureau of Labor Statistics—U.S. Dept. of Labor (career information/employment projections)
Military Career Guide Online
Love and Logic Institute
 
Career InfoNet
College Board (career & college information/SAT preparation)
American School
Counselor Association
Occupational Outlook Handbook (career information)
America’s Promise
 
Michigan Department of Education
 
username: dms
password: monroe
 
National Education Association
 
Talent Freeway (self-assessment & career information)
Michigan Occupational
Information System
Job Profiles (career information)
 
National PTA
National Parent Information Network
 
Protecting Children in Cyberspace
Job Shadowing (career information)
 
U.S. Department of Education
 
Acknowledgements to Spring Lake Schools Guidance Department for their contributions to the above list.
    
 How to deal with bullying Minimize

 

Bully-Proofing Your Kids-- What can you do?
 
Every school has bullies. They tease, push in the hallways, and instigate fights with other kids. Bullying also takes the form of ignoring or excluding other kids—and can be just as traumatic as the more physical kind of bullying. Bullying should not be tolerated in any form.
 
q Listen to your children. Some parents don’t intervene because they think kids should work it out on their own. This is a common mistake. Take the complaint seriously, or your child could get hurt.
 
q Teach a bully-proofing technique. Encourage your children to reach out to their friends/peers. That way they can look out for one another. Children give each other support, and a child who has friends is less of a target.
 
q Be assertive. Teach your child to—while appearing confident, facing the bully, standing tall, and using a strong voice—declare, “Stop making fun of me. It’s mean.” Being assertive is not being aggressive. Never advise your child to hit back. Aggression can escalate quickly over very minor issues, and too many kids are carrying weapons to school in retaliation.
 
q Explain the difference between tattling and telling. Tattling is when you report something to just get someone in trouble. Telling is when you report that you or someone else is in danger.
 
q Tell someone. Encourage your kids to tell you, a teacher, or another trusted adult when they’re having a problem. Kids may be afraid or ashamed to tell adults about a bully. It’s important for them to let someone know early, before the situation escalates.
 
q Let your school know your safety concerns. Suggest closer supervision in hallways, bathrooms, lunchrooms, etc. Your kids have the right to feel safe at school, so find out what your school’s policies are regarding bullies. Ask the school or PTA to sponsor a peer mediation program, nonviolent conflict resolution workshops, or safety training.
 
 
 
 
Resources:
 
q Bonds, Marla; Stoker, Sally. (2000). Bully-Proofing Your School: A Comprehensive Approach for Middle Schools.  Available from: Sopris West, 4093 Specialty Place, Longmont, CO 80504; (800) 547-6747. 421 pp.
 
This book presents a comprehensive program designed to make the school environment safe for children both physically and psychologically. The program presents both a process and all the materials necessary for adoption of a school-wide bully-proofing program.
 
q Don’t Laugh at Me Project. Educators for Social Responsibility, 23 Garden Street, Cambridge, MA 01238; phone: (617) 492-1764; fax: (617) 864-5164; Web: http://www.esrnational.org.
 
q Garbarino, James. Lost Boys: Why our Sons Turn to Violence and How We Can Save Them.
 
q Garrity, Carla; Jens, Kathryn; Porter, William; Sager, Nancy; Short-Camilli, Cam. (1994). Bully-Proofing Your School: A Comprehensive Approach for Elementary Schools. Available from: Sopris West, 4093 Specialty Place, Longmont, CO 80504; phone: (800) 547-6747. ED383956; 367 pp.
 
The program consists of five components: (1) staff training, (2) student instruction, (3) support of the victimized children, (4) intervention with bullies, and (5) working with parents.
 
q National Center for Assault Prevention (609) 582-7000
 
q National School Safety Center (805) 373-9977
 
q Refer to local school district’s Safety Plan
 
q Stop Bullying. Web: http://www.nobully.org.nz/site.htm
 
q  When Push Comes to Shove; Dealing with Bullies Requires Adult Supervision. Web: http://www.pta.org
 
    
 Text/HTML Minimize
RESOURCES
 

Counseling Services
2092 S. Custer 
Monroe, MI 48161 
OR South County location:   
7400 Lewis Ave.                                                 
Temperance, MI 48182
(734) 242-8711                                                   
(734) 847-4986
Provides counseling for individuals and families. Weekly therapeutic groups are available for anger management, substance abuse, and domestic violence.
 
Catholic Charities of Monroe County
14930 Laplaisance Road, Suite 123
Monroe  MI 48161
734-240-3850
Website: www.ccmonroe.org
Programs include Substance Abuse Treatment, Individual, Family and Group Mental Health Counseling and Parenting Classes.
 
Christian Care Connection
6530 Secor Rd.
Lambertville, MI 48144
Telephone: (734) 854-7061
Caring professional counseling with a Christian perspective for individuals, couples, families, and groups. Day and evening appointments available for depression, stress, grief, and adolescent issues.
 
CoVentures
Counseling, Coaching & Wellness
986 S. Telegraph Rd.
Monroe, MI 48161
(734) 770-7573
 
Family Counseling & Shelter Services
14930 LaPlaisance Rd., Ste.106
Monroe, MI 48161
Telephone: (734) 241-0180
Safehouse (734) 242-7233
Provides counseling for individuals, married couples, families, and groups; Domestic Violence and Rape crisis services
 
Kinship Care Resource Center
Relatives Raising Relatives Children
(800) 535-1218
Strengthening Families
 
Mercy-Memorial Hospital Family Center             
718 N. Macomb St.                                       
Monroe, MI 48162                                              
(734) 242-9836
Provides outpatient mental health services.
 
Monroe County Community Mental Health Authority
1001 S. Raisinville
Monroe, MI 48161
Telephone: (734) 243-7340
Provides a 24 hr. emergency service 1 (800) 886-7340
Build upon existing strengths and increase child and family resiliency
Services for those with mental illness or developmental disability
 
Primacare
Mental Health and Consultation Services
14930 LaPlaisance Rd., Ste.138
Monroe, MI 48161
(734) 241-9574
www.Primacarementalhealth.com
 
Randy Grodi, Ph.D.
22 W. Second St.
Monroe, MI 48161
(734) 241-0142
 
Runaway Services of Monroe & Lenawee County
1 (800) 292-4517
No charge—24 hr. crisis line for ages 10-17; counseling and crisis intervention for individuals, groups, or families
 
Self & Family Behavioral Healthcare
7521 N. Telegraph Rd. Ste.1
Newport, MI 48166
(734) 586 0031
Individual therapy for children, adolescents and adults. Also provides marital and family therapy.
  
Grancare Hospice
1 (800) 428-3441
24 hr on call services for counseling and bereavement
 
TLC Institute—William Steele, Director
Telephone: (313) 885-0390
20171 Mack Avenue
Grosse Pointe Woods, MI 48236
Provides services to families and children exposed to violent and non-violent traumatic losses. In addition, offers training to professionals in the area of post traumatic stress reactions. (Located in the Children’s Home of Detroit)
 
Family Service Association of America
333 Seventh Avenue
New York, New York 10001
This standard-setting association can put you in touch with any of their hundreds of local counseling services.
  
Monroe Christian Church                               Season of Hope Counseling Center
14905 S. Telegraph                                         1199 Stewart Rd.
Monroe Twp, MI 48161                                 Monroe, MI 48162
Telephone: (734) 241-4144                            Telephone: (734) 241-1000
 

Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Monroe              
(734) 242-8540                                 
 
Caring Alternatives Inc.
    
 suicide prevention Minimize

 

Are you in crisis? Please call 1-800-273-TALK

Are you feeling desperate, alone or hopeless? Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), a free, 24-hour hotline available to anyone in suicidal crisis or emotional distress. Your call will be routed to the nearest crisis center to you.

  • Call for yourself or someone you care about
  • Free and confidential
  • A network of more than 140 crisis centers nationwide
  • Available 24/7
    
 Bullying: Tips for Students Minimize

Bullying: Tips for Students

 

This checklist provides suggestions for what kids can do when bullying occurs – written for students being bullied, students who witness bullying and the bullies themselves.

If you are being bullied...
Reach Out

Tell an adult. Sometimes you may have to tell more than one trusted adult.
Ask your friends to help you. There is safety in numbers.
Practice what to say the next time you're bullied with your parents, teachers or friends.

Be Cool in the Moment

Stay calm and confident. Don't show the bully that you're sad or mad.
Ignore the bully and walk away.
Remember: Fighting back can make bullying worse.

Change the School Community

Work with others to stop bully behavior; your whole school will benefit.
Remember: A lot of kids have to cope with bullying. You are not alone. No one deserves to be bullied.

If you witness bullying...
Interrupt It

Stand next to, or speak up for, the person being bullied.
Ask the bully to stop.
Comfort the person being bullied and offer friendship.

Get Help

Walk away and get help.
Find an adult who can intervene.

If you are the bully...
Make a Commitment to Change

Talk to an adult, like a teacher or parent, about how to get along with others.
Ask a friend to help you stop your bully behavior.
Apologize to the kids you have bullied.

Focus on Empathy and Responsibility

Think about what it feels like to be bullied -- would you want to be treated that way?
Before you speak, think about whether your words will help or hurt another student.

Change Your Behavior

Resist peer pressure to bully.
If you start to bully, walk away and find something else to do.
Remember: You don't have to like everyone around you, but you have to treat everyone with respect.

Drawn from Stop Bullying Now, an initiative of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.