We had a great kickoff for our WD program last night. Thank you to everyone for coming out and supporting such a great event and program. I look forward to working with all our volunteer WD this school year. If you were not able to make the event but would like to participate, please contact Jay Jones our “Top” Dog at watchdogs@kespta.com. for more information to sign on. 
During October I will begin 1st-semester support groups for our KES students. Please read the group permission form. If you would like for your child to participate, please download the form and fill in the bottom half. Please submit this to your child’s teacher. I will begin groups the week of October 14th.
Welcome back to all students and parents. 2019-20 is going to be an awesome year here at KES. I am looking forward to teaching in all classrooms this year once a month. September’s lesson themes support respecting differences and diversity. In addition, I will be using our new Standford Harmony social-emotional resources to incorporate buddy up and class meet up opportunities to create inclusive environments within our classrooms.
September small group sessions are one of my favorite times as our new students and mentors share lunch together to celebrate our new coyotes here to KES. I appreciate the time and effort our mentors have invested in helping our new coyotes learn about Kacehele. This year we are fortunate to have approximately 45 new to Kacehele students grades 1-5.
Other News you can use… in grade 5 the application process will begin for next year’s Moody IB program. I will be holding a grade 5 information session for all 5th graders during the week of September 16th and students or parents may check out an application from me beginning September 18th. See this pdf for the details and process of applying to Moody IB program.
Thank you to all those families who are helping make our world a better place during our Random Acts of Kindness campaign for February. Please see listed our events for February.
Food collection will take place February 4-February 8.
The coat collection will take place February 11-15.
Change for children campaign February 11-15. Health Schools Healthy Virginia for the Heart Association. Collection will take place January 22-February 21.
Second Semester Small Counseling groups will begin in February if you feel you child can benefit from small group counseling please download and print the pdf and return to the attention of Mrs. Shaia. (double click to upload)
So cited to kick off this special month. Teachers and students please enjoy this book about kindness
It has been an amazing start to our new year!! September lessons flew by with themes of respecting differences and practicing mindfulness. In October our lesson will introduce bully prevention practices and our first Habitude self-awareness. Our character education of Habitudes leads students to 21st century learning by practicing these traits: Imagination , Curiosity, Self-Awareness, Courage, Adaptability, Perseverance, and Passion. I look forward to each month’s lesson on these topics as well as lessons that are the foundation of the ASCA mindsets.
In addition to classroom lessons I will begin small support groups in October. Please download the permission slip( on the Counseling Services tab) should you feel your child could benefit from small group counseling and return it to me next week 10/8 to 10/12.
Last but not least I want to give a huge shout out to our fathers and father figures who came out to our Pizza party-line up and sign up! Go WATCH D.O.G.S.(dad’s of great students). 
It is with a happy heart I return to Kaechele. I feel fortunate for all the kind thoughts and prayers that lifted my sadness during my father’s illness. We’ve had some fabulous classroom lessons during May and June that centered on friendship, test taking skills and conflict resolution. Our ‘Take Time for Your Mind” series on morning announcements focused on calming strategies to help students remain mindful in their daily choices here at school. We practiced deep breathing, taking a break and walk away, talk to someone who cares, listen to your favorite song, use your imagination and go to your “happy” place. In addition, I am happy to say our May Movement activities from 7:00-&;20 were well attended by students and teachers. We are so thankful to Meena Dasgupta! She gave us Wednesday morning Yoga classes. These classes gave us mindfulness in movement. 
It is amazing that we are approaching the end of the third nine weeks of school. Our students are mastering grade level curriculum and showing us so many positive characteristics of our Habitudes daily. During classroom lessons I have been focusing on career awareness lessons. There is an awesome website that has fun videos and games for career exploration. This website is http://www.vaview.vt.edu/ In grades 4 and 5 student completed an interest inventory and then searched there favored career clusters. Please consider signing on to be a guest for our exciting Career Day here at KES. You can go to http://goo.gl/i5KqyV and be part of all our fun April 16th. Thanks to those who have already signed on as a guest. We are looking forward to learning about the world of work. 
Thank you to all those who donated coats, shoes or boots to our Kindness campaign ” Heat Up Henrico!” Today Mr. Williams from Henrico Family and Community Engagement came to KES to personally thank students for their help. Thank you also to everyone for such a super special School Counseling week. I am delighted each day to be Kaechele’s school counselor
. In the next two months, I will be coordinating our Career day and hope that many parents will join us as guests for this special day! Please see if you can save the date April 16 8:00-10:30 to join us as a guest speaker. I would love it if you would be able to sign up. Please click here if you are able to help : http://goo.gl/forms/nQfxcMyFjA
We are really celebrating Random Acts of Kindness here at KES!!
Thank you to families who will support our “Heat Up Henrico” drive by donating gently used coats, shoes and boots. I feel so blessed to serve here at KES as your school counselor. All our classroom guidance lessons will have the theme of kindness during February. I will begin second semester groups the week of February 12th Please download the permission slip should you wish for your child to participate and send it to school.Semester II 2018
Fifth grade parents please contact me if you have any difficulty making middle school course selections. I am happy to help with needs or questions. 
