Celebrate School Counselors Week 2006
By Jenny Noteboom, Advocacy Chair
Mark your calendars- School Counselors Week is February 6-10, 2006. The theme this year is "School Counselors: Changing lives, Building Futures". This is the perfect time for us to "toot our own horns" about the difference we make in the lives of students. In this time of shrinking budgets, promoting ourselves and our profession is becoming more and more vital. If, like me, you're a little shy about 'bragging' about yourself, following are some ideas I stole from an e-mail sent out by the South Dakota Counseling Association a few years ago.
- Do Bulletin Boards, brochures, and/or an article for the newspaper.
- Give Gum- "Counselors help us out of sticky situations."
- Give Extra Gum- "Thanks for going the EXTRA mile for our kids."
- Hold drawings for students and staff.
- Put a playing card in each mailbox with a note that says- "I appreciate the way to help "deal" with our students' issues."
- Give little stocking caps- "Thanks for helping to create a warm and caring environment for our students."
- Cake in the shape of a #1 in the staff lounge –"The Dupree Staff is #1 at supporting the school counselor".
- Candy "Gold" coins- "Dupree struck gold when they put this staff together!"
- Pretzels-"A counselor can work with you to help untangle a child's life."
- Mini package lifesavers- "School Counselors can help save a life" or "Working together, we save lives and futures."
- Provide coffee or hot chocolate samples- "Take a break on me."
- A tea-bag- "You’re tea-rrific".
- 2 pennies- "As for my two cents, you're the best!"
- Mints- "Thanks for your commit-mint" or "Thanks for your involve-mint" or "Thanks for the encourage-mint that you provide our students."
- Rubber bands- "Thanks for always being so flexible!"
- Tootsie Rolls- "Thanks for the important 'roll' you play at our school!"
- Soup packets- "You’re a 'souper' person for our kids!"
- Permanent marker- "You leave a lasting impression on our students. Thanks for all you do."
If you need some more inspiration, or maybe just a reminder of the important job you do, go to the Education World website (www.education-world.com/a-curr/curr198.shtml) and read the article, "School Counselors reflect on what makes them effective". There are even a couple of familiar names quoted!
Finally, if you’re willing to spend the money for convenience, the American School Counselor's Association has a kit you can buy for $25 from www.schoolcounselor.org that will give you everything you need to promote yourself during School Counselors Week.
Promote National School Counselors Week this year. With each of us tooting our horns, think of the racket we could make!
