Found this idea on Pinterest and LOVED it!  I made these for all of our faculty and staff.  It was great way to lift everyone's spirits up and make them feel appreciated.  It's important as the School Counselor to keep everyone on a positive path.  Little gestures like the "Smile File" are quick, cheap, and can help make your counseling program POP!!

Back to school: Time to try new things!

I love reading school counselor blogs!  There are so many new and creative ideas out there and a blog is a great way to share. So, one of the new things I wanted to try this year is starting my own blog.  There will be mistakes and mishaps, but I'm excited to learn and share.

Back to school is bitter sweet at my house.  I hate leaving my beautiful, blonde 2 year old son and I miss the lazy days with the important talks about the future of One Direction with my sweet, smart 9 year old daughter, but I also love the excitement of seeing the kids and knowing that I have the opportunity to help them be successful.

However, one of the things I like best about the first day is deciding what to dress up as for the first day.  Each year I dress up like a character.  I've been a DJ spinning records in the gym for the students, a cheerleader with pom poms and signs, worked the Back to School red carpet as an entertainment reporter and last year was the Fairy Godmother.  This year I decided to dress up in our schools mascot costume.  It was so much fun to open the doors for students and give high fives as they walked down the halls.  Making it even more special was walking my daughter to class and giving my son great excitement with the horse costume.  Overall, it was a fun and exciting day.

I would love suggestions for next years costume!!  Here's to a great year!!

Counseling that POPS!

Have you ever heard the term, "That really makes it POP".  It means to make something stand out and be special.  Or how about soda POP or POP music?  These are things that sound fun, exciting, and something you want to be a part of.  Our school counseling programs should be that way.  They should be the thing that makes our schools POP.  At the risk of turning off any males from reading this blog, you can think of our schools like a great little black dress, but what makes it POP is a fun and stylish necklace and clutch.  We are the necklace and the clutch or for the men a great tie to a tailored suit.  What makes a school counseling program POP - details!  The difference is in the details.  I am a firm believer in the small things making a difference.  Small details like having coffee or soda to offer a parent when they come in to talk, putting out meaningful newsletters, sending random happy notes home with students, or dressing up in silly costumes are all things that can make your school counseling program POP.  I am excited to start this blog and network with other fellow school counselors.  A new school year will soon be upon us and I can't wait to see how we make a difference!