SMS Counselor Newsletter

March, 2019

April 09, 2019

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From Mr. Weatherholt

8^thGrade Boys Basketball

The 2019 basketball season for the 8^thgrade boys has come to a close.  Their last games were played on February 19^thagainst Crete.  The record for the 8^thgrade teams were A team: 8-1, B team: 9-0, and C team: 5-2. 

The 8^thgrade A team got second place in the Seward Invitational Tournament. They were defeated by Beatrice in the championship game.  A couple other  highlights were that the B team finished undefeated with a 9-0 record and the C team had a great year losing only to Columbus Middle School and Grand Island Westridge. 

It was both a successful and demanding season as both the players and coaches put a lot time and hard work into getting better. 

The 8^thgrade boys basketball coaches for Seward Middle School during the 2019 season were Rick Weatherholt and Hans Eickmeier.  

Bully Response Team (BRT)

The Bully Response Team continues to be involved with potential bullying situations that arise and need to be addressed at Seward Middle School. Here are some things that the team has been working on:

• Stepping in and addressing a potential bullying situation when they first witness it.  
• Identifying when a situation needs to be reported to an adult first opposed to stepping in and addressing it.  
• Gathering facts when necessary.
• Giving support to the victim as well as the offenders.  In other words, after the incident has been addressed checking in with both people and offering support.  
• Coming up with ways to make the 5^thgraders more informed about the BRT process and pre

The team in finding out that every situation is different and requires a different approach.  In short, they are learning how to identify bullying, assess the situation, and then appropriately act on it.

5th Grade Orientation Planned for April 15 

at Seward Middle School

The 5^thgrade orientation for current 4^thgraders will be held on April 15th at Seward Middle School.  The students will come to the middle school during their school day and meet the core 5^thgrade teachers and other staff members.  They will also get a tour of the building, which will be conducted by current student council members and other.

High School Counselors Help 8^thGraders Transition to High School

The high school counselors came to the middle school on January 30^th to meet with the 8^thgraders regarding class offerings in 9^thgrade.  They talked to the 8^thgraders about their schedule and sent them home with the necessary materials that they need to discuss class choices with their parents.   The counselors came back on February 6^thto assist the 8^thgraders with inputting their information into the computer system so that their schedule will be ready for them when they start school in August.  

8^thGRADERS TO VISIT UNL

The 8^thgraders will do a college visit on the UNL campus on April 24. The first part of the visit will involve meeting with college personnel and getting information about UNL and the overall college experience. The 8^thgraders will then go on a campus tour. After the tour they will eat lunch in one of the dorm cafeterias and then take a guided tour of Memorial Stadium. It should be a great experience for the 8^thgraders to get a taste of what campus life is like.