Camp Good Hope

Camp Good Hope is an excellent opportunity for children ages 5-18 to receive grief support in a safe and caring environment.  Please contact Hospice of Citrus County, or your child's grade level guidance counselor for more information. 
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Common Core

By now, you may have heard the term "Common Core State Standards".  Besides wondering what they are, you may also be wondering how you can help reinforce these standards at home with your child. 

First of all...what are they?
(Source: http://www.corestandards.org/)

"The Common Core State Standards provide a consistent, clear understanding of what students are expected to learn, so teachers and parents know what they need to do to help them. The standards are designed to be robust and relevant to the real world, reflecting the knowledge and skills that our young people need for success in college and careers. With American students fully prepared for the future, our communities will be best positioned to compete successfully in the global economy."

Did you know that these standards have been adopted in 45 states, and 3 US territories?  Click HERE to see exactly where these standards have been incorporated.

There are a multitude of resources where you can learn about these standards, as well as help work with your child at home on them. 
Here are a few favorite articles and resources:
The Times and the Common Core Standards
A Trial Run For School Standards That Encourage Deeper Thought
http://www.sccresa.org/toolsforschools/commoncore/

Conscious Discipline

Attention parents:

The Official 2012-2013 "Welcome"

Hello!  Welcome to the 2012-2013 school year!  We are all still settling in, and getting used to some of the changes here at IMS!  Team Guidance has experienced a shift, we have all rotated a grade level!  The counselors/grade levels are as follows:

Ms. Hooker - 6th grade
Mrs. Skoblicki (Scoma) - 7th grade
Mrs. Anderson - 8th grade

The summer was very hectic (and interesting), as we took on scheduling, and our new "Skyward" system!  We are all very excited for a fresh start - 2012-2013 already seems like it is going to be a great year! 

We wanted to share these "Just for Parents" newsletters, that are posted on the Florida Department of Education's webpage.  To view the newsletters that includes “live” links to other helpful resources, please click on the link below.
Click HERE!

We hope you have a great school year!
-Team Guidance :)



Team Guidance :)



W.E.B. Orientation

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It's Summer Time!

Team guidance is busy preparing for the 2012-2013 school year....AND enjoying some summer vacation of course!!!  See you all soon!  :)

PBS Survey

Parents, and students...please take a moment to take our PBS Survey!  The deadline is May 24th...thanks!
CLICK HERE!

5 Ways to Reduce Test Anxiety

Source:  www.GreatSchools.org

In many states children start taking standardized tests as early as first grade. With the help of the following tips, you can ease your child's anxieties about the test process:

Get the facts. Find out the exact dates your child will be tested and which tests he will take this year. Check to see if the tests will be different in any way from the ones he took the year before. Once you know what's happening, you can help your child feel ready for what's ahead.

Talk to your child. Find out whether your child is feeling nervous and if so, why. Often children feel better when they voice their fears, so give your child a chance to talk about the process. If your child is afraid of failing or doing poorly, your reassurances will help him feel less frightened.

Help your child practice. If your child is familiar with the format of the test, he'll feel more prepared. Ask his teacher or check your state's Department of Education Web site for some sample questions or other materials that can help him get acquainted with the test.

Take care of the basics. See that your child gets a good night's sleep the night before the test and eats breakfast that morning.

Keep your cool. While tests have increasing importance, they are just one measure of student learning, so try to keep the process in perspective. If you remain calm, chances are your child will probably feel calmer, too.