Timber Wolf Times

News for TMS Families Week of January 3, 2022

Principal Updates

Dear Trailside Families,

Happy New Year 2022! I hope that every family was able to take time together this past Winter Break. As addressed by Dr. Zeigler in his email last week, we do return to school tomorrow. I am also encouraging every student and staff member to stay home when sick and to report any positive cases of COVID-19. Each student and staff member should also bring home each night their device and any work for the next day. Our goal is to use every mitigation strategy available to us to keep all students and staff healthy.

All my best,

Bridget M. Beichler

Counselor's Update

Compass & SEL Learning

As shared previously, Trailside is utilizing the Second Step curriculum in our Compass classes to support our students' social/emotional development. Below are some of the topics covered in Compass over the last couple months and some questions/conversation starters to explore with your students.

6th Grade

How to Grow Your Brain

Tell your child about a time you had to learn something new. Explain whether it was hard to learn and how you learned it. Ask your child if there’s anything they would like to learn to do this year.

Trying New Strategies

Tell your child about a time you needed to change your approach in order to learn something new. Ask your child to tell you about something they’re working hard to learn and how you can help.

Making Goals Specific

Ask your child to tell you about a specific goal they’re interested in working toward and what makes it specific.

7th Grade

Creating New Pathways in Your Brain

Tell your child about a time you had to learn something challenging and explain how you persisted in learning it. Ask your child if there’s anything they would like to learn to do this year.

Learning from Mistakes & Failure

Tell your child about a mistake you made in the past and what you learned from it. Ask your child to tell you about a mistake they made and what they learned from it.

Identifying Roadblocks

Tell your child about a roadblock you encountered when you were working toward a goal, and if you had control over the roadblock.

8th Grade

My Interests & Strengths

Tell your child about a skill, interest, or ability you have and how you developed it. Discuss the skills, attitudes, or people who helped you along the way.

Harnessing My Strengths

Help your child make a list of strengths they have. Ask your child about how they could use these to get better at a new skill.

Pursuing My Interests

Tell your child about something positive or negative that influenced you as you were working toward a goal. For example, a friend who helped you find a job or learn a new skill. Ask your child about positive and negative factors that may influence them.

6th Grade Counseling Updates

Rising 7th Course Selection Presentations

It’s hard to believe we are already starting to think about 7th grade, but the time is almost here. All 6th grade students will receive their Rising 7th Grade Course Selection Presentations through Resource/Spectrum on January 18th. The window for students to start selecting their course will open on February 8th.

7th Grade Counseling Updates

One Love Presentations

All 7th graders will participate in the One Love Foundation Couplets Program, February 3rd & Feb 7th through Health/PE class. Over the 2 days, members from the Unified Mental Health Team will provide relationship health education to students to help them understand the difference between healthy and unhealthy relationships, as well as early warning signs of abuse.

The purpose of this program is to provide a forum through which students can come together to consider a very poignant example of relationship abuse as a case study and work together to generate ideas for having healthier relationships, creating a more respectful society, and improving safety for all.

The program involves a workshop which 8 animated cartoon videos and guided discussion presented by a trained LCPS facilitator. This workshop provides young people with the tools to recognize the warning signs of relationship abuse, to understand the difference between healthy and unhealthy relationship behaviors, and to learn ways to safely intervene to help a friend.

According to the One Love Foundation, 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men in this country experience an abusive relationship during their lifetime. This program aims to raise awareness among students about the warning sign of relationship abuse as well as to educate, empower, and activate young people in a movement for change.

For more information about the program visit https://www.joinonelove.org/act/couplets/.

If you would like to opt your student out of the presentations, please fill out the One Love Opt Out Form.

Rising 8th Course Selection Presentations

It’s hard to believe we are already starting to think about 8th grade, but the time is coming soon. All 7th grade students will receive their Rising 8th Grade Course Selection Presentations through Resource/Spectrum on January 21st. The window for students to start selecting their course will open on February 8th.

Career/College Lessons

It was great getting to collaborate with FACS classes and getting to talk with your students about their post-secondary plans, as well as share information about the Academies of Loudoun. If your student is currently in Tech Ed, they will participate in Career/College Lessons through FACS on February 8th through Feb 15th.

8th Grade Counseling Updates

Campus Presentation & Info

All 8th grade students participated in a virtual presentation by Mr. Chris Clarke the CAMPUS program that will be at Stone Bridge High School. To view the presentation, please watch the Campus Presentation w/Mr. Clarke. If your student is interested in applying or talking to Mrs. Perinis more about the program, please have them fill out the 8th Grade CAMPUS Interest Form.

Rising 9th Course Selection Presentations

It’s hard to believe we are already starting to think about 9th grade, but the time is coming soon. All 8th grade students will receive their Rising 9th Grade Course Selection Presentations through Resource/Spectrum on February 3rd & 4th. Counselors from Stone Bridge High School will be here to talk to students and answer any questions they may have. The window for students to start selecting their course will open on February 8th.