Starting this year, I’ll be sharing our guidance lessons here on the blog so families can follow along with what we are learning at school. Communication and connection are at the heart of what we do, and I want you to see the skills, conversations, and growth our students are experiencing each week. Each post will highlight what we covered in guidance and why it matters. Together we can support our students in building confidence, resilience, and strong character.

Lesson 1: Belonging, Support & Identity

The very first guidance lesson of the year is always about setting the tone. I started by introducing myself and sharing a little about my role as the school counselor. We talked together about when students can come to me and the kinds of things we learn about in guidance: the brain, kindness, respect, and how to grow stronger both inside and outside the classroom.

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Belonging & Our Pledge

From there, we had a conversation about what it means to belong in our Cougar community. Students helped brainstorm ideas for our Belonging Pledge. These are short, powerful promises about how we can help everyone feel safe, welcome, and included. While students didn’t sign the pledge this time, it will stay in the guidance classroom as the foundation for posters that will be displayed throughout the school later this year. This way, their words can remind our entire school family what it means to create a culture of belonging.

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“This Is Me” – Celebrating Identity

Each student completed a This Is Me handout, which gave them space to describe themselves in creative ways. They wrote down three words they use to describe themselves, drew a picture of their favorite activity, shared something they are good at, named a goal for the year, and identified a place where they feel safe.

As they read their pages aloud, something powerful happened: connections were made. Students realized that they had favorite activities in common, shared dreams, and even similar struggles. Many children said that math is something they’re working on this year. And when they shared their safe places, it was heartening to hear how often they mentioned home and school. A sign that they already recognize they have strong support systems around them.

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Connecting Through Story

If time allowed, we closed the lesson with the first chapter of Way of the Warrior Kid by Jocko Willink. This book will be our companion throughout the year as we follow Marc, the main character, on his journey of growth and resilience. Students will not only read about Marc’s struggles, but also reflect on their own areas for growth and the steps they can take to become stronger, kinder, and more confident.

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✨ Why It Matters
This first lesson was about belonging and identity—helping students see that they are supported, valued, and connected. They walked away with reminders of who they are, what makes them special, and the truth that they are never alone in their learning journey.

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Be wild enough to explore, and wise enough to grow.
Mrs. B.

You can find the Way of the Warrior Kid books by Jocko Willink through many booksellers, including Amazon and most major retailers. These books have been a staple in my own home with my children for years, and I’m excited to share them with our students this school year. I encourage you to check them out if you’d like to follow along at home!