Dr. Husson's School Counseling Blog

This month, all 6th grade students are participating  in a classroom simulation of reality called, “The Reality Store”. Students are given a randomly assigned “paycheck” that accurately portrays the beginning pay for a specific occupation. The occupations have education requirements ranging from ones requiring only a high school education all the way up to eight years of post high school education (i.e. veterinarian). The paychecks indicate the gross salary, the various deductions for taxes, and then “the bottom line” or net pay. The students then “spend” their check at 9 different stations in the classroom. These stations are: housing, childcare, groceries, transportation, entertainment, cell phone/cable, investments/stocks, savings, and utilities. The 10th station is “chance”  – the students draw from an envelope and increase their money by receiving a holiday gift, tax refund, or working a second job. As the students rotate through the stations, they complete a monthly budget form so they can keep up with their balance.

The students seemed to enjoy this activity and had this to say about what they learned:

“That life is not a game”

 ”Being an adult isn’t fun”

 ”Children cost a lot”

 ”Money does not grow on trees”

 ”You have to pay a lot of taxes”

 ”Buy stuff you need”

and “”How hard it is on parents and the cost of life”.

We will follow up this lesson with more career exploration activities in the following weeks. Please ask your child for details!

Filed under: Uncategorized | No Comments »

Anyone who is interested in running for student council homeroom representatives is asked to give a short speech to their homeroom peers.  This speech will show their desire to run for the position and explain why they would be the best candidate for the job.  The job of representative is to attend the monthly student council meetings, assist with school service projects, meet with staff and administration, and report information to their homeroom peers. Two representatives will be elected for each homeroom. We will finish student council elections by September 30, 2010.

Filed under: Uncategorized | No Comments »

Mountain Mediation is a local group of volunteers dedicated to solving conflicts peacefully.  They will visit 6th and 7th grade classrooms on September 22, 23, 24 to provide a lesson about bully prevention and solving conflicts peacefully. They are a valuable resource that helps to support our bully free environment. Prior to their visit Dr. Husson will visit 6th grade classrooms to survey students regarding potential bully and conflict situations.

Filed under: Uncategorized | No Comments »

We are all very pleased with the smooth transition of our rising 6th grade class.  We had over 150 students attend our Mountaineer Camp on August 12, 2010. Several students and teachers felt that the camp really helped with the smooth transition.  Students also have an opportunity to attend and after school social event sponsored by our PTO on Tuesday, August 31, 2010 from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m. We are off to great start.  Thank you students, parents, and teachers!!

Filed under: Uncategorized | No Comments »

Rising 6th grade students are invited to attend our 6th Grade Mountaineer Camp scheduled for Thursday, August 12, 2010.  Students with the last name of A-L will attend from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and students with the last name of N-Z will attend from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.  Students will attend the following three sessions: Combination Lock Practice/Map Activity, Teacher Expectations/Rules of the Road, and Mountaineer Social Scene. 

Please sign your child up for the camp by calling Dr. Annette Husson at 456-2403 or email at ahusson@haywood.k12.nc.us

Filed under: Uncategorized | No Comments »

Parents and guardians of rising 6th grade students are invited to come to one of the following scheduled parent informational meetings.  You may attend either date, May 13, 2010 or May 18, 2010 at 5:30 p.m. in the Media Center at Waynesville Middle School.  Mr. Roden, principal, Anna Williams, assistant principal, and Dr. Annette Husson, school counselor will share information regarding middle school transition and will be available for questions.

Filed under: Uncategorized | No Comments »

Dr. Husson has been to several of the elementary feeder schools to begin talking about the transition to middle school.  She welcomes any and all questions from parents and students.  Please feel free to add a comment here or email Dr. Husson at ahusson@haywood.k12.nc.us .  The following schools will visit Waynesville Middle School for a tour of the encore classes and the campus on these dates.

March 30, 2010-Hazelwood Elementary

March 31, 2010-Jonathan Valley Elementary

April 1, 2010-Central Elementary

April 2, 2010-Junaluska Elementary

April 5, 2010-Riverbend Elementary

Filed under: Uncategorized | No Comments »

6th grade Science Fair winners by category:

Life Science- 1st Place, As the Egg Rolls, by Scout Powell, Team 4, 2nd Place, Battle of the Lights, Nick Owens, Team 2, 3rd Place, Singing Young, Singing Old, Singing High, Singing Low, Madison Garris, Team 2

Physical Science- 1st Place, Stick to It, Riley Howell, Team 1, 2nd Place, Can It, Nick Napert, Team 2, 3rd Place, To Melt or Not to Melt, Matthew Fowler, Team 3

Earth Science- 1st Place, Unseen Heroes Down Below, Sam Johnson, Team 3, 2nd Place, The Effect of Human Development on Fisher Creek, Chase Cooper, Team 3, 3rd Place, Wood Your Deck, Emily Serafin, Team 3

Applied Science- 1st Place, Insulation Championship, Rachel Swaim, Team 2, 2nd Place, Acid on Ice, Ellie Hudson, Team 1, 3rd Place, The PH of Various Soda Beverages, Trevor Fisher, Team 2

Regional Winners from Western Carolina University Regional Competition:

1st Place, Physical Science, Riley Howell will continue on to the State Science Fair Competition in March.

3rd Place, Life Science, Scout Powell

Honorable Mention, Chase Cooper

Filed under: Uncategorized | No Comments »

Science Fair Sample Boards

Filed under: Uncategorized | No Comments »

6th grade students will be busy this week completing and putting the finishing touches on their science fair projects.  Projects are due on January 29, 2010, to their science teachers.  On February 4, 2010 local judging will take place followed by a Science Fair Parent Night on February 8, 2010 from 5:00 to 6:00 in the cafeteria.  You are invited that night to come by and look at all science fair projects.  On February 10, 2010, the local science fair winners will compete in the regional science fair competition at Western Carolina University.  Top projects from each 6th grade team will participate.

Filed under: Uncategorized | No Comments »