From the Middle School Counselor

by Molly Attoe

Hello from Ms. Attoe, middle school counselor! I’d like to share a few pieces of information regarding resources and the start of a new year. During Meet Your Teacher night on Aug. 24, Spencer held a school supply giveaway for any families in need of supplies. These supplies are donated yearly by the project Fill a Backpack, Fill a Need (FABFAN) run through the Workplace Volunteer Council in Wausau. We have many families utilizing this resource to prepare for the year, so we are truly grateful for the large donation! Remaining supplies are regularly utilized throughout the year by students and classrooms.

The first day of middle school included a wide variety of activities to prepare for the remainder of the year! Students traveled through a rotation of stations, with some running through expectations and others providing opportunities for building positive connections and school climate. Middle school students and staff took time to collaborate regarding what characteristics we’d like our members to develop and portray throughout the year. In groups, students identified one characteristic and created a poster aligned with it. Our hallway is now plastered with these posters, as a reminder to be accountable for your words and actions. Our goal is for the middle school to be a positive and safe environment for all!

Coming up, Spencer will host a winter gear giveaway in preparation for the cold months. If families are in need of winter gear, including coats, hats, gloves, boots or snow pants, they are encouraged to attend and gather items. Local churches have been generous enough to hold various drives to gather these materials needed to meet the needs of our school community. We are so thankful for a community that works to take care of its people. This will occur Oct. 27 from 1-4 p.m. and Nov. 2 from 4-7 p.m. during parent-teacher conferences in Mrs. Boon’s classroom within the fourth- and fifth-grade hallway. Families can also schedule a time to come in by calling the school and reaching Mrs. Boon, elementary school counselor.

This year, I’d like to get our middle school students into the community and giving back. I am looking for information regarding any volunteer opportunities or community service projects that we could be a part of. If you have ideas, please email me at mattoe@spencer.k12.wi.us.

I greatly appreciate it!