Ms. Sepp's Counselor Corner: There's Only One You

We started off the school year with a community building project inspired by the book, Only One You written by Linda Kranz.

I visited each class to read the beautiful book and discuss the powerful words of wisdom Adri's parents teach him throughout the pictures. Some important themes discussed include:

Always be on the lookout for a new friend.
Look for beauty wherever you are, and keep the memory of it with you.
Blend in when you need to, stand out when you have the chance.
Find your own way. You don't have to follow the crowd.
Know when to speak; know when to listen.
No matter how you look at it, there is so much to discover.
If you make a wrong turn, circle back.
If something gets in your way, move around it.
Set aside some quiet time to relax and reflect. Every day.
Appreciate art. It's all around you!
Make wishes on the stars in the nighttime sky.
THERE'S ONLY ONE YOU IN THIS GREAT BIG WORLD, MAKE IT A BETTER PLACE!

I focused and spent time discussing different pages depending on what was relevant for each grade level. For example, "Know when to speak; know when to listen" was more pertinent in the lower grades while "Find your own way, you don't have to follow the crowd" was relevant in the upper grades. After reading the story I explained the schoolwide project we were beginning: painting their OWN unique rock! Students were able to brainstorm different designs to plan how their rock would look.

Each Lee student created a unique rock fish to beautify our campus. Our school of fish represents the diversity and acceptance of others as unique individuals. By respecting individuality, we can each make a difference in our own lives and the lives of those around us. Trasi Judd, an artistically talented parent at our school, joined me in each class to help students design a fish to represent themselves.