The Peer Helpers have been brainstorming again. This time they have reviewed the goals of the Peer Helpers and discussed things that will be helpful in training new Peer Helpers for next year. It is not too early for them to realize that the Helpers in Level Five will be moving on to Middle School and only have a few more months left here at Hamilton.

There will be new Peer Helpers to train the next two months. The Helpers decided the best way to train the new recruits will be to give them problems and help them to solve them. So there will be "role playing" of problems and the whole group will discuss the solution of the problems. The Peer Helpers are going to write little "mini-stories" to illustrate the different kinds of problems that students face at Hamilton School. We will practice in the larger group and also break into smaller groups for practice and problem solving. The biggest job the Peer Helpers have to do is being a good role model for others in the school. They feel they must provide practice so that others see them as knowing how to be good problem solvers. Peer Helpers also encourage students to write their problems in a letter addressed to the Peer Helpers and drop the letter in the box outside the counselor’s office. Students can also send an email to the counselor or if they are at home, students can use the email address on the Peer Helper webpage.

The Goals of Peer Helpers were reviewed and revised. The Helpers expect a lot of their own behavior. To be considered for training next year, a student (most of the time) must be someone who will:
· turn in their homework.
· memorize the five-step plan and be willing to get better at using and explaining it.
· follow directions from adults at Hamilton.
· understands other people’s problems and not just their own.
· be able to cooperate and work cooperatively with others.
· have good attendance.
· understand confidentiality (they do not gossip).
· not tease others.
· be able to manage conflict.
· be willing to obey all school rules.

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The Peer Helpers have noticed a pattern in the letters they have received. One Helper suggested that the Peer Helper Web Page should now be divided into categories of problems so that students can look up the help they need to help solve their problems. Over the Summer, the counselor will revise the pages to meet the standards suggested by the Peer Helpers.

NEWS FOR APRIL/MAY

In April the Peer Helpers wrote a letter to Wheatland Middle School:

Dear Middle School Counselors,
We have been doing a lot of work this school year. You can see all of the problems we helped to solve on our web site. As time goes by, however, those of us who are going into Middle School at Wheatland, have a lot of fears and insecurities of our own. We have learned that if you are not feeling good about something, it is a good idea to ask for help. Please read the thoughts we brainstormed and get back to us, please.

We have identified the following list of fears:
* Fear of being lost. The school is new to us and there are lots of classes. We are not accustomed to going to so many different locations in one day.

* We have heard that the teachers are mean and there is much more homework than we have been accustomed to having.

* Fear of getting older and added responsibilities. Our teachers and counselor are here for us when we need someone to talk to about changes.

* There will be different rules than we have been accustomed to. How will we know what the new rules are?

* We have not used lockers before. We will have to carry our books and organize our time in-between allowed trips to the lockers.

* We realize that we are going from being the oldest in our school to being the youngest in the school and that makes us feel vulberable and uncomfortable.

* How can we belong? There will be students who are new to us from different schools.
Thank you for listening.
Sincerely,
Hamilton Peer Helpers