From the Chair: Welcome Back to the New Normal

As I write this, it is the first day back for students in our building. It is joyful to hear noise in our hallways once again after the quiet of the hybrid model last year. It truly fills my heart with happiness. Although masking didn’t allow us to see the smiles today, I could definitely tell they were there. This start may not be what we all hoped for, but it is one that we are now prepared for. I am proud of how flexible we all have become. We have learned to operate in a remote world, reach out to students virtually, deliver our lessons and still try to make sure all students are being serviced.

This also forced some of us to learn new things and make changes that pushed us out of our comfort zones. At the Connecticut School Counselor Association, we began to offer more frequent professional development opportunities to support each other in this time of change. I think the virtual world made it easier for us to take the time to learn, share and not feel isolated. That is a change that will become our new normal. Our Government Relations Advocacy Committee learned about virtual testimony and letter writing. More than in any year before, you helped support this. This year we are building our strategic plan for the next five years and need your feedback on what we can do to best support you. You will receive a survey – please consider taking a moment to fill it out to give us the information that we need to make sure this organization continues to meet your needs.

Finally, a big thank you to all of our governing board members past and present who have stepped up and volunteered their time to make this organization one that truly represents school counselors in the state. The number of hours that have been given in service to others is humbling and remarkable. I encourage you to step up and join a committee, present at our conference, present a professional development session, or help us advocate for school counselors at the state level. Only together can we support each other in successfully forming our new normal. I wish you all the best in your new school year. Know that we are here to support you.

Contact Sharon Veatch, chair, CSCA Board of Directors, at sveatch@hvrhs.org.