Happy New Year from NEALS

Hello friends,

As a new year opens, I always like to take some time to reflect on where I've been and think about where I hope to go. This January has found me, once again, grateful for the opportunity to be in such great company both in my 'paying gig' at Fay School, but also as a member of the NEALS community. This tends to be the quietest time of year for those of us on the Executive Board. It is a welcome change from the rush of putting together the fall meeting, but it is a time when I miss the regular contact I have with many of you.

If you are feeling a similar need to connect with your NEALS colleagues, I hope you will consider sharing your thoughts, wisdom, and enthusiasm with us both in our online community and at our upcoming spring meeting.

Speaking of which, I have some new information to pass along regarding our spring meeting. As I mentioned earlier, we will be meeting at Fay School on the same day as Fay's annual Research Into Practice conference. This year's title is Developmental Counseling in Independent Schools: Best Practices Related to Integrated Services. There will be seminars for administrators, elementary educators, counselors, deans, and learning specialists on the topic of how to implement integrated services, early literacy development, and counseling focused on the developmental wellness model. The RIP folks have invited us to attend the morning keynote address (more details to follow) before we break out into our presentation groups. Lunch will be divided into 'affinity groups', so there will be plenty of time to catch up with one another!

So, watch your mail for more information about May 8th and make plans to hit the road with your school counselor, Dean of Students, or Dean of Faculty for what promises to be a wonderful day of education, celebration, and camaraderie.

In the meantime, don't be a stranger!
Kara