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About the Guidance and Counseling
Program |
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The Elementary and Middle
School Guidance and Counseling Program
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Teacher/Counselor Teamwork Is
Vital For An Effective Guidance And Counseling Program
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Counselors Work With Parents
To Help Them Understand ...
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Guidance And Counseling
Offers ...
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Who Is A School Counselor?
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How does a Student See a
Counselor
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Catholic School Counselors
are Professionals
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Confidentiality
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Small Groups |
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The Elementary And
Middle School Guidance And Counseling Program |
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Focuses on serving the needs of all our children
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Provides programs and services that help children develop spiritually,
academically, emotionally, personally, and socially.
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Provides classroom guidance sessions, small group counseling and
individual counseling for students, with the counselor.
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Provides on-going support and consultation with teachers in determining
needs of students and recommendations for meeting these
needs.
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Provides on-going support and consultation with parents assisting them
with understanding their children's needs. |
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Teacher/Counselor Teamwork
Is Vital For An
Effective Guidance And Counseling Program |
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Counselors
and Teachers:
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Collaborate on identifying student needs and concerns.
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Collaborate on developing and initiating recommendations that meet
those needs.
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Collaborate on sharing information and professional training and
skills.
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Collaborate with community counseling professionals/agencies for
coordinating efforts in meeting children's needs.
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Consult closely with parents to maximize educational growth for their
children. |
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Counselors Work With
Parents To Help Them Understand ... |
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their children's personal growth and development;
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their children's emerging feelings and behaviors;
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the importance of identifying and accommodating their children's needs;
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the impact of family changes on children. |
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Guidance And Counseling Offers ... |
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Classroom Guidance Activities
Classroom
guidance activities/sessions are offered for students within
the classroom setting. Topics for these developmental
guidance sessions include: understanding self and others;
communications skills; relational and social skills; anger
management; coping with conflict; and career awareness.
The
counselor works with small groups of students to develop
competencies in certain areas such as school adjustment,
study skills, anger management, and improving peer
relations. Specific groups are formed to address a certain
area such as divorce, self-concept, and new student
orientation.
Help is
given in developing more positive attitudes and behaviors.
Reaching potential, getting along with others, and coping
with difficulties that may interfere with school success are
among common topics of counseling. Counseling helps students
assume responsibility for goal setting, decision making, and
development of problem solving skills.
Parents are
encouraged to call the counselor about student or school
concerns. The counselor is also available during the
regularly scheduled parent-teacher conference times.
Consultation among counselor/teacher/parents is the norm for
initiating dialogue and continuing follow through about
students' needs, concerns and progress.
The
counselor can provide information to families about agencies
in the community where help can be found when the need
arises. The counselor and school personnel are obligated by
state law to report suspected cases of child abuse and
neglect to the Department of Social Services.
During the
year, the counselor may sponsor group sessions on a variety
of topics including parenting skills, discipline techniques,
relationship issues, and homework hassles.
The
counselor is the designated leader of the school's Crisis
Intervention Management Team. |
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Who Is A School Counselor? |
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a professional with a masters degree in counseling and guidance or a
related field of study
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a certified and specially trained person
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an advocate for all students
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a professional who assists in the identification of children with
special needs
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a resource person, c coordinator, a group leader
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a consultant
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a professional who helps teachers, staff members, adults and parents in
understanding children
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a vital member of the school team |
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How Does a Student See a Counselor |
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There are
three ways a student sees a counselor:
1. Student
self-referral
2.
Teacher/Administrative referral
3. Parent
referral |
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Catholic School
Counselors are Professionals |
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The Diocesan School System has master level counselors at each school
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Counselors and the school system hold membership in several national
and state professional associations
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Yearly, the counselors participate in numerous professional programs in
order to increase their knowledge and enhance their
professional skills. |
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Confidentiality |
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Catholic
school counselors follow the American School Counselor
Association's ethical standards and governmental law in
maintaining confidentiality.
When a
child reveals he/she or someone else is in danger, the
counselor will notify the appropriate parties. |
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Small Groups |
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Students
are invited to participate in a small group with one of the
counselors during the school year. We would like all
students to have a chance to participate. Small group
counseling gives the counselors a chance to work on specific
skills with students and get to know students in a smaller
setting. Participating in small groups does not indicate a
problem. The following groups are being offered. More groups
will be offered in the Spring. If you are interested in
having your child participate in a group, please contact the
counselors.
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Friendship
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Self-esteem
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Study Skills
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Anger Control
Theresa Anderson works with Kindergarten through Third
Grade.
Sandra Logan works with Fourth and Fifth Grade. |
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Student Assistance Team
S.A.T. |
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The SAT is
a resource that is now available to help students reach
their full potential. The team works with the classroom
teacher and/or parent to develop strategies and
interventions that address any concerns that are interfering
with high school success.
The
concerns may include academic, behavioral, social, or other
issues such as attention, speech language, fine motor, etc.
The team
will meet every Wednesday during lunch times. Please fill
out the SAT referral form and place in the
appropriate box in Mrs. OBrien's office. You will be
scheduled as soon as possible, usually within a one to two
week time frame. If you have any questions, please contact
any of the SAT members:
Sharon Broxterman
Theresa Anderson
Judith Akins
Jackie McElrath
Anna
O'Brien
Patty Paradis |
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Classroom Guidance Topics |
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August -
Introduction - Meet the counselors - What are counselors
for?
September -
Listening/Study Skills
October - Friends/Tattling
November - Getting Along/Manners
December - Character Building
January - Conflict Resolution
February - Problem Solving
March
- Decision Making
April
- Careers
May -
Positive Attitudes/Evaluations
The above list is only a guideline to follow. Many times
the topics change depending on what is needed in the
classroom at that time. Some topics take more time and
lessons are extended. 1st grade and 2nd
grade have a specific series that is being used.
*Stranger safety will be worked in during one of the
months.
Stranger safety focuses on three rules:
1.
Say No!
2.
Get Away!
3.
Tell Someone!
Check First before you go anywhere with anyone!
Series used in Classroom Guidance:
K - Kelly Bear
1st - I Care Cat
2nd TRAILS (Teaching Resiliency
and Instilling Life Skills) |
