New
Student Orientation: At the start of the school year the guidance
department organizes the New Student Orientation. This takes
place the day before the first day of school. Students are given
a tour of the school and they are introduced to their teachers.
Once school begins a "Buddy System" is encouraged,
as well as follow up with the teachers and the students to ensure
that there is a match to the new students' needs. Typically this
is most important at the beginning of the school year, when new
students are first meeting their fellow schoolmates as well as
learning their way around our rather large building. Communication
between the counselor, the new student, and the parents is monitored
closely to ensure that they are adjusting. If they are not, interventions
are implemented that will assist with the adjustment process.
On occasion, the school counselor will issue the entrance exam
for students arriving mid-year. A short tour is provided for
the student. Parents are contacted after each new student has
been in school for a week or two just to follow up on the adjustment
process.
Preventative
Lessons in the Classroom: Kindergarten and first grade classrooms
receive social skills lessons.
These
lessons deal with topics
such as feelings, conflict resolution, respect, etc. Second through
fifth grade classrooms receive classroom guidance lessons that address
a variety of different issues. Popular topics for lessons are bullying,
friendship, and respecting others/property/selves. Examples of mini-units
include: Celebrating Diversity, Different Families for Different
Folks, and Study Skills to get you Back on Track.
Conflict Resolution: An ongoing responsibility is to be available
for meetings and counseling sessions with students and others involved
in conflict situations. These meetings are solution focused, and
make
use of techniques such as understanding the other's point of view,
and seeking a resolution that is mutually acceptable, and even attractive.
Individual Counseling: Individual counseling is
available at the request of teachers, parents, or students. The
counselor will meet
with the
child, in the time that the teacher makes available, to talk about
issues that are important to the child's life at the time, particularly
as they are affecting his life at school. In the case of conflict
with another child or teacher, a meeting with the parties involved
is arranged
after first meeting with the child identified as "having the problem".
The counselor may meet only once with a child or up to 10 sessions,
rarely more than that.
Group Counseling: Group programs typically run 6-8 weeks with groups
meeting one period a week. Depending on the nature of the issues
addressed in the groups, we obtain candidates through teacher recommendation,
parent request, and even through student initiative. Past group programs
have dealt with issues such as divorce/separation, self-esteem, social
skills, and ADHD. In a school this large, group counseling methods
are employed whenever we find there are several students with similar
needs. These programs have been met with enthusiastic support from
the ASFM community and staff members.
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Parent
Support: Parent support is available on request from
parents. The school counselor will meet with them to discuss
parenting style and conflicts, and to assist them in developing
more effective relationships and interactions with their children.
This may involve meeting s with the teacher and the parents,
or with the child and the parents.
Class
Observation/Consultation: At a teachers' request, the
counselor may observe a child in the classroom or on the playground.
These observations can be for supporting the teacher with suggestions
for teaching, supporting the child in social situations, or making
recommendations to parents.
International
Families Network: The school counselor is the school
liaison for the IFN. IFN meets once a month, and addresses needs
and concerns of international families and students, providing
support, information, and a channel for communication with the
school administration. The counselor attends and occasionally
facilitates their monthly meetings that aim to address the unique
needs and concerns of international families and students.
Referral
of Parents to Community Mental Health: Along with the
school psychologists the counselor maintains a list of Spanish
and English language resources available in the community for
the use of parents, children, and teachers.
ITBS: In
conjunction with the curriculum office, the guidance counselor
orders materials for and oversees the delivery of the annual Iowa
Test for Basic Skills. We provide an in-service for the faculty
prior to administering the test, and we discuss the results both
with staff and with concerned parents.
Staff
Support: The guidance counselor is available for staff
support and confidential discussion of personal and professional
concerns. The counselor offers professional development sessions
after school on topics such as stress management. In August,
a support group for new teachers is organized and monthly meetings
specifically for new teachers are coordinated between administration
and counseling. Parenting Seminars: Parenting support groups/
classes are offered in the fall and the spring for interested
parents. Classes are available in English and in Spanish. |
