The School Counselor - Mrs. Gonzalez assists students with a multitude of issues including:

Personal Counseling

• Classroom concerns & academic motivation

• Personal decision making

• Self-concept issues

• Peer and friendship concerns

• Dealing with conflict & crisis

• External issues which affect school performance

• Scheduling issues

Guidance Counseling

Communication among parents, teachers and school personnel are essential to a successful educational program. The school communicates student progress through several means:

• Progress report grades

• Semester grades

• Teacher/Administrator/Counselor calls home

• Weekly progress reports

• Parent conferences

• SST (Student Success Team) & IEP meetings

Classroom Guidance Activities

From time to time, the counselors facilitate in student development by providing guidance activities during the homeroom period that promote school success. Activities may include guidance in character development, goal setting for transition to high school, skills for learning and career/college exploration.

Intervention Counseling

The Intervention Counselor – Mrs. Glenny provides support for those students with academic challenges in one or more classes. Support is given through skill-building groups, one-on-one counseling as well as classroom guidance activities. Consultation with general education teachers, resource staff and parents is provided as well as support in SST meetings.

• Study Skills – Support is given to identified students during an after school study skills group.

School Psychology

The School Psychologist – Mr. Duranso serves individual students and groups of students through advocacy, assessment, DIS counseling, program development and direct intervention. Support and consultation are provided in IEP and SST meetings.

Transition Activities Supported Through the Counseling Department

• 5^th grade orientation (May)

• High school counseling appointments (March)

• Incoming freshman student & parent assembly (March)

Parent conferences and or SST meetings are an important way to communicate information about your child’s progress during the school year, as it provides an opportunity for exchange of information between you and your child’s teacher(s) on their academic and emotional growth.

 We suggest that you first contact the teacher(s) of the class (es) that your child is having academic challenges in to discuss the problems and come up with solutions. If the problem is with more than two classes, call to schedule a multiple teacher conference. If the academic challenges continue, an SST meeting may be scheduled which are primarily held on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month from 12:15-1:00pm or during the teacher’s conference period. Conference appointments may be coordinated with the teacher, school counselor or intervention counselor.