Guidance Information
What is a School Counselor?
The Professional School Counselor, as an integral part of the school staff, is dedicated to assist students to enhance and enrich their personal development. It is through an accepting, non-evaluative relationship that students are better able to understand themselves and their environment.
The Professional School Counselor is a professional educator and a specialized counselor. The School Counselor has earned a Master's Degree and is licensed to provide services in a school setting by the state of Virginia. The major concern of the School Counselor is for the normal developmental needs of all students in the school. The School Counselor coordinates and provides a program of prevention and intervention services using the helping processes of counseling, consulting, coordinating, and conducting guidance activities.
Mission Statement
The school counselor seeks to facilitate the healthy development of all students in their educational, career, and personal lives through intentional efforts of quality and supportive services provided through a developmental guidance and counseling program.
~ Meet with individual students
~ Meet with students in small groups
~ Visit classrooms to teach guidance lessons
~ Help identify needs of students
~ Encourage better interpersonal relationships
~ Promote positive attitudes and choices
~ Aid teachers and parents in helping students
~ Assist people in making use of community resources
~ Coordinate efforts with other school programs
~ Coordinate referrals to outside agencies
Guidance is conducted in each classroom throughout the year. Sessions typically last for thirty minutes and include a number of activities related to the subject including storytelling, games, videos, puppetry, role-play, and art-related projects. Depending upon the grade level, the following subjects are taught.
~ Social/Friendship Skills
~ Respecting Others
~ Expression of Feelings
~ Bullying
~ School Success/Study Skills
~ Problem Solving
~ Leaning Styles
~ SOL Preparation
~ Elementary to Middle School Transition
~ Goal Setting
~ Career Exploration
~ Resolving Conflict
Small Groups
Students are referred to small groups by teachers, parents, administrative staff, and self-referrals. Permission will be sought from parents/guardians before a student begins a small group.
Depending upon the grade the, the following small groups are offered:
~ Study Skills
~ Social/Friendship Skills
~ Grief and Loss
~ Changing Families (Separation, Divorce, and Step-Families)
~ Anger Management
~ Salvaging Sisterhood (Relational Aggression in Girls)
~ Additional topics as needed
Programs Associated with the Counseling Department
Peer Conflict Mediation Program
Peer Conflict Mediators are a group of 12 fifth grade students who are nominated by their peers and teachers. Conflict mediators receive specific training to teach them how to help other students peacefully resolve their differences. Students in second to fifth grade who need mediation services either voluntarily seek services or are referred by teacher or administrators.
Character Team (C-Team)
C-Team members are a group of 12 fifth grade students who are nominated by their teachers. These students are models of good character and assist with the Character Counts program and Character Counts Committee.