Middle School Guidance & Counseling Services
Role of the School Counselor
The counseling program is designed to help students understand themselves as individuals who have personal worth, potential, and unique abilities, but who also share social responsibilities. It is developmental in nature and attempts to provide a continuous sequence of activities to foster growth in the areas of personal development including interpersonal skills, decision-making skills, citizenship skills, study skills, self-management, self-concept, and communication skills. Counseling programs are proactive and preventive, seeking to meet needs and to avert crisis situations. Counselors offer individual and group counseling, classroom guidance, career education opportunities, school entry and schedule information.
Career Week
The annual Career Week will be presented to all 6th, 7th and 8th graders. Career Week provides students the opportunity to explore future careers by inviting various speakers from the community to discuss their occupation.
Committee/Conference
The counselors are active participants on the Instructional Leadership Team, the Student Support Team, the School-Based Planning Committee, grade-level planning meetings, and parent/teacher conferences.
Crisis Intervention
The counseling staff is ready to implement the crisis intervention plan when needed. Services include counseling and outside referrals.
Large Group Guidance
Large group guidance sessions are provided according to student needs. Examples of group topics include conflict resolution, anger management, and dealing with grief.
Independent Conferences
Counselors conference with individual students when referred by teachers, administrators, parents or student self-referrals.
Peer Diversity
Counselors work with administrators, teachers, and students to teach tolerance and respect for individual differences.
Professional Resource Center
The counselors have resource information regarding the school social worker, psychological resource personnel, private tutoring, summer school and workshops.
School Transition
Elementary to middle school and middle to high school transition activities are conducted which give parents and students the opportunity to become acquainted with the new school environments. Students gain knowledge through school visitations and presentations.
Standardized Testing
Counselors assist the Assistant Principal with the standardized testing program. These tests includes: the Eighth Grade Writing Assessment; the eighth grade Iowa Test of Basic Skills (ITBS); and the sixth, seventh, and eighth grade Georgia Milestones (GMAS).