Role of the Counselor

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Comprehensive School Counseling Program

A family of life-long learners committed to the journey of inquiry into the development of our whole self: academic, social, and emotional.

A comprehensive school counseling program:

  • serves all students
  • includes large and small group counseling
  • incorporates individual counseling
  • works with all stakeholders: parents, teachers, and community

A school counselor is an educator who:

  • Advocates for the student at school.
  • Provides Individual and Small Group Counseling
  • Works with teachers and parents to provide helpful suggestions and support for children's needs.
  • Provides Classroom Guidance for every class.
  • Helps in identifying academic and social/emotional needs of children.
  • Helps children understand themselves and others.
  • Provides information about community resources that would benefit children.
  • Makes referrals to outsides agencies.
  • Provides parents with resources and information.
School Counselors also:

Collaborate with Teachers and Staff
Both teachers and counselors have similar goals: the educational success of each student. So, it is important that school counselors collaborate with teachers and administrators to promote student learning. If a student is having problems in a classroom, school counselors will join together with teachers to come up with some practical strategies which will remove educational barriers and enhance the learning environment of that student.

Consult with Parents

Parents and school counselors speak with each other to help the child/student on a variety of issues such as new school registration and transition, special needs, family transitions, and crisis situations. Studies have shown that children have greater academic achievement when their parents are involved in their education. Parental involvement is critical to helping a child be a successful student. Both parents and counselors can share information with each other to help meet the needs of the student. Additionally, school counselors can help put parents in touch with community resources, if the need arises.

Provide Guidance Lessons
Guidance lessons are an integral part of the school counseling program and important to every students' academic success. One of the most effective ways for school counselors to help prevent academic problems is by discussing self-esteem issues such as peer relationships, stress, or dealing with feelings and emotions in large group guidance lessons in the classroom. The lessons are preventative in nature, designed to reach all students, and are taught in the classroom regularly by the counselor.

Provide Individual Counseling

School Counselors are available to meet individually with a student in circumstances when a student's educational success is being impacted. The School Counselor spends time working with individual students to improve their social skills, discuss feelings, and to empower problem solving methods.

School Counselors assist ALL students. It may be appropriate for a student to receive short-term individual counseling. When more attention and intervention is required, school counselors can act as a referral agent for parents to access counseling services within the community.

Provide Small Group Counseling
The purpose of small group counseling is to complement and enhance students' learning by improving their perceptions, attitudes, and behaviors. Small group counseling provides a safe setting where children, along with their peers, can increase their self-awareness and improve their cooperation and communication skills. The children can learn from each other. Ultimately the goal of small group counseling is to prevent problems in the future by teaching children new skills. Every child can benefit from participation in a small group. Students can invited to join a group by parent request, teacher or counselor suggestion, or by the students themselves.

Students must have parent permission to participate in a small groups. Letters describing what the group process is all about, with a permission slip enclosed, are sent to parents. Students must return the permission form before they can participate in a small group.

Children may talk to a Counselor when they feel:

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The Counselor and Teachers work together to help students...

Develop academically and socially

Learn about the world of work


The Counselor works with...

Community Agencies

Mental Health Agencies

Department of Human Resources

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In Which House Do You Live In?

A Poem by Vivian Merriman


"I GOT TWO A'S" THE SMALL BOY SAID

HIS VOICE WAS FILLED WITH GLEE.

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HIS FATHER VERY BLUNTLY ASKED,

"WHY DIDN'T YOU GET THREE?"

"MOM, I'VE GOT THE DISHES DONE",

THE GIRL CALLED FROM THE DOOR.

HER MOTHER CALMLY ASKED,


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"DID YOU SWEEP THE FLOOR?"

"I MOWED THE GRASS", THE TALL BOY SAID,

"AND PUT THE MOWER AWAY."


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HIS FATHER ASKED HIM WITH A SHRUG,

"DID YOU CLEAN OFF THE CLAY?"

THE CHILDREN IN THE HOUSE NEXT DOOR


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SEEMED HAPPY AND CONTENT.

THE SAME THING HAPPENED OVER THERE,

BUT THIS IS HOW IT WENT.


"I GOT TWO A'S" THE SMALL BOY SAID.

HIS VOICE WAS FILLED WITH GLEE.

HIS FATHER PROUDLY SAID, "THAT'S GREAT,

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I'M GLAD YOU BELONG TO ME!"

"MOM, I'VE GOT THE DISHES DONE,"

THE GIRL CALLED FROM THE DOOR.

HER MOTHER SMILED AND SOFTLY SAID,

"EACH DAY I LOVE YOU MORE."

"I MOWED THE GRASS,"THE TALL BOY SAID,

"AND PUT THE MOWER AWAY."

HIS FATHER ANSWERED WITH MUCH JOY,

"YOU'VE MADE MY DAY HAPPY."
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CHILDREN DESERVE PRAISE

FOR THE TASKS THEY'RE ASKED TO DO.

IF THEY'RE TO LEAD HAPPY LIVES,

SO MUCH DEPENDS ON YOU

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