Questions
1)  What is the School Counseling profession?
2)  What does a school counselor do?
3)  Who does an effective School Counseling Department benefit?
4)  What services does the School Counseling Department offer?
5)  What can I do to prepare my child for testing?
6)  What is iMom?
 
Answers
1)  Q What is the School Counseling profession?
A
A profession that focuses on the relations and interactions between students and their school environment with the expressed purpose of reducing the effect of environmental and institutional barriers that impede student academic success.

SOURCE: THE EDUCATION TRUST- NEW VISION DEFINITION
2)  Q What does a school counselor do?
A
We help all students in the areas of academic achievement, personal/social development and career development, ensuring today's students become the productive, well-adjusted adults of tomorrow.

source: American School Counselor Association
3)  Q Who does an effective School Counseling Department benefit?
A
STUDENTS: GUARANTEES SERVICES TO ALL STUDENTS' NEEDS DEVELOPS PROACTIVE SKILLS FOR ALL STUDENTS PROVIDES AGE-APPROPRIATE LEVELS OF INTERACTION AND INSTRUCTION HELPS STUDENTS BECOME MORE RESOURCEFUL IN DECISION MAKING PARENTS: ENCOURAGES INVOLVEMENT OF PARENTS IN STUDENTS' LEARNING ENVIRONMENTPROVIDES PARENTS TIMELY, APPROPRIATE SUPPORT AND RESOURCES WHEN NEEDED INCREASES OPPORTUNITIES FOR PARENT, STUDENT AND COUNSELOR INTERACTION BRINGS ABOUT BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE SCHOOL COUNSELING PROGRAM TEACHERS: PROMOTES A TEAM EFFORT TO ADDRESS SCHOOL COUNSELING COMPETENCIES PROVIDES PARENTS TIMELY, APPROPRIATE SUPPORT AND RESOURCES WHEN NEEDED INCREASES OPPORTUNITIES FOR PARENT, STUDENT AND COUNSELOR INTERACTION BRINGS ABOUT BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE SCHOOL COUNSELING PROGRAM ADMINISTRATORS: CREATES A STRUCTURED PROGRAM WITH SPECIFIC SCHOOL COUNSELING COMPETENCIES PROVIDES ACCOUNTABILITY TO SCHOOL COUNSELING PROGRAM FACILITATES TEAM APPROACH BETWEEN ADMINISTRATION AND SCHOOL COUNSELING PROGRAM ENCOURAGES BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE ROLE OF COUNSELORS AND OVERALL SCHOOL COUNSELING PROGRAM COMMUNITY: INCREASED OPPORTUNITY FOR COLLABORATION AMONG COUNSELORS, STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY PROVIDES A POTENTIAL WORKFORCE WITH NECESSARY CAREER, HUMAN RELATIONS AND DECISION-MAKING SKILLS PROMOTES COLLABORATION IN PREPARING STUDENTS TO BE WELL ROUNDED AND INVOLVED CITIZENS SOURCE: WWW.NDE.STATE.NE.US
4)  Q What services does the School Counseling Department offer?
A
The School Counseling Department offers a number of services to students, parents, and faculty. These include:

Consultation with teachers
Consultation with parents
Classroom Guidance Lessons
Small Groups to deal with issues such as divorce, grief, anxiety, and anger management
Coordination of services for students, parents, and faculty
Large Groups
Individual Counseling
5)  Q What can I do to prepare my child for testing?
A
Testing has become a necessary part of the education world. To best prepare your child, make sure they get enough sleep the night before, eat a healthy meal for dinner the night before, and have the materials that they need (pencils, etc.). Additionally, it is helpful to encourage your child to just do their best and relax.
6)  Q What is iMom?
A
iMom is a monthly breakfast program that is beginning in the 2011/2012 school year. This is a unique opportunity for moms and their children to come to the school, receive a complimentary breakfast, and learn more about important ways to communicate and build a stronger relationship.

We are so excited to be starting this program this year, and hope that you will join us. The events are listed under the calendar. Please feel free to call if you have more questions. 819-2925