COUNSELING CORNER

JANUARY 2021

What does an Elementary School Counselor do?

What does an Elementary School Counselor do?

What does an Elementary School Counselor do?
My name is Stacy Whisman. I enjoy working with children and helping them grow academically, socially, and emotionally. As the school counselor, I am available to help you with any problems that might interfere with your child's learning. These problems may be academic concerns, such as study skills, motivation, or lack of organization. These concerns could also be social, such as lack of friends, insecurity, or not getting along. Personal or family problems can also cause worry and anxiety. My main goal is for students to feel secure and safe. Students need to feel that they are cared about at school on a day to day basis, and all of our staff works toward this goal. If there is any way that I can help your child, please feel free to call.


Once again this year students can refer themselves for counseling in a unique way. There is a QR code in every classroom for students to be able to scan to let me know they need to check in with me. Once I have received notification that they would like to chat, I reach out to their teacher to find a time that works best in their day. Here is a link to the google form: https://goo.gl/forms/l4u8bj0CDqbuwizx2.


Students may also request a virtual visit from me from their home using this LINK.

stacy.whisman@gcisd.net 817-305-4880 octaylores-gcisd.ss18.sharpschool.com/resources/counseling
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Click this link for AT HOME RESPECT activities.

Classroom Guidance

Lessons are taught to each homeroom class 2 times each month. Guidance lessons are created using the PurposeFull People Character Education Curriculum. Although themes will be consistent among grade levels, actual lessons will be age-appropriate.



  • The character trait for the month of January is "Perseverance"
  • Guidance lessons, circle up activities, and Words of Wisdom will be taught using the PurposeFull People curriculum from Character Strong.
  • CLICK ON THE PURPOSEFULL PEOPLE LOGO TO FIND "AT HOME" ACTIVITIES.
Click this link for AT HOME RESPECT activities.

Changing Mode of Instruction from REMOTE to IN-PERSON

Changing Your Instructional Model


As a reminder, parents are able to switch from in-person to remote learning at any point during the school year. In order to make this change, please contact the campus counselor.


For families that are wishing to change from remote to in-person learning, that may only be done at the end of a grading period. The process for changing to in-person learning requires parents to log in to Skyward Family Access and complete the changing instructional models form prior to the end of the nine-week grading period. Instructions on where to find the form and how to complete it can be found here.

Below is a schedule of when the form will become available when the form must be completed, and when the change will go into effect:

  • To change after the second nine weeks, parents must complete the form between November 15 and December 4. Your student would begin receiving in-person instruction on January 6.
  • To change after the third nine weeks, parents must complete the form between February 14 and February 26. Your student would begin receiving in-person instruction on March 22.



If you have any questions regarding the timing of when parents may change the instructional model selected or the associated process, please contact me at stacy.whisman@gcisd.net.

Play It Safe is scheduled January 28, 2021

GCISD offers the "Play It Safe" program for all students in grades K-5. The GCISD School Health Advisory Council (SHAC is a volunteer council comprised of parents and community members that reflect the values of the district and community) has previewed and recommended these programs for all GCISD elementary schools. The curriculum and presentations are aligned with district philosophy. This program is a personal safety program and does not address human sexuality. Play It Safe is a child abuse prevention and awareness program that incorporates individual grade level, age-appropriate scripts and movies to teach children how to reduce the risk of sexual and physical abuse, and sexual assault. It teaches them to recognize potentially abusive behavior, provides the tools to respond to threatening situations, and encourages them to report abuse to a trusted adult.


The Women's Center of Tarrant County, Inc., uses trained employees to present a fact-based personal safety program for students. The presentations are classroom-based so that children are in a familiar environment, and feel comfortable to interact with the trainer. A video is shown, followed by a question and answer time.


OC Taylor will be showing Play It Safe to students on January 28, 2021 to our

IN- PERSON LEARNERS ONLY. (This is not available for our REMOTE students.)


Parents have the option to request that their student not participate in the above program(s). If you do NOT WANT YOUR STUDENT TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROGRAM, PLEASE FILL OUT THIS OPT OUT FORM. If a form is not completed, your child WILL participate in the Play It Safe program.


The Women's Center presented a parent preview on January 12 at 10:00 AM via Zoom. Click here to view the recorded presentation.


Videos and scripts will be available for parents to preview from 1/11/2020 to 1/19/2020. https://vimeo.com/showcase/7889498 Password: GCISD2020


If you are unable to view the videos or the parent preview, but wish to view the material, please contact The Women's Center of Tarrant County, Inc. at 817-927-4040 and ask for the Play It Safe department.
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Has the pandemic created anxiety in your child? Are you noticing more anxiety in your children and those around you? Did you miss this great training? The event will be recorded and posted here along with other recorded parent trainings.