Counselor's Corner
Wolford Elementary; Where our character counts!
Welcome back to school! :-)
Hello Wolverine Parents,
Welcome to the 2014-15 school year! For some of you, this is your first experience with sending your child off to school and for many others, this is old hat. However, the first day of school can still bring on some butterflies in the stomach and maybe a few tears, and I'm not just talking about the students! I wish you the best school year ever for your child or children. I am here to help you with the normal developmental changes and challenges that sometimes arise during the elementary school years.
You may ask yourself, what does an elementary school counselor do and why would I need the services of a counselor? Consider some of these questions:
- Does your child need help learning how to handle changing friendships or how to be more assertive?
- How about your older elementary child? Would he/she benefit from learning strategies for peer refusal or better ways to communicate with family and friends?
- Do you have concerns about your child’s behavior at school or at home?
- Do you worry about cyber communication (texts, Instagram, Vine, or online video chats) with your child?
- Is your family experiencing changes such as job loss/change, new family members, separation or divorce, death or long term illness of a family member?
Your counselor is here to help!
How can I help you?
Student Services:
Individual Sessions:
- When students meet with the counselor, it is not always an indication of a problem.
- Students, teachers or parents can make a request to visit with the counselor.
- All counseling sessions are confidential and parents will be notified if there is a concern.
- Students can meet with me in my office during the day for a brief amount of time or during lunch. I use a variety of techniques like drawing or games to explore the child's concerns.
- We will focus on his/her strengths and learn and practice coping skills like assertive communication, controlling emotions, or positive self-talk.
- We can talk about normal, developmental issues like changing friendships or feelings of stress
- We can also explore ways to cope with difficult life transitions like divorce or the loss of a loved one.
Group Counseling Sessions:
- These structured groups require parent permission and focus on a specific skill like Study Skills, Friendship Building Skills, Conflict Resolution, or Leadership Skills.
- We meet during the day for about 30 minutes during the student's lunch for about 6 weeks.
- In groups, students also develop their self-confidence, learn problem solving skills and meet new friends!
School Counseling Curriculum Lessons (Guidance Lessons):
- Classroom lessons are based on National, State, and District Standards.
- I visit each class about twice a month in grades K-5.
- Guidance lessons include Character building lessons (Trustworthiness, Respect, Responsibility, Fairness, Caring, and Citizenship), Developing Leadership skills, Effective Communication with others, Conflict Management, Developing protective factors and healthy habits.
But wait, there's more! Counselors help parents too!
- Consultations: I can join you for your parent/teacher conferences or, with your permission, consult with outside professionals like pediatricians or therapists to ensure your child's needs are met in the school setting.
- Resources and Reference Info: Do you have a parenting question? I might have an answer! But, if I don't, I have websites and books to help.
- Referrals: Perhaps your child needs more support than I can provide in the school setting. I have referral information for therapists, psychologists, testing services, and counseling services that are better suited to serve your child's' needs.
- Students struggling with academics and/or behavior can also receive support. If you have a concern about your child's academic progress or behavior, contact me and I can offer support.
We will work as a team to develop and implement strategies to address the individual needs of your child. Please feel free to email or call me with any questions or concerns. I look forward to another great year with our Wolverines!
Sincerely,
Janet Nelson
Counselor
504/RtI/At Risk Coordinator
We are Wolford!
Email: jnelson@mckinneyisd.net
Website: http://www.schools.mckinneyisd.net/wolford/
Location: 6951 Berkshire Road, McKinney, TX, United States
Phone: 469-302-4705
First Day of School
Monday, Aug 25, 2014, 08:00 AM
Wolford Elementary School, Berkshire Road, McKinney, TX, United States
A little about me...
Email: jnelson@mckinneyisd.net
Website: http://www.schools.mckinneyisd.net/wolford/
Location: 6951 Berkshire Road, McKinney, TX, United States
Phone: 469-302-4705
Twitter: @counselornelson