Counselor's Chronicle
Monthly Newsletter
MEET YOUR COUNSELING TEAM
Sasha Garza
Grade Reporting Secretary
Counseling Office
210-398-2582
Mrs. Garza is the Grade Reporting Secretary, and she is the friendly face that you will meet first when you enter the counseling office. She manages the day to day operations of our office and directs students to the appropriate counselor. Prior to coming to Straus Mrs. Garza served as the attendance clerk at Vale Middle School.
Mrs. Haby
Counselor for M-Z
210-398-2577
Mrs. Haby is starting her 16th year in education and 9th year as a counselor! She started her counseling career as an elementary counselor at Michael Elementary, but she made the transition to middle school four years ago and has found a new passion serving middle school students. Recently, Mrs. Haby earned her certification as a Licensed Professional Counselor. When Mrs. Haby is not at work, she enjoys spending time with her family especially her three boys.
Mrs. Davis
Head Counselor
Counselor for A-L
210-398-2878
Mrs. Davis is starting her 18th year in education and her 12th year as a counselor! She has served students all over the district but mostly recently spent the last six years at Vale Middle School. She looks forward to getting to know our Mavericks and building an amazing counseling program that will be useful to students and parents.
Understanding the Role of the Counselor
The Northside Independent School District Guidance and Counseling Department will provide a comprehensive developmental school counseling program that is implemented by Certified School Counselors, at the campus level, PK - 12.
Northside uses as it’s framework the Texas Model for Comprehensive School Counseling Programs 5th edition (TEC §33.003 - 33.007). The 10 school counselor responsibilities/roles described in The Texas Model addresses the whole child to maximize academic achievement, social and emotional development, and post-secondary college and career readiness.
As Professional School Counselors, we offer different services to our students to help them be successful in school. Our program is based on the four components of counseling, Responsive Services, System Support, Individual Planning, and Guidance Curriculum.
Responsive Services refers to helping students through concerns, personal crises, or problems that interfere with their personal health, social, or educational development.
Guidance Curriculum is delivering skill-based lessons and units designed to help all students develop competence in essential life skills.
System Support describes the management activities which assure the delivery of a high quality counseling program and service which indirectly benefit students by supporting other programs.
Individual Planning is where students are guided in planning, monitoring, and managing their own educational, career, personal and social development. Each student is provided with necessary steps toward his/her established goals.
Important Dates
Suicide Prevention Awareness Month-September
Labor Day-September 6Hispanic Heritage Month-September 15
PTA Mtg./Cyber Security Presentation - September 28
Mega Food Bank Distribution
Friday, Sep 17, 2021, 09:00 PM
Gustafson Stadium, Culebra Road, San Antonio, TX, USA
Howdy Mavericks!
Parent Pointers: Helping Your Child Stay Organized
1. Use a checklist. Teach your child how to create a "to-do" list which will help them feel a sense of accomplishment as they check off tasks that have been completed.
2.Organize homework assignments. Help them to prioritize assignments by completing the easiest ones first and harder ones later as well as by date the assignment is due.
3. Designate a study space in your home where your child can consistently do homework or study every night.
4. Set a designated study time so that studying can take place at the same time daily but not directly after school so they have some time to unwind.
5. Keep organized notebooks by using color coded notebooks to differentiate the subjects or dividers to separate the classes. Have your child separate work to be turned in and work to be completed with pocket folders.
6. Conduct a weekly cleanup by helping your child go through their backpack every week and clean out debris and graded assignments.
7. Create a household schedule by having a consistent dinnertime and bedtime which will help your child fall into a pattern at home.
8. Keep a master calendar with all family activities and commitments to avoid scheduling conflicts.
9. Prepare for the day ahead by packing school bags the night before, laying out the next day's outfits and charging devices away from the bedroom.
10. Provide support by setting a good example and giving them reminders about filling out calendar dates.
"10 Ways to Help Your Kid Get Organized for the New School Year." Family Education, Coordinated Campaign for Learning Disabilities, 10 Sept.1999, https://www.familyeducation.com/life/getting-organized/ten-ways-help-your-child-get-organized. Family Education.