Counselor Connection
Welcome Back!
Once you have sent a referral, I will work the child into my schedule of other individuals, groups, and classes. I typically try to pull during a specials time and usually do not keep the child for longer than 20 minutes. Occasionally we may go over, but typically this is enough time to work with a student from week to week. I will have some students who I see regularly, either weekly, bi-weekly or monthly. For any student that I schedule, you will get a Google Calendar appointment email. This is not a requirement for you to attend unless you feel like you need to, but rather so you know when the student should be sent. I will also put an appointment card with the same information on it in your mailbox. This appointment card should be given to the student before they come to see me. This card serves as a reminder for the student, as a hall pass and it helps the ladies in the front office know why the student is in the office.
You can save this link to your Google chrome bar by clicking on the green lock and then dragging it to the tool bar.
Reporting Suspected Child Abuse or Neglect
You will be receiving full training Child Abuse and Neglect through Safe Schools modules in the coming weeks. If you have questions following that training, please see me or Mrs. Goodwin.
Everyone in the building is a mandated reporter. You are all able to report to DFCS on any suspected case of child abuse or neglect.
I can also put these reports in the system. We have yellow forms in the front office that you will need to complete so that I have all the information to put into the system. I most commonly complete the online form submission and recommend this as well. You get an email in return that your submission has been seen. Typically, they will call that same day to follow-up with any remaining questions.
Backpack Buddies
- Rushing food lines due to extreme hunger
- Extreme hunger on Monday mornings
- Quickly eating all of the food served and asking for more
- Asking when the next meal/snack will be served
- Regularly asking their teacher for food
- Saving/hoarding/stealing food to take home for themselves and/or a sibling
- Lingering around for or asking for seconds
- Comments about not having enough food at home
- Asking classmates for food they don't want
- Other information regarding the child's home situation that requires the need for food.
I will then give you a form to complete and a form to send home with the student. I need both forms in order to serve the student, so please emphasize that this is to help the child and the family.
Alicia Porras
School Counselor