The Pulse
Supporting Learning That Is Vital and Personal
From Our Social Workers
Community Holiday Program Update:
I would like to give a big “Shout Out” to our social workers! Their Community Holiday Program has signed up several hundred families in need of support over the holidays. Our team has worked many long hours after their daily duties, as well as on the weekends. Many thanks to you all for helping to support our community and our children!!
Counselors, please contact your social worker if you need holiday support for any of your families.
Counselor Update
Congratulations to RAMP winners, North Forsyth High School, who were recently honored at the Georgia School Counselors Association Conference in Augusta Georgia. Leslie Hamilton, Counselor at Silver City Elementary is running for President Elect for GSCA. Voting is open through December 1, 2014.
I was able to attend this conference and sit in on several excellent sessions. Dr. Trish Hatch continues to blaze the trail of advocacy for all of our counselors. Her pre-conference workshop on “Hatching Results: The Use of Data to Effect Change”, highlights the important role of counseling in education today, as well as the importance of being data driven and a support system for classroom instruction and the RTI process. We will be talking about this more at upcoming counselor meetings.
I was also able to hear the President of ASCA speak about the new Mindsets and Behavior Standards for Student Success. They align perfectly with our district’s Strategic Plan and Learner Profile. I took the liberty of aligning these standards under the major headings of our Learner Profile. This document highlights your vital role. We will be sharing this information, along with this video clip from Arne Duncan, at upcoming principal meetings. No doubt our principals support the work of our counselors’ whole heartedly....but it is always nice to have a reminder of the important work you do and to make certain everyone has a clear understanding of your role.
In closing, here is a great opportunity for an Online Ed.S in School Counseling, through Valdosta State University, if you are interested!