School Counselors Newsletter
August, 2017
Kindergarten - Second Grades:
Mrs. Stacy Wallace, LCSW, Ed.S
Third through Fifth Grades:
Ms. Sarah Lesley, Ed.S.
WHAT DO SCHOOL COUNSELORS DO?
Elementary School Counselors Implement the School Counseling Program by Providing:
School Guidance Curriculum
- Academic support, including organizational, study and test-taking skills
- Goal setting and decision-making
- Career awareness, exploration and planning
- Education on understanding self and others
- Peer relationships, coping strategies and effective social skills
- Communication, problem-solving and conflict resolution
- Substance abuse education
- Multicultural/diversity awareness
- Individual student planning
- Goal setting/decision-making
- Education on understanding of self, including strengths and weaknesses
- Transition plans
- Individual and small-group counseling
- Individual/family/school crisis intervention
- Conflict resolution
- Consultation/collaboration
- Referrals
- Professional development
- Consultation, collaboration and teaming
- Program management and operation
Parents
Parent education
Communication/networking
Academic planning
College/career awareness programs
One-on-one parent conferencing
Interpretation of assessment results
Students
Peer education
Peer support
Academic support
School climate
Leadership development
Community
Job shadowing, service learning
Crisis interventions
Referrals
Parenting classes
Support groups
Career education
BACKPACK PROGRAM
POSITIVE BEHAVIOR INTERVENTION & SUPPORT PROGRAM
Unity Grove Elementary teaches and rewards the good behavior our students demonstrate on a daily basis. We have three school wide rules:
- 1 Be Safe
- 2. Be Responsible
- 3. Be Respectful and Kind
Teachers and staff reward students on daily basis using Class Dojo. Students can be rewarded for following the school rules, classroom procedures, good behavior in all areas of the school, and good character and leadership traits. Students are rewarded with points and other classroom incentives on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis. At the end of each nine week period, if students have earned enough points their good behavior will be celebrated at our school wide Pawsome Party. Please make sure you are connected to your student’s Class Dojo account. Class Dojo will notify you of your student’s behavior and any upcoming events and information. Please contact your student’s teacher if you have any questions.
Attendance Goals
Character Education: Student of the Month
UGE focuses on one character trait a month. Students learn about the trait through announcements, class meetings, and guidance lessons. Each month we celebrate our students who demonstrate the character trait with a Student of the Month family lunch. Parents and family members of these student will receive an invitation to join their student during their lunch time to eat and visit.
August- Teamwork
September- GRIT
October- Self-Control
November- Kindness
December- Zest
January-Courage
February-Curiosity
March- Empathy
April-Helpfulness
May-Gratitude
Leadership Education: Leader of the Month
From September to April, UGE recognizes students who demonstrate leadership traits identified in our school mission statement. Each month students who are selected by their teachers and classmates will be in a school parade called the Leadership Lap to celebrate our leaders.
September- Leaders love learning
October- Leaders excel in all we do
November- Leaders achieve goals together
January-Leaders do what is right
February- Leaders exercise respect for all
March- Leaders reflect upon our successes and failures
April- Leaders show the world who we are.
No traits recognized August, December, or May
DFCS GUIDELINES FOR THE SUPERVISION OF CHILDREN
Children eight years or younger should not be left alone;
Children between the ages of nine years and twelve years, based on level of maturity, may be left alone for brief (less than two hours) periods of time; and,
Children thirteen years and older, who are at an adequate level of maturity, may be left alone and may perform the role of babysitter, as authorized by the parent, for up to twelve hours.
There are sometimes circumstances where an unsupervised older child is at risk or where a younger child has the maturity level to be left alone or to care for other children. Some examples are:
It may not be advisable to leave an older child who has a special condition or disability alone. Discuss individual case situations with the supervisor.
Consideration may be given to a child younger than 13 years, who exhibits strong maturity skills and has participated in a course on babysitting, to be alone or to care for other children. DFCS requires that the child participated in the babysitting skills class.
Suggested questions to ask to assess if your child is ready to babysit are:
Does the child know the emergency plan for the family?
Does the child know the parent's phone numbers (work and home)?
Can the child demonstrate the plan and recite the numbers?
What is the availability of the parent during this time?
Are there environmental factors that add further risk to the situation?
Are there factors that reduce risk, i.e. supportive/available neighbors?
Unity Grove Elementary
Location: 1180 Leguin Mill Road, Locust Grove, GA, United States
Phone: 770-898-8886