Barker Counseling Center
Fall 2023
We are having a great start to the school year! Thank you for supporting your child(ren) academically, socially, and emotionally. Remember the Barker counseling team is ALWAYS here to help make sure our students are safe, happy, and successful!
We are here to support in the areas of academics, personal success skills, meeting with teachers and families, and college and career exploration.
SNACK PACK PROGRAM
The Samaritan Community Center partners with schools to provide sacks of food to eligible children on a weekly basis through the Snack Pack for Kids Program. The program will provide 8-10 food items to students each Friday afternoon so they will have food available for the weekend. If your child could use a snack pack, please fill out the form below.
Google Form: https://forms.gle/kqQjSKUDqP47TJuk9
Paper Form: SnackPack Form
BARKER GIVES BACK
What is the Gives Back program?
The purpose is to assist student needs with resources to insure they are successful, strong, and striving students through caring and purposeful donations.
Vision: To use a network of parents/guardians to communicate the needs of students within our school as established by our counselors, in the hopes that people within the school would be able to meet these needs.
If your child needs resources, such as food, clothing, or school supplies, please e-mail our school counselors.
If you’d like to learn more about the Barker Gives Back program or would like to be a part of our Gives Back Committee, please e-mail our school counselors.
LSisemore@bentonvillek12.org and chamaker@bentonvillek12.org
Free and Reduced Meals Application
Apply online for free or reduced priced meals at the Family Portal. Select "APPLY FOR BENEFITS" to complete the online application. If you wish to complete the paper application, you may download the English Application or the Spanish Application. You may also request a printed copy from your school's office.
We are here to help! If you need assistance completing your application, contact Annette Bunton at (479) 254-5095.
REQUEST TO SEE THE COUNSELOR
If your child needs to see the counselor they can tell their teacher or fill this form out on their counseling google classroom. This link also gives you as a parent a chance to fill out a referral if you feel your child might need to visit with one of us. We will make sure to see them in a timely manner.
Google Form: https://forms.gle/jqHF4uizEsv8SxM4A
A Message From the PTO
Our Fall Spirit Wear is in full swing and ready to be shopped. Spirit Wear will run until September 17th, so you have plenty of time to shop.
https://barkerbruins2023.itemorder.com/shop/home/
We have our google form up and ready for you to sign up to be part of our wonderful committee boards. You can access the form through this link.
https://forms.gle/XR5mWDQmG1udD7CF9
If you would like to make a monetary donation to help with all our fun activities planned for the year, you can do so through our PayPal account.
Another fun way to help raise money for the school as well as helping purchase donations is through our Walmart Sparks Good account on Walmart.com. You can sign up to round up your online purchases and the extra change comes back to the PTO, or you can purchase items off of our wish list currently available. The wish list will be updated throughout the year and more information will be sent out when we do.
https://www.walmart.com/nonprofits/49984369-763c-4a9d-8278-1f4ee10e21e9/profile
You can stay up to date on current activities through our Remind link.
You can search for us on Remind. Our code is @ruthhal
We now have an official PTO Facebook page as well as an Instagram account. You can follow us at Barker Bruins PTO.
Our first meeting is August 24th at 10 am. We look forward to seeing you all then.
Thank you
Samantha Richey SmithKelsey Conkling
Here is a quick list of some of the things she can help with:
- Connect with students at high risk for truancy and chronic absenteeism
- Attendance interventions with students and families
- Assistance with Family in Need of Services (FINS)
- Assistance with identifying and supporting families experiencing homelessness (McKinney-Vento Act)
- DHS correspondence
- Connect with students experiencing domestic violence, abuse, neglect and poverty
- Build a relationship with parents to facilitate their support in their children's school adjustment and educational needs
- Assist parents in accessing and utilizing school resources
- Provide crisis intervention
- Obtain and coordinate community resources to meet students' needs
Email: kconkling@bentonvillek12.org
Website: https://www.bentonvillek12.org/page/social-work
Location: 1701 Northeast Wildcat Way, Bentonville, AR 72712, USA
Phone: (479) 367-8048
CONFIDENTIALITY STATEMENT
As professional school counselors, we respect the rights of confidentiality in regard to personal information disclosed during the course of counseling sessions. Brief summaries of the situation and suggested resolutions may be discussed with need-to-know individuals (e.g. parents, teachers, administration) or if the student grants permission. As mandated reporters, the counselor is required to report all revelations that involve risk to a child or others to appropriate personnel immediately.
LASHEY SISEMORE
Email: lsisemore@bentonvillkek12.org
Website: https://www.bentonvillek12.org/o/rbms/page/counselors
Location: Ruth Barker Middle School, Southeast 18th Street, Bentonville, AR, USA
Phone: 479-696-3300
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100057277516272&mibextid=LQQJ4d
Twitter: @BarkerBruins
CASSIE HAMAKER
Email: chamaker@bentonvillek12.org
Website: https://www.bentonvillek12.org/o/rbms/page/counselors
Location: Ruth Barker Middle School, Southeast 18th Street, Bentonville, AR, USA
Phone: 479-696-3343
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100057277516272&mibextid=LQQJ4d
Twitter: @BarkerBruins