Counselor Connection
October/November 2018
Welcome to Stonewall Middle School's School Counseling Department Website!!!
If this is an emergency, please visit the Counseling Department immediately (or during the next school day). Parents should email their students' counselors to set up an appointment.
Useful Phone Numbers:
- Suicide Hotline: 1.800.784.2433
- PWC Police Department Non-emergency Number: 703.792.6500
- ACTS Helpline: 703.368.4141
- Crisis Text Hotline: 703.940.0888
Important Information
Need to see your school counselor? Click on one of the links below to request an appointment with your grade level counselor.
Mr. Simenauer (6th Grade Professional School Counselor) SIMENAUR@pwcs.edu
Ms. Breski (7th Grade Professional School Counselor) BRESKIDM@pwcs.edu
Ms. Daley (8th Grade Professional School Counselor and Counseling Director) DaleyLA@pwcs.edu
Schedule Changes
Thomas Jefferson Test Preparation Sessions 2018
TJHSST Test Preparation Sessions 2018
At Benton Middle School, 7411 Hoadly Rd., Manassas
Saturdays: September 29, October 20, November 3
9 a.m. to noon
(please do not drop students off prior to 9:00 am)
Free for all PWCS 8th Graders
applying to TJHSST
Bring pencils, erasers, water bottle
(NO CELL PHONES)
All 8th Graders planning to attend these Test Prep Sessions must submit their TJ Application on-line by September 28th.
If you plan to attend this Saturday, Sept. 29, please email
Mrs. Bastian by Friday, Sept. 28th, 5:00 p.m.
Three test sections (math, verbal, science) as described on the TJHSST website with be given with short breaks in between.
High School Specialty Program Information
Stonewall Jackson High School is hosting a high school specialty program night on Monday, October 22, 2018 at 7:00 p.m - 9:00 p.m.
The following high schools will be represented to include Battlefield, Brentsville, Patriot, Stonewall Jackson, Colgan, Forest, Gar-Field, Potomac, and Woodbridge). This is an opportunity to find out about all high school specialty programs in PWCS.
Colgan High School Center for Fine and Performing Arts Application deadline is December 10, 2018.
The High School Specialty Programs Application deadline in February 1, 2019.
Click on the link below to directly access PWCS High School Specialty Program Opportunities website.
Signs of Suicide (SOS)
Dear Parent or Guardian:
The adolescent years are marked by a roller-coaster ride of emotions—difficult for youth, their parents, and educators. It is easy to misread depression as normal adolescent turmoil; however, depression (among the most common of mental illnesses) appears to be occurring at a much earlier age. Depression—which is treatable—is a leading risk factor for suicide. In addition, self-injury has become a growing problem among youth.
To proactively address these issues, your student’s school is offering depression awareness and suicide prevention training as part of the SOS Signs of Suicide® Prevention Program. The program has proven to be successful at increasing help seeking by students concerned about themselves or a friend and is the only school-based suicide prevention program listed by SAMHSA for its National Registry of Evidence-Based Programs and Practices that addresses suicide risk and depression, while reducing suicide attempts. In a randomized control study, the SOS high school program showed a reduction in self-reported suicide attempts by 40% (BMC Public Health, July 2007).
Our goals in participating in this program are straightforward:
To help our students understand that depression is a treatable illness
To explain that suicide is a preventable tragedy that often occurs as a result of untreated depression
To provide students training in how to identify serious depression and potential suicidality in themselves or a friend
To impress upon youth that they can help themselves or a friend by taking the simple step of talking to a responsible adult about their concerns
To help students know whom in the school they can turn to for help, if they need it.
The Stonewall Middle School Student Services Department will be running the SOS Program for the 7th grade students during their 2nd & 6th period class (PE) on November 14th and 15th.
Following the video, the students will participate in a follow-up discussion and complete the response cards, indicating whether or not they need to talk to someone about themselves or a friend. Homeroom teachers, school social worker, school psychologist and counselors will be facilitating the process and providing support to students who may need it. The Student Services Department will be reviewing the response cards to identify any students who might need intervention. The students will be putting their names on the response cards in order to accurately identify any students who need assistance.
If you wish to review the Signs of Suicide program video you may access it by navigating to:
https://sossignsofsuicide.org/
Click the link that says “Parent Portal”
Username: pwcs-par
Password: screening
If you do NOT wish your child participating in SOS program in school, please complete the bottom of this form and return it to ______________ School to the attention of the Counseling Department. If we do not hear from you, we will assume your child has permission to participate in this program.
Sincerely,
Stonewall Middle School's Counselors and Social Workers
_______ I do not give permission for my child, _____________________, to participate in the SOS Program.
Parent signature_____________________________________
Please Note: This form only needs to be returned if you DO NOT wish for your child to participate.
Signos de Suicidio (SOS)
Estimado/a padre/madre/tutor:
Los años de la adolescencia se caracterizan por ser una montaña rusa de emociones —son tiempos difíciles para los jóvenes, sus padres y los educadores. Es fácil malinterpretar la depresión como una perturbación normal de la adolescencia; sin embargo, la depresión (la más común entre las enfermedades mentales) parece estar presentándose a una edad mucho más temprana. La depresión —que es tratable— es uno de los factores principales de riesgo para el suicidio. Además, las lesiones autoinfligidas se han convertido en un creciente problema entre los jóvenes.
Para tratar este problema antes de que se presente, la escuela de su hijo/a está ofreciendo una capacitación sobre concientización de la depresión y prevención del suicidio como parte del Programa de Prevención Signs of Suicide - SOS (Señales de Advertencia del Suicidio). El programa ha demostrado ser eficaz en cuanto a que cada vez más alumnos preocupados por sí mismos o por un amigo buscan ayuda y es el único programa escolar de prevención del suicidio listado por la Administración de Servicios sobre Salud Mental y Abuso de Sustancias (SAMHSA) en su registro nacional de programas y prácticas basadas en evidencia, que trata el riesgo de suicidio y la depresión a la vez que disminuye los intentos de suicidio. En un estudio de control aleatorio, el programa SOS demostró una disminución del 40% en la taza de intentos de suicidios autoreportados (BMC Public Health, julio de 2007).
Nuestras metas al participar en este programa son específicas:
Ayudar a nuestros alumnos a entender que la depresión es una enfermedad curable.
Explicar que el suicidio es una tragedia que puede evitarse y que a menudo ocurre como resultado de una depresión que no se trata.
Proporcionar capacitación a los alumnos acerca de cómo identificar una depresión severa y la posible tendencia suicida en ellos mismos o en un amigo.
Recalcar a los jóvenes que ellos pueden ayudarse a sí mismos o a un amigo simplemente al dar el simple paso de hablar con un adulto responsable acerca de sus inquietudes.
Ayudar a los alumnos a saber a quié pueden pedir ayuda en la escuela, si la necesitan.
El departamento de Servicios Estudiantiles de la Escuela Stonewall Middle realizará el Programa SOS para los estudiantes de 7th grado durante su clase del Segundo y sexto periodo (educación física) los días 14 y 15 de Noviembre.
Luego de un video, los estudiantes participarán en un debate y completarán las tarjetas de respuesta, indicando si necesitan o no hablar con alguien sobre sí mismos o en relación a un amigo. Los maestros de aula, el trabajador social escolar, el psicólogo escolar y los consejeros facilitarán el proceso y brindarán apoyo a los estudiantes que lo necesiten. El departamento de Servicios Estudiantiles revisará las tarjetas de respuesta para identificar a los estudiantes que puedan necesitar intervención. Los estudiantes pondrán sus nombres en las tarjetas de respuesta para identificar con precisión a los estudiantes que necesitan asistencia.
Si desea revisar el video del programa Señales de Advertencia del Suicidio, puede acceder al mismo yendo a:
https://sossignsofsuicide.org/
Haga clic en el enlace que dice "Portal para Padres"
Nombre de usuario: pwcs-par
Contraseña: screening
Si NO quiere que su hijo participe en el programa SOS en la escuela, complete la parte inferior de este formulario y devuélvalo a la Escuela ______________ a la atención del departamento de Consejería. Si no tenemos noticias de ustedes, asumiremos que su hijo tiene autorización para participar en este programa.
Sinceramente.
Stonewall Middle School Consejeros y trabajadores sociales
____ No autorizo a mi hijo, _______________________________, a participar en el Programa SOS.
Firma del padre/madre/tutor_____________________________________________
Nota: Este formulario solo debe devolverse si NO desea que su hijo participe.
Interims, Report Cards, or Grades
The first marking period will come to an end of Friday November 2, 2018. Report cards will go home on Wednesday November 14, 2018. You can access your student’s grades by accessing parent portal. To access Parent Portal use the following link: https://parentportal.pwcs.edu If you do not already have an account for the 2018-2019 school year, you will have to request an account. Your student has access and can login by using this website. Your student’s login is student ID# and password mmddyear without the dashes.
Parent/Teacher Conferences
If you have questions about your child’s grade, academic progress, or other questions please call or e-mail your student’s teacher with specific concerns. You can locate your student’s teachers email information on STMS webpage. If you would like to set up a parent teacher conference, please contact your child’s grade level counselor. You may also contact your child's teacher directly to set up a conference. If your student is a Special Education student, please contact your student’s case manager.
Attendance
Stonewall Middle School now has a dedicated attendance to call in daily absences. The new attendance line number is 571.71.4233.
When calling, please be sure to leave your full name, relationship to student, the student’s full name, and the reason for the absence.
When your student misses school due to an absence and has seen a doctor, please bring a note when returning to school.
If your student is going to be absent for a planned trip, this requires written approval from our Principal, Mr. Miller. Please send in a written request before any trip is scheduled.
Notes from Ms. Escobar-Counseling Secretary & Registrar
Ms. Escobar is the secretary and registrar for the counseling department. She completes student registrations/withdrawals, updates emergency cards, records maintenance, and makes sure contact information is up to date. Please remember to let her know if you have any address, email, or telephone number changes, so that we can stay updated. It is imperative we have your most up-to-date information.
Email:EscobaKA@pwcs.edu
"Helping Students Learn" Newsletter
These are monthly newsletters published by The Parent Institute in English and Spanish that may help parents take an active role in their child’s education. The newsletters provide specific information for parents of students at the elementary, middle, and high school level. The newsletters are available at the Student Services Website or (choose “The Parent Institute Newsletter” box.
Please see the links below for more information:
Enrollment, New Students, and Transfers
Click on the links below for registration forms and other information. You may come by and pick up the forms at our school ahead of time or print and complete these forms at home. Please bring the completed forms with you to your registration appointment.
PWCS Regulations on Enrollment, New Students, and Transfers
Click on the link below regarding your desired information:
10 HABITS OF SUCCESSFUL STUDENTS
1. Get Organized
2. Don't multitask
3. Divide it up
4. Sleep
5. Set a schedule
6. Take notes
7. Study
8. Manage your study space
9. Find a study group
10. Ask questions
https://opportunity.org/learn/lists/10-habits-of-successful-students#.WpbpgminHyQ
Graduation Requirements
Graduation requirements are determined by the year a student entered the ninth grade for the first time. Please use the table below to access information about the graduation requirements for your student. Please contact your school counselor if you have further questions about graduation requirements and/or a graduation plan.