Counselor's Corner
September Update
How School Counselors Can Help
Middle school is an exciting yet can be a challenging time for students, their parents and teachers. During this passage from childhood to adolescence, middle school students are characterized by a need to explore a variety of interests, connecting their learning in the classroom to its practical application in life and work; high levels of activity coupled with frequent fatigue due to rapid growth; a search for their own unique identity as they begin turning more frequently to peers rather than parents for ideas and affirmation; extreme sensitivity to the comments from others; and heavy reliance on friends to provide comfort, understanding and approval.
Identifying students’ academic and social/emotional needs, as well as providing any necessary interventions, is essential in removing barriers to learning and helping students develop skills and behaviors critical for academic achievement. The knowledge, attitudes and skills students acquire during these years build the foundation for future success.
Meeting the Need
Middle school counselors are educators uniquely trained in child and adolescent development, learning strategies, self-management and social skills.. They implement a school counseling program to support students through this important developmental period. The school counseling program provides education, prevention and intervention activities, which are integrated into all aspects of students’ lives. The program teaches students the knowledge, attitudes and skills necessary for academic, career and social/ emotional development.
Middle school counselors do not work in isolation; rather they are integral to the total educational program. They provide a proactive program that engages students and includes leadership, advocacy and collaboration with school staff, administration and community/family members in the delivery of programs and activities to help students achieve success. Middle school counselors also collaborate with teachers and parents on early identification and intervention of children’s academic and social/emotional needs, which is essential in removing barriers to learning and developing skills and behaviors critical for academic achievement.
Implementing a School Counseling Program
Middle school counselors enhance the learning process and promote academic, career and social/emotional development through delivery of different services including; classroom instruction, appraisal and advisement, counseling, consultation, collaboration, and referrals.
[American School Counselor Association (2019). The essential role of middle school counselors. Retrieved from https://www.schoolcounselor.org/asca/media/asca/Careers-Roles/WhyMiddle.pdf]
Attendance Matters!
Help your child start off the school year on the right foot by making it a habit to get to school on time every day. Research shows that attendance is an important factor in student achievement.
Regular attendance at the middle level is associated with positive outcomes in high school. NOW is the time for our students to develop healthy habits, including good attendance!
Contact the School Counselor
Ms. Rhonda Kennedy - rkennedy@wcpss.net
6th Grade Tigers and Jaguars
Ms. Alison Vroome - avroome@wcpss.net
7th Grade Gold Teams
Ms. Alyson Leiva - aleiva@wcpss.net
7th Grade Purple Teams
Ms. Alicia Wiggins- awiggins@wcpss.net
8th Grade
Mr. Michael Briggs- mbriggs@wcpss.net