Guidance Department

1
Guidance Department

• Services and Procedures

2
Contents

• We have grown!
• Referrals
• Division of Labor
• Individual and Group Counseling Services
• What do we look for
• What can Guidance can do for Effectiveness of
  School Safety

3
There are Two!

• Mrs. Turnipseed
• 6th grade
• 7th grade teams Cool Cubs and Carolina Growl

• Ms. Brockman
• 8th grade
• 7th grade Teams Palmetto Pandas and Carolina
  Claws

4
Referrals

• We encourage administrators, parents, and
  teachers to make referrals when necessary.
• Students may request services for themselves when
  needed.

5
How Teachers can refer

• Put it in writing! Email us!
• Referral slips
• Come by and talk with us
• Sometimes students may not want to tell you why
  they would like to see us. Thats ok. We will
  talk with them and send them back to class as
  soon as possible.

6
Referral Slips

• Guidance Request Form
• Please fill in the following form to make an
  appointment with your counselor. If you do not
  hear from us by tomorrow please submit another
  request. We want to see you!
•  
• Your Name Grade
• Homeroom Teacher
• This request involves (circle one)
• Family Friendship Grades
•  
• Fear of Safety for myself or others

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How Students Can Self-Refer

• Self-Referral slips are with Mrs. Varner and
  should be turned in to her or placed in the mail
  envelopes on our doors.
• Students may come by and fill out forms during
  lunch/recess time, locker break, class change.
• We will make an appointment with the student
  during Encore as soon as possible.

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Guidance Services

• New Student Enrollment placement, records
  request
• New Student Breakfast
• Red Ribbon Week Festivities
• Schedule Changes
• Mental Health Referrals

9
Ms. Brockmans Duties

• Individual and Group Counseling
• Homebound Instruction
• Attendance Contacts
• PSAT/ Jr. Scholars
• Test Coordination PACT, End of Course
• HEAP for 8th graders
• ESOL Instruction

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Mrs. Turnipseeds Duties

• Individual and Group Counseling
• Special Education Liaison- new student placement,
  initial referrals and testing
• Mentoring Program
• Duke TIP for 7th graders
• 5th grade transition
• Peer Mediation

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Mrs. Varners Duties

• Facilitate Enrollment process
• Withdrawals
• Create and Maintain permanent records
• Monitor Student telephone use (not sick children)
• Special Ed paperwork support
• General clerical duties for administration
• Facilitating requests for missed assignments

12
Types of Issues in a Regular School Year at WMS

• Threat to self or others Cutting, threats of
  suicide
• Someone is harming student DSS reports,
  harassment, bullying, and sexual misconduct
• Disturbing behavior - persistent discipline
  problem

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Types of Issues in a Regular School Year at WMS

• Parent referrals for counseling
• Problems with friends or boyfriends
• Academic Struggles
• Problems with caregiver, neglect, substance
  abuse, illness

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Types of Issues in a Regular School Year at WMS

• Loss or Death and dying Parents in armed
  services stationed elsewhere, incarcerated, or
  break up of family
• Rumors - Pregnancy, Sexuality
• Conflicts with other students - major and minor

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Agencies We Communicate with Regularly

• Department of Social Services
• Cases of abuse/neglect
• Food stamps
• Adoptions
• Department of Juvenile Justice
• Cases of student incarceration and probation

• Department of Mental Health
• Referrals for counseling services
• Spartanburg Childrens Shelter
• Emergency protective custody

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Importance of GuidanceSafe Schools

• Effective Schools foster positive student
  interpersonal relations---they encourage students
  to help each other and to feel comfortable
  assisting others in getting help when needed.

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Importance of GuidanceSafe Reporting

• Schools must create ways for students to safely
  report such troubling behaviors that may lead to
  dangerous situations. And students who report
  potential school violence should be protected.

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Importance of Guidance Safe Relationships

• It is important for school to support and foster
  positive relationships between students and
  adults so students will feel safe providing
  information about a potentially dangerous
  situation.

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Importance of Guidance Skill Building

• Schools can reduce the risk of violence by
  teaching children strategies for dealing with
  feelings, expressing anger in appropriate ways,
  and resolving conflicts.

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Importance of GuidanceSelf-Esteem

• Effective Schools communicate to students and
  the greater community that all children are
  valued and respected.