| More than you wanted to know about Guidance in Elementary School! |
The profession of school counseling has evolved and changed so much during the many years I have been practicing! The American School Counselors Association said it best. This is from the ASCA Website:
“Today’s young people are living in an exciting time, with an increasingly diverse society, new technologies and expanding opportunities. To help ensure that they are prepared to become the next generation of parents, workers, leaders and citizens, every student needs support, guidance and opportunities during childhood, a time of rapid growth and change. Children face unique and diverse challenges, both personally and developmentally, that have an impact on academic achievement.
– “Toward a Blueprint for Youth: Making Positive Youth Development a National Priority,” U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
The elementary years are a time when students begin to develop their academic self-concept and their feelings of competence and confidence as learners. They are beginning to develop decision-making, communication and life skills, as well as and character values. It is also a time when students develop and acquire attitudes toward school self, peers, social groups and family. Comprehensive developmental school counseling programs provide education, prevention and intervention services, which are integrated into all aspects of children’s lives. Early identification and intervention of children’s academic and personal/social needs is essential in removing barriers to learning and in promoting academic achievement. The knowledge, attitudes and skills that students acquire in the areas of academic, career and personal/social development during these elementary years serve as the foundation for future success.
Elementary school counselors are professional educators with a mental health perspective who understand and respond to the challenges presented by today’s diverse student population. Elementary school counselors don’t work in isolation; rather they are integral to the total educational program. They provide proactive leadership that engages all stakeholders in the delivery of programs and services to help students achieve school success. Professional school counselors align with the school’s mission to support the academic achievement of all students as they prepare for the ever-changing world of the 21st century. This mission is accomplished through the design, development, implementation and evaluation of a comprehensive, developmental and systematic school counseling program". |
What Guidance looks like at Anona Elementary |
Anona Elementary SChool Mission Statement:
The Anona School Community will unite to create and maintain a safe and quality learning environment enabling each student to succeed.
School Counseling Mission for Anona Elementary:
The school counselor will provide academic and personal support to each member of the learning community of Anona Elementary School: (students, teachers, administrators, staff and parents) to help students make continuous academic achievement and learn efficacy and social responsibility.
Guidance Curriculum
Character Education: School Wide Initiatives
Peacemakers (Grades 4 and 5)
ROPES Team Building (Grades 4 and 5)
Anona Ambassadors (K-5 grades)
Peer Mediators (Trained mediators: grades 4 and 5 providing services to all students)
C2C Awards Program (K-5)
Golden Apple Awards (K-5)
Ms. Julie’s World (K-5)
Classroom lessons (K-5)
Bully Prevention Team (Staff)
S.T.E.P.(Students Targeted for Excellent Performance) (Enhancement program for minority students)
Member Multi-Cultural Team
Peace Week – (September 21 – 25)
Red Ribbon Week Co-Chair (October 17 – 25)
No Name Calling Week (January 26 – 30)
Family and Community Involvement
Volunteer Coordinator
Great American Teach In Coordinator
Adopt-A-School Liaison
Member School Advisory Team
PS-RTI Intervention Coordinator
Coordinates the intervention processes meetings.
Completing the Request for Service
Follow-up with parents to obtain consent for evaluations and ESE services.
Collecting and distributing evaluation reports to staff and parents
Securing the location of the meeting and arraning for required technology
Coordinating coverage for classroom teachers to attend staffing meetings.
504 Coordinator
Process students for Gifted referrals
Leadership: School and Professional
Anona Elementary:
SIP Writing Team
Guidance Advisory Committees: Parents, Staff
Online Anona Guidance Website and Newsletter
PCTA-PESPA Building Representative
Professional:
President PPSCA (Pinellas Professional School Counselors Association
Author of PPSCA Newsletter
Delegate to FSCA (Florida School Counselors Association)
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