Monday, November 22, 2010

School guidance program

Elementary  School Guidance Program 
     Guidance  is an integral part of the elementary education program.  The counselor is a child advocate.  A goal of elementary counseling is to be preventative in nature while also identifying and addressing current problems.   Another goal is to help children understand themselves and others.
The elementary program is characterized by intervention and prevention techniques. Counselors help students develop social skills including conflict resolution, interpersonal relations skills, decision making and problem solving.  Counselors also assist students in their transition to Randolph schools and in moving up to the middle school.  Counselors conduct individual and group session, classroom lessons, district-wide programs, and parent consultations as needed.  Counselors work collaboratively with other school personnel, especially the classroom teacher, and serve on each building's Pupil Assistance Committee.  Counselors attend professional conferences and belong to professional associations.
The counselors are available to consult with parents, teachers, and administrators to help address specific academic, social, and/or personal concerns of students.   Counseling is for everyday people with everyday problems.  Elementary guidance counselors are responding to today's needs by providing children with developmental school counseling programs and support.


Elementary Guidance counselors work to serve the needs of all students by:
  • Helping children understand themselves and others
  • Helping children develop communication skills
  • Helping children develop successful behavior patterns
  • Helping make school a successful experience for all children
  • Helping prevent problems from developing
  • Including parents in their children's education
  • Providing crisis intervention
In addition to personal and academic counseling, the elementary school guidance progarm includes the following:
Group Instruction Topics
   Careers
  
Red Ribbon Week/drug awareness
   Bullying
   Self-esteem
   Cooperation
   Problem solving
   Transitions
   Character Education (monthly themes)

Small Group Instruction Topics (These topics will change as needed.)
  
Social skills
   Friendship
   Anger management
   Transitions (grief and loss, new sibling, school transitions)
   Conflict resolution

Parent Education
   The Parent Network
   Parent Teacher Association
   Orientations
   Parent/family counseling
   Family referrals to outside agencies

Communication
The Home and School Connection newsletter
Articles in the PTA newsletter
Upcoming events flyers
Randolph Township Schools Web site, http://www.rtnj.org

Community Outreach
Service projects
Senior Citizen Outreach
Participation in community programs - i.e. Municipal Alliance Committee, Child and Family Resource Center, Randolph CARES



Each grade level has a specific focus:
  • Kindergarten: Meeting the counselor  - students will be introduced to a special school helper, the elementary guidance counselor
     
  • Grade 1: Understanding feelings  - students will be able to identify and describe different types of feelings
     
  • Grade 2: Cooperating within a group  - Students will be able to identify the importance of compromise, cooperation, and what occurs when cooperation doesn't take place
     
  • Grade 3: Building self-esteem and respecting self and others  - students will be able to identify what makes them feel good about themselves and others
     
  • Grade 4: Problem solving and decision making  - Students will be able to examine and apply the steps of problem solving
     
  • Grade 5: Transitioning to middle school - Students will be able to explore the social and emotional aspects of transitioning to the middle school
     
Specific aspects of the guidance program include:
  • Individual and group counseling
  • Classroom lessons addressing cooperation, respect, self-esteem, problems solving and decision making
  • Red Ribbon Week events
  • Programs for parents
  • School Counseling Week activity
  • Pupil Assistance Leaders
  • Lunch Bunch
  • Character Education
  • The Parent Network
  • Community Service Projects
Parents should feel free to call the guidance counselor at any time. It is not necessary to have a problem or a special need to contact us.  Each elementary school has a full-time counselor to assist your child to learn, to work, and to live in the 21st century.

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