School Counseling Program & Services
Role of the School Counselor
To learn more about the role of the School Counselor, please click on the CCPS link:
Individual Counseling
School Counselors provide a supportive and confidential environment where their students can discuss personal and social concerns, educational and career goals, and academic difficulties. Some common topics include:
Peer Relationships Stress Time Management Goal-setting Bullying Academic Planning Family Changes Social Skills Organization
Problem Solving Skills Career Exploration
Small Group Counseling and Lunch & Learn Sessions
Throughout the year, groups are created based on teacher referrals, family referrals, and student requests. Lunch & Learns are more informal, open to all interested students, and occur during each grade’s lunch periods at different points in the year. These are the following topics that are typical in any given school year:
Social skills Grief
Friendships Positive Choices
Changing families/Divorce Anger
Organization Study Skills
Classroom Guidance and School-Wide Programs
Throughout the year counselors will provide lessons and programs, both within the classroom and to a school-wide audience, that reflect upon the needs of the students and the school. These lessons and programs may include the following topics:
Bullying Preparation for Higher Education
Career Exploration Learning Styles/Study Skills
Self-Awareness Character Development
Career Development
Counselors build upon the career development concepts supported in Language Arts and FACS classes. For the 8th Grade Career Day, community members are invited to share information on their own chosen profession. Students are also able to explore high school options such as the Carroll County Career and Technology Center. The Counseling Department provides a Career Corner, where students can use the internet resource Bridges to explore interests and career options. Parents and students may access this resource at home by logging on to Bridges.com and use the Username: 0025813 and Password: NWMiddle.
Testing
Mrs. Hiner and Mrs. Whitfield coordinate the MSA testing for Reading and Math, typically held in March, and 8th grade Science, typically held in April. HSA testing for Algebra is also coordinated through the School Counseling Department. In addition to working hard on class work and homework all year to learn key concepts, we encourage students to get plenty of sleep and eat breakfast everyday during testing weeks.
Collaboration
Mrs. Hiner and Mrs. Whitfield work closely with teachers and staff, administrators, and parents to monitor the progress of students and to help support academic and behavioral interventions. The school counselors attend weekly team meetings to discuss students in relation to academic difficulty, social/emotional concerns, and school behaviors.
School counselors are also involved in the transition process with elementary and high feeder schools. We travel to the elementary schools and meet with the students as well as meet with the elementary counselors to place students appropriately for the 6th grade. We also help prepare 8th grade students for their upcoming transition with visits from high school counselors and oftentimes a trip to the feeder high schools. Please feel free to contact Mrs. Hiner and Mrs. Whitfield via phone or email, at any time, in order to schedule a conference.
Ambassador and Peer Mediating Programs
Last year’s pilot run of the student Ambassador Program was a success. Students who applied and were selected to serve as Ambassadors acted as greeters and guides during American Education Week, the 8th Grade Career Day, and during visits from 5th graders preparing for the transition to middle school. They also assisted new students in becoming familiar with the school and their schedules, and provided academic help to students in their homerooms. Ambassadors are able to earn Service Learning Hours toward graduation through their various duties. Students interested in being an Ambassador may pick up an application in the School Counseling Office.
For the 2010-2011 school year, we have expanded our Ambassador Program to include a Peer Mediation component, anticipated to begin during the month of November. Peer Mediator positions are open to 8th grade students who had Ambassador experience in 7th grade. These mediators are available to all 6th and 7th grade students and students can request to talk with them when they feel they could benefit from talking with someone closer to their own age. Peer Mediators are trained to help students communicate calmly with one another and come to agreements in order to resolve conflicts.
Attendance
Children who come to school every day on time are more successful in school. They practice good habits that they will use through their entire school career. We understand that sometimes your child will experience a legitimate absence, and we encourage you to communicate with the school when this occurs. Student absences may be verified by a written note brought in upon the student’s return or a phone call to 410-751-3355. Notification letters may be mailed home for student with absences totaling 10% or more of attendance.
Service Learning Hours
The Service-Learning Graduation Requirement mandates that public school students earn a minimum of 75 hours of service-learning prior to graduation from high school. Service-Learning combines meaningful service to the community with curriculum-based learning. Students improve their academic skills by applying what they learn in school to the real world; they then reflect on their experience to reinforce the link between their service and their learning.
Service-learning opportunities are available to students within classroom curriculum, through the 6th grade experience of
Students must document their SLHs on the appropriate form. This form can be picked up and turned into the School Counseling Office. Mrs. Whitfield is the Service Learning Coordinator for NWMS.
Service Learning Reflection Form
