Parent Handbook of Guidance Services at Grafton Middle School

Introduction

As society becomes more complex, the partnership among school personnel, parents, and students becomes more essential. Preparing students for life and work after school is a goal shared by all. To reach that goal, certain information must be available and specific steps followed.

The following information will describe the major areas in which guidance services are provided along with steps in each area which need to be taken by guidance personnel, students, and parents. Working together, we will assure that students receive the help they need and deserve.

Grafton Middle School Guidance Goals

The middle school guidance program exists to improve the learning environment by involving students, staff, parents, community, and others who influence the learning and development of students. In grades 6-8, students explore new interests, refine and use academic decision making, interpersonal, and resiliency skills previously learned and begin to relate aptitudes, abilities and personal interests to future occupation and career choices. Guidance is the education of the overall school population through proactive or preventative classroom guidance activities covering such topics as:

· Communication skills

· Decision-making/problem-solving skills

· Conflict resolution skills

· Responsibility

· Personal safety

· Substance-abuse prevention

The guidance and counseling program at GMS builds a foundation for learning based on:

· Positive attitudes toward school and learning

· Personal responsibility

· Respect for self and others

· Knowledge and skills for employment

Grafton Middle School Counseling Program

The middle school counselor helps students through individual and group contacts over a period of time. The goals for the counseling with these students are to help them develop realistic concepts of themselves and positive relationships with others, to become aware of educational, occupational, and vocational opportunities and to integrate their understanding of themselves in making informed decisions. The counselor at GMS works with students on the following:

· Academic/Educational Development: Assisting students to achieve school success and develop skills to engage in life-long learning.

1. Students will acquire the attitudes, knowledge and skills that contribute to effective learning in school and across the life span.

2. Students will complete middle school with the academic preparation essential to choose from courses at the high school level.

3. Students will understand the relationship of academics to the world of work, and to life at home and in the community.

· Career Development: Assisting students to become aware of life/career choices and participate in career development activities to prepare for the world of work.

1. Students will acquire the skills to investigate the world of work in relation to knowledge of self and to make informed career decisions.

2. Students will employ strategies to achieve future career success and satisfaction.

3. Students will understand the relationship between personal qualities, education and training and the world of work.

· Personal/Social Development: Assisting students to successfully use interpersonal, intrapersonal, and social skills.

1. Students will acquire the attitudes, knowledge, and interpersonal skills to help them understand and respect self and others.

2. Students will make decisions, set goals, and take necessary action to achieve goals.

3. Students will understand safety and survival skills.

What the Grafton Middle School Counseling and Guidance Program Does NOT do:

• DOES NOT provide psychotherapy for students.
• DOES NOT teach religion but respects individual beliefs.
• DOES NOT coerce or force any child to participate in either individual or group counseling.
• DOES NOT administer individual intelligence or personality tests to students.

What does the Grafton Middle School counseling and guidance program provide parents?

A positive relationship between school and home fosters the academic, social, and emotional growth of children. Counselors at GMS invite parents to meet with them concerning their children. GMS Counselors can help parents in the following ways:

• Involve parents in their student's educational and career decision making.
• Consult with parents regarding academic progress, test results, special programs, and educational plans.
• Collaborate with parents to enhance their children's social/personal development.
• Make parents aware of situations or behaviors that may harm their children or that may harm others.
• Conduct workshops of interest to parents.
• Provide referral information about community resources.
• Protect the privacy of information shared by parents and students.

General Responsibilities of the Guidance Counselor

The counselors at Grafton Middle School:

• Help students, teachers, and parents resolve problems that interfere with learning.
• Counsel individuals and groups.
• Conduct guidance learning activities.
• Provide educational and career exploration opportunities.
• Facilitate educational and career planning.
• Support students with special needs.
• Offer crisis intervention and prevention.

Confidentiality

Confidentiality is an ethical term denoting a counseling practice relevant to privacy. Legally, the privacy rights of minors belong to the parents or guardians. The counselors at GMS inform students, prior to counseling sessions, of the possible necessity for consulting with others. In addition, the counselor will also inform students of the need to notify others, such as parents, if the counselor has reason to believe that there is a clear and present danger to the student or to another person, or if the student has been hurt or neglected.

Opt Out

This option gives parents the choice of having their children participate or not participate in the counseling and guidance program. A written letter from the parents/guardians must be received in the York County School Board Office to take advantage of this right.

The following sections detail specific responsibilities for guidance, students, and parents in particular areas:

Reports on Student Progress

The York County School System provides a method for frequent reports to students and parents regarding student performance. Grading periods are nine weeks in length. Students will be given report cards at the end of each nine-week grading period. Additionally, all students will receive progress reports from each of his or her teachers at the mid-point of each nine-week grading period. This means that formal notification of class performance is provided every four and one-half weeks for the student to hand deliver to the parents. The final report card is mailed to the home address following the close of school in June. This report card is sent with a newsletter from the school.

Guidance Responsibilities

The Counselor Will...

• Discuss the implications of grades and courses with students and parents at the planning conferences and at other times upon request.
• Act as intermediary in teacher-parent conferences concerning grades if requested to do so.
• Provide forms to students for additional progress/performance reports upon request of parent.
• Arrange teacher-parent conferences upon request of parent.
• Provide copies of lost report cards and progress reports.

Student Responsibilities

The Student Will...

• Deliver promptly report cards and progress reports to parents.
• Pick up additional reports from guidance when the parent directs the student to do so.
• Deliver additional progress/performance report forms to the teachers for completion if necessary.
• Take all reports and forms home to parents.

Parent Responsibilities

The Parent Will...

• Know the dates that report cards and progress reports are given to students and expect students to provide them on those dates.
• Keep current on student performance through discussions with student regarding day-to-day classroom performance (tests, quizzes, homework grades, projects, etc.).

Homework Assignments

Guidance Responsibilities

The Counselor Will...

• Request assignments from teachers if a twenty-four hour notice has been given.

Student and Parent Responsibilities

The Student and Parent Will...

• Assume responsibility for obtaining assignments for any absence of less than three days. It is suggested that every student try to obtain assignments, even during a short illness.
• Contact the guidance or main office and request that assignments be obtained from the teachers of the students when the absence is three days or longer.
• Make the above request twenty-four hours prior to the planned pick-up time.
• Obtain e-mail addresses of teachers at Back-to-School Night or from the course syllabus so homework assignments can easily be obtained when absence from school occurs.
• Contact another student if they wish that another student pick up assignments for them and alert the guidance or main office of this request.

Tutoring

A current list of tutors is maintained in guidance. This list includes both free tutors (i.e., high school volunteers) and paid tutors. Please ask the registrar for names if your child needs additional assistance.

Academic/Educational Counseling

Guidance Responsibilities

The Counselor Will...

• Provide information to students about educational and vocational goals and choices.
• Use knowledge gained from standardized tests, career interest surveys, grades in school, and club and community activities to help the student prepare for the world of work.
• Encourage students to study and work hard in school.
• Provide individual and/or group sessions for students who are not making satisfactory progress.
• Provide a copy of the York County School System Course Offering manual to each student for planning purposes.
• Invite parents to participate in individual planning conferences with student.
• Adjust student's schedule when necessary.
• Consult with parents upon request concerning student needs.
• Provide test interpretation to students and parents.
• Provide resources to students for finding out about skills and interests.

Student Responsibilities

The Student Will...

• Attend scheduled conferences with the counselor.
• Talk with parents concerning educational and career goals.
• Share York County School System's Course Offering manual with parents and talk about choice of elective courses.
• Recognize that a good attitude, cooperation, and hard work are important in every phase of life.
• Take school publications and information home to parents.
• Talk with the counselor when questions or concerns arise regarding educational and career goals.
• Be aware of his or her abilities and interests.
• Accept some responsibility for his or her future goals.

Parent Responsibilities

The Parent Will...

• Attend conferences wit the counselor when scheduled.
• Discuss educational and career goals at home.
• Discuss curriculum choices in relation to career goals with student.
• Increase awareness of the skills needed in the world of work.
• Emphasize the importance of a good attitude, cooperation, and hard work in preparing for the world of work.
• Discuss interests and abilities with student.
• Talk with the student's counselor when questions or concerns arise.
• Read and discuss information sent home by the school.
• Impress upon the student the need to be responsible for much of his or her future choices.

Personal/Social Counseling

Guidance Responsibilities

The Counselor Will...

• Provide support services in many areas, including the area of personal/social development.
• Provide a friendly, supportive attitude to students and parents during the occasional stressful times which occur in everyone's life.
• Provide short-term personal counseling.
• Make referrals to community agencies, as appropriate.
• Provide a list of community agencies which provide counseling services upon request.

Student and Parent Responsibilities

The Student and Parent Will...

• Assist counselor in identifying student needs by communicating their needs to the counselor.
• Pursue referrals made by the counselor for long-term counseling, therapy, or assessment for psychiatric conditions or problems with substance abuse.

Letters of Recommendation

A thoughtful, personal, well-written letter of recommendation, whether it is for admission to a gifted program, extracurricular program, or scholarship, takes time to compose. Time must be allowed for counselors, teachers, and principals to reply to requests for letters of recommendation. Letters of recommendation are confidential and are sent directly to the office requesting such information.

Guidance Responsibilities

The Counselor Will...

• Provide quality letters of recommendation upon request and with proper notice (see below under student responsibilities).
• Reserve the right to decline a request for a letter of recommendation if a positive letter can not be written.
• Mail letters of recommendation directly to the receiving agency.

Student and Parent Responsibilities

The Student and Parent Will...

• Request a letter of recommendation at least one week prior to the date the letter is to be mailed.

Course Offerings

Guidance Responsibilities

The Counselor Will...

• Provide both written and verbal explanations of courses to each sixth grader and new student.
• Conduct a review of courses annually with each student.
• Review and maintain accurate student records.
• Provide a copy of the York County School Division Curriculum Offerings manual.

Student Responsibilities

The Student Will...

• Maintain a file at home of report cards and other important papers.
• Notify the counselor if an error is suspected on a report card.
• Remain informed regarding course offerings.

The School Year Ahead

Be Prepared

Parents can prepare their children for school by following these suggestions:

1. Talk about the friends your child will make and the things he or she will learn at school. By discussing good things about school, children may look forward to, rather than fear, going to school.
2. Help your child accept people who are different. School places children in contact with many people from various backgrounds, races, and cultures. Some children may attend school in wheel chairs, some may wear leg braces, glasses, or hearing aids. Some differences will be less apparent. Your child may like to discuss these differences with you. Remember that your acceptance of persons who are different will help your child live happily with others.
3. Be sure your child knows how to get to school and return home. Sometimes children are afraid that they will get lost on the way to school or on the way home. To allay these fears, walk or dive with your child along the route that will be taken in walking or riding the bus to school.

What You Can Do As A Parent

Be Interested

Parents are a key factor to children's success in school. The following are given to remind you of ways you can show that you are interested in your child's school life:

1. Be sure you understand the school program. Schools may have changed a great deal since you were a student. They may look different, use different equipment, and have a different schedule. Many changes have been based on information about how children learn. Your child's school guidance counselor will be able to explain the program to you.
2. Listen when your child tells what happened at school. School is a large part of children's lives; therefore, it is important that they talk about what they do and think. As you listen, you are showing your child that he or she is important and school is worth discussing. Remember, there are many opportunities for conversation - during dinner, on the way to games, or before bedtime.
3. Learn some of your child's friends by name. Children's friends are important, and parents build their children's self-esteem as they show interest in their friends.
4. Be sure your child attends school regularly. It is unfair to children to expect them to cope with the demands of school without regular attendance. Punctuality and regularity in attendance are important habits for children to develop.

Be Involved

Consider becoming a volunteer at your child's school. The following are suggestions when volunteering at school:

1. Arrive promptly.
2. Call in advance if you are unable to keep an appointment.
3. Follow the directions of the school staff.
4. Speak positively.
5. Be friendly.
6. Don't discuss school performance of other children.
7. Don't give too much attention to your own child.

Key Facts About Parent Involvement

1. The family provides the child's most important educational environment.
2. Involving parents in their children's formal education boosts student achievement.
3. Parent involvement is most effective when it is thorough and well-planned.
4. Involving parents in their children's education at home is not enough. To ensure that schools serve the community well, parents must be involved at all levels in the school.
5. The school and home work with each other and the world at large.

Ten Things Guidance Counselors Wish Parents Would Do

1. Be involved in their children's education. Parent's involvement helps students learn, improves school work, and makes teachers' jobs easier.
2. Provide resources at home for reading and learning. Parents should have books and magazines for their children to read.
3. Set a good example. Parents should show their children that they believe reading is both enjoyable and useful.
4. Encourage children to do their best in school. Parents must indicate that they believe education is important and they want their children to do the best they possibly can.
5. Emphasize academics. Too many parents get caught up in athletics and in preparing their children for the world of work, when academics should be their concern.
6. Support school rules and goals. Parents should take care not to undermine school rules, discipline, or goals.
7. Use pressure positively. Parents should encourage children to do their best, but they should not apply too much pressure, by setting unattainable goals or by involving them in too many activities.
8. Call teachers early if there is a problem so there is still time to improve the situation.
9. Accept responsibility as parents, and do not expect the school and teachers to take over this job. For example, parents should make it their responsibility to teach children basic discipline at home rather than to leave this task to teachers.
10. View drinking by underage youth and excessive partying as a serious matter, not a joke. Drinking, partying, and staying out late take a toll on students' classroom performance. While parents are concerned about drug abuse, many fail to recognize that alcohol is the drug most frequently abused by youngsters as well adults.

Successful Conferencing

Parent-teacher conferences are an important way to learn about your child. Here are some tips to help you have a more successful parent-teacher conference.

1. Plan for it. Before you come to your conference, write out questions you would like to ask. Here are suggestions:

a. Does my child get along with others?

b. How is my child's behavior in class?

c. Does my child read at the level you would expect for this grade?

d. Is my child to do the math that you would expect for this grade?

e. What are my child's strengths and weaknesses?

2. Keep an open mind. Your goal is to work for cooperation between you and your child's teacher. Even if the teacher says something you disagree with, try to listen to what he or she has to say.

3. Ask to see your child's work. There is no better way to see how your child is progressing.

4. Ask for suggestions. If your child is doing well, ask what you can do to keep things on a positive track. If there are problems, ask what you can do to help.

5. Clarify and summarize. Teachers sometimes use educational buzzwords. If you don't understand something the teacher says, just ask.

Helping Your Child: When the Teacher Says Your Child's Work Needs Improvement

If your child...

• Does not know what the teacher said to do or can not remember, then teach him or her to write down what the teacher says.
• Fails to turn in daily class work or homework, then ask the teacher to send the work home. Provide a quiet place and time for study.
• Does not put enough effort into school work or is easily discouraged, then encourage your child. Use rewards if needed.
• Dreads going to school or is shy, then be firm about going to school. Take the child to school if necessary.
• Seeks a lot of attention. Tell your child which behaviors will get positive attention. Be sure to reinforce desired behavior with that attention.

Identifying With Your Child About Drug and Alcohol Problems

How Can I Tell If My Child Is Using Drugs and Alcohol?

1. Does your child's personality seem to be changing?
2. Is he or she changing friends, dress code, and/or hairstyle?
3. Is it harder for you to talk with your child?
4. Does it seem that your child's behavior is intolerable to you and the family?
5. Is your child using bad language?
6. Is it becoming more apparent to you than an action by your child is wrong?
7. Have you noticed household products missing?
8. Has your child been arrested?

Helping Your Child to Say "NO"...

Talk with your child about alcohol and other drugs. You can help change ideas your child may have that everybody drinks, smokes, or uses other drugs.

1. Learn to really listen to your child. Your child is more likely to talk with you when you give verbal and nonverbal cues that show you are listening.
2. Help your child feel good about himself or herself. Your child will feel good when you praise efforts, as well as accomplishments, and when you correct by criticizing the action rather than the child.
3. Help your child develop strong values. A strong value system can give your child the courage to say "NO" rather than listen to friends.
4. Be a good role model or example. Your habits and attitudes may strongly influence your child's ideas about alcohol and other drugs.
5. Help your child deal with peer pressure. A child who has been taught to be gentle and loving may need your "permission" to say "NO" to negative peer pressure.
6. Make family rules. Make specific family rules about your child not using alcohol or other drugs or smoking cigarettes. And tell your child the punishment for using them.
7. Encourage healthy, creative activities. Hobbies, school events, and other activities may prevent your child from using alcohol and other drugs out of boredom.
8. Team up with other parents. You can join other parents in support groups that will reinforce the guidance you provide at home.
9. Know what to do if you suspect a problem. You can learn to recognize the signs of alcohol and other drug use and get help.

Bacon Street

Bacon Street is a private, nonprofit corporation governed by a Board of Directors. The program is licensed and certified as an outpatient substance abuse center by the Virginia Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services. The program is a charter member of the Virginia Association of Drug and Alcohol Programs.

Bacon Street offers a variety of services to address the problem of alcohol and other drug abuse in the community. Bacon Street offers the following treatment services to children under the age of 19 who may be experiencing problems with alcohol or other drugs:

• Determining whether there is a problem and what the nature and extent of the problem is.
• Providing counseling and education to the individual and their family so that everyone will understand the problem and what part they can play in overcoming it.
• Referring to other agencies and organization that may be able to assist in overcoming their problem.

Bacon Street also offers prevention services to students in helping them confront situations in their lives in constructive and healthy ways without the destructive response of substance abuse.