Counseling Program Mission Statement

Counseling Program Mission Statement

It is the mission of the Melbourne Elementary counseling program to work collaboratively with both teachers and families to provide services appropriate to all students to enhance both academic and personal/social success in school, while promoting the necessary skills for a successful career in the future.

Baseline Data based on 2014/2015 Results

In 2015/2016 the following direct student services were provide:

·  Whole Group, Classroom Guidance Lessons (Each class, every other week)

·  Small Group Sessions

·  Individual Sessions

·  Parent/Teacher Collaboration

·  Homeless Services Liaison

·  Migrant Services Liaison

·  Incoming 7th grade orientation and course consultation

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The following indirect student services were provided:

·  Food 4 Kids program, weekly

·  Angel Tree school coordinator

·  Test Coordination for Qualls, Iowa, ACT Aspire Interim Assessments, ACT Aspire Summative Assessment

·  Student Registration, new student orientation, and record keeping

·  Special Event planning and program maintenance

·  Kindergarten registration and parent orientation

·  Mental health referrals and resources

·  Community referrals and other related services coordinator

Individual Student Services for 2015/2016:

Gender Distribution:

Grade Level Distribution:

Reason for Referral Distribution:

#Crisis is defined as any counseling session dealing with suicidal thoughts/comments, self-harm, and/or abuse situations that require other professionals be involved.

MES Counseling Program 2015/2016 at a Glance

July:

·  ArSCA Counseling Conference

·  New student registration

August:

·  New student registration and orientation

·  Program information made available at open house

·  Enroll students for Food4Kids program

·  Classroom guidance focus: Role of counselor and role of student at school

·  Individual student sessions as needed

September:

·  Consultations with community resources to collaborate student services

·  Kindergarten Qualls testing

·  NED Show

·  Classroom guidance focus: Positive communication and proactive problem solving

·  Individual student sessions as needed

October:

·  Finalize district homeless count for October report

·  Red Ribbon Week, “Kindness Week”

·  Begin collecting forms for Angel Tree program

·  Regional Counselors Meeting at NAESC

·  Parent/Teacher Conferences

·  Classroom Guidance Focus: Acts of Kindness and academic goal setting

·  Individual student sessions as needed

November:

·  ArSCA North Central meeting in Harrison

·  ACT Aspire informative meeting at NAECS

·  Analyze PARCC score data

·  Classroom Guidance Focus: Gratitude and Diverse Family Traditions Individual student sessions as needed

December:

·  Assist with distribution of Angel Tree program materials

·  Assist with ESL assessments

·  Begin Kindergarten social skills small group

·  Begin community relations services (Melbourne Times, Area Wide News, etc.)

·  Classroom Guidance Focus: Diverse careers and recognition of protective factors/positive self talk

·  Individual student sessions as needed

January:

·  ACT Aspire training at NAESC

·  Completed personal needs profiles for students with 504/IEP for ACT Aspire testing

·  Coordinated community services needed for students in second semester

·  Kindergarten social skills group

·  New student registration/orientation

·  Classroom Guidance Focus: Study Skills, Empathy, and Positive Friendship Individual student sessions as needed

February:

·  Complete Kindergarten social skills group

·  Classroom Guidance Focus: Personal hygiene, Positive expression of anger, and learning style

·  Individual student sessions as needed

March:

·  ACT Aspire Interim Assessments and analysis of data

·  IOWA testing planning and coordinator training

·  Classroom Guidance Focus: Self control, positive behavior online, introduction to financial awareness

·  Individual student sessions as needed

April:

·  Coordinate IOWA testing

·  Incoming kindergarten registration

·  Finalize accommodation information for ACT Aspire summative testing

·  Classroom Guidance Focus: test anxiety, severe weather awareness/safety, continue study on financial awareness

·  Individual student sessions as needed

May:

·  ACT Summative Assessment

·  End of year program planning

·  Incoming 7th grade course consultation and orientation

·  Individual student sessions as needed

Classroom Guidance Sessions:

Kindergarten: 31 Sessions

First Grade: 31 Sessions

Second Grade: 43 Sessions

Third Grade: 49 Sessions

Fourth Grade Girls: 31 Sessions

Fourth Grade Boys: 31 Sessions

Fifth Grade Girls: 42 sessions

Fifth Grade Boys: 38 Sessions

Sixth Grade Girls: 43 Sessions

Sixth Grade Boys: 42 Sessions

(Note: 4th, 5th, and 6th grade were separated into boys/girls small groups and held opposite of PeeWee ball practice to limit classroom disruption)

Homeless Services Statement

In 2015/2016, eight families were identified as meeting the criteria for homelessness. These students were provided with necessary services to meet their unique needs.

Migrant Services Statement

In 2015/2016, two families were identified as meeting the criteria for migrant services. These students were provided with the necessary resources to meet their unique needs.

Counseling Program Areas of Strength

From the data, students demonstrate a comfort level in seeking out the counselor on their own initiative. Administrative referrals are at a minimum, which maintains the integrity of the counselor’s role. Male students and female students are seeking out counseling at a relatively equal and positive rate. Counselor has built a positive rapport with middle school aged students, increasing referrals in that age bracket. Referral have also increased in the lower grades compared to the 2014/2015 school year. This was recognized as an area of growth last year, and efforts were made to increase connections with lower elementary students including small group meetings, increased teacher consultation, and a more engaging classroom guidance curriculum for grades K-2.

Counseling Program Areas of Growth for 2016/2017

·  Continue to provide learning opportunities to help students better learn to manage peer situations.

·  Provide more classroom curriculum materials for dealing with diverse family issues

·  Enhance the role of the counselor as an academic advocate.

Counseling Program Stakeholders

Parents: Complete a needs assessment and provide support/feedback; utilize counseling website to keep up to date with counseling program goals

Community: Provide resources for students in need and support for counseling program initiatives and programs

Other Professionals: Provide referral services when required (Families Inc.), as well as counseling support when appropriate

Principal: Work collaboratively with counselor to review school data and plan for systematic change to areas identified as growth areas

Teachers/Staff: Complete classroom needs assessment surveys and communicate student needs with counselor in a timely manner; allow students to participate in counseling activities when appropriate

Counselor: Develop a positive communication with all stakeholders and a developmentally appropriate curriculum that addressed areas of growth and identified needs; be accessible to students and provide direct student services appropriately

Measurable Data Sources:

·  Counselor Task Analysis Data

·  Curriculum maps

·  Pre- and Post- Needs assessments from various stakeholders

·  Student test scores

·  ACT Aspire Interim data

School Improvement Issues

Testing data over the past two years has consistently demonstrated a need for heightened focus in the area of mathematics. Trends in academic data has also demonstrated a need for focus on attendance, student study skills, and organizational habits. ACT Aspire Interim testing data also showed a continued weakness in the area of mathematics. Lesson were introduced in classroom guidance to assist students with study skills, study skills and note taking specific to mathematics, and reducing test anxiety.

Counselor’s Role in School Improvement Goals

Counselor will utilize whole group classroom guidance to increase the number of activities that instruct students in the ASCA academic frameworks. The focus of the guidance curriculum in 2016/2017 will be building positive peer relationships with the merging of MES and MPES, continued development in the area of academic counseling, and implementing more parent-connection programs that bridge counseling skills learned at school with the home environment.