P.O. Box 168
New London, TX  75684
903-392-7850 Ext. 4201 Prim.

What are School Counselors?

                        School Counselors are a type of helper in your school.
                        We help kids with things like problem solving, understanding feelings, and making                                     friends! 

 What do School Counselors do?
          
                School Counselors...

•                 Work with individuals and groups
•                 Help identify needs of students
•                 Encourage better interpersonal relationships
•                 Promote positive attitudes and choices
•                 Aid teachers and parents in helping students
•                 Assist people in making use of community resources
•                 Coordinate efforts with other school programs
•                 Assist students with the process of growing up
•                 Coordinate referrals to outside agencies
•                 Assist with in-service programs for faculty
•                 Participate in curriculum development
•                 Provide "preventative" services
•                 Maintain confidentiality
•                 Talk with individual students 
•                 Meet with students in small groups
•                 Visit classrooms to teach lessons about things that will help you in school, and                       out of school!

            Your School Counselors are here for EVERYONE!
            I am here for every student, every teacher, and every parent who is part of the West               Rusk CCISD community.

Why would I want to visit a school counselor?

 
Here are some reasons a student might want to talk to the School Counselor:
 

• "I'm getting picked on at the bus stop and I don't know what to do about it."
• "My best friend isn't talking to me and it's making me really sad."
• "I want to show you what I just made in art. I'm very proud of it."
• "I'm new to this school, and I'm really scared!"
• "When am I going to get to be in a Friendship Group?"
• "I just want to talk to someone who won't laugh at me."
• "I did a lot better on my last math test, and I'm so excited to tell someone!"
• "Tim, Samantha and I had a problem at recess. Can you help us work it out?"

 
Here are some reasons parents might want to talk to the School Counselor:

• "Sarah doesn't want to go to school in the mornings."
• "I'm concerned because Allen keeps telling me that he doesn't have any friends. Do you think a Friendship Group might help?"
• "We recently had a death in the family, and I'm not sure how to tell my child."
• "Kevin has difficulty going to sleep at night and often has nightmares."
• "My wife and I have been divorced for two years, but we think our kids could really benefit from talking about it with other kids who are going through the same thing. We'd like to refer them for a Family Change Group.
• "Jason seems to get really frustrated doing his homework, and nothing I say seems to help."
• "I just wanted to thank you for inviting my daughter to participate in a New Student Group. She really enjoyed meeting some other kids were new to West Rusk Elementary."

 
MOTIVATION  FOR SUCCESS
(ideas for parents to consider)

• Set up routines at home.   Examples:  Decide each night what outfit to wear the next day, share what happened at school today, designate a set time and place to complete homework.
• Encourage students to use good manners by modeling proper social skills for them.  Discourage name-calling and “put-downs.”  Having good manners and showing respect for other people play a big part in one’s own success.
• Stay in touch with your child’s teacher.   Know what is happening at school and check on your student’s progress with particular skills being taught.  
• Plan your discipline strategies before you need them and explain the rules and consequences to your child before you have to enforce them.
• Be your child’s biggest cheerleader!  
• Be present and on time each day!  New state guidelines allow for very few absences and/or tardies.    

 

 

 
Here are some reasons teachers or administrators might want to talk to the School Counselor:

• "I need some ideas to help my students develop more positive relationships."
• "John just can't sit still in the classroom."
• "Sue is absent a lot."
• "Patrick is new to this school and needs some special attention."
• "I've noticed that Amanda seems distracted and anxious a lot lately."
• "Lisa is a great kid, but she's really shy and doesn't seem to be comfortable initiating friendships. I think she'd benefit from participating in a Friendship Group."

EDUCATIONAL WEB SITES

Although we attempt to keep links content-appropriate, the dynamic nature of web browsing may lead students to inappropriate sites. For this reason, student use of the Internet should always be supervised by parents or teachers.

 

            Click on the book t read about Hilburt the Halibut.  
Hilburt is feeling a little flat. No one wants to be his friend. Help him learn that everyone's not so shallow.

                    Click on the book to read about how to deal with the lose of a pet. How Do We Say Goodbye? written by Junior, Sugar, and Tiger Olinger and typed by Phyllis Olinger.