Meet the Counselors

Ms. Jocelin Jones - Students with last names starting with A-K

Ms. Tiffany Cozzi - Students with last names starting with L-Z

Ms. Sarah Diatta - 12th grade students in SD/LA

Counselor Responsibilities

Our counselors are amazing, and they have a lot of students on their caseloads. We want to make sure that we are only contacting them when necessary or when students have questions that we cannot answer. Please take a look at the guidelines below to know when to contact a counselor. If you are not sure if you should or not, talk to your DC and they can help you!

When contacting counselors, please ALWAYS include the students First Initial, Last Name, scope, and SIS link. This helps the counselors help you and the student more quickly. Example: J. Thomas (capcsla - link)

When to Send to Counselor:

• Phone/Email/Contact Change: If a student has an updated phone number, email address, or needs to add a guardian, please send that information to the counselor with all teachers cc'd.

• Graduation/Credits (HS): If a student needs advice about colleges, which classes qualify for college entrance requirements (A-G coursework), CHSPE, GED, or anything else dealing with specifics about their credits and what they need to graduate. Teachers have access to student graduation plans "grad plans" and are able to see credits earned and credits deficient in the student information system (SIS), but if there is a specific question about the courses students need to take for certain purposes (including NCAA athletes), please direct the student or parent/guardian to the counselor.

• College and Career (HS): Questions relating to college admissions, AP, SAT, ACT, ASVAB, or advice about careers

• Transcript Errors (HS): If the wrong grade was reported, credits were incorrect, or a class is missing

• Mental Health: Student is experiencing depression, anxiety, mental health and it goes beyond being behind in school or feeling unmotivated. More info below in the Mental Health section.

• Classes: The wrong class is showing in the system, need a different course, duplicate class is showing, need another class added...etc. It is YOUR job as the HR teacher to keep track of when students need more classes added. Our credit recovery (CR) students take 5 classes to start. You will monitor your CR students and when they have finished 4 classes and are 50% finished with the 5th, you will email the counselor to add another class.

• 504: If the parent states they already have a 504 or would like one, please contact the appropriate counselor. They will begin the process and speak to the parent.

• Suicide Prevention: If you are on the phone with a student and you believe they are an immediate suicide risk, stay on the phone with them and, email the Crisis Team at crisisteam@cal-pacs.org and IM a counselor, DC, or administrator to call 9-1-1. If a student mentions being suicidal or submits an assignment that seems like they are having suicidal thoughts, please contact the Crisis Team immediately. If you are unable to reach a member on the crisis team. Do not wait, and keep calling all administrators and counselors until you reach someone! It is very important that the counselors are able to complete a risk assessment and get the student help as soon as possible. More information is below in the Mental Health section.

Don't Send to Counselor:

• Change of Physical/Home Address: Please direct them to Dice in our main office at dnishikawa@cal-pacs.org

• Student Withdraw Requests: Complete the WD Request form. Can be submitted by any staff member via the google form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScPAAPe8TaiH12hjkx96mwxvjyaV-cHqyByB9iU9YYQEfE2Ng/viewform

  • The withdraw request requires knowing where the student will be going upon withdraw. Please be sure to ask the parent prior to submitting the withdraw form. We are required to report this information to the state. Any staff member should be having a conversation about where minor students will be attending school after CalPac during the withdraw conversation (or in a follow up email).

  • Please let families know it takes at least 24 hours to process withdraws. Teachers have to enter grades before the student can be withdrawn.

• Transcript Requests: There is a link for Parchment. Students should use Parchment to request a transcript. This goes straight to our records department, and they will take care of the transcript request. Please send the students this link if they need a transcript: http://www.cal-pacs.org/contact/transcript-request/

• Work Permits: Work Permits: Direct student/Parents to the directions and forms on our website (about halfway down the page): http://www.cal-pacs.org/resources/counseling/. The webpage also includes how students qualify for a work permit (on track in classes, attending daily, etc.)

• Trouble Reaching a Student: Please talk to your department chair (DC ) if you are having trouble making contact with a student. They can provide some tips and give support to help you reach your students. If an escalation is needed, administration will support.

• SIS Errors/Troubleshooting: Talk with your DC first before sending any problems with the SIS to the counselors. Your DC will direct you if it needs to be escalated.

Try and answer as many questions from students yourself before sending to the counselor. Thank you!!!

Mental Health

Mental health is a serious issue affecting students across the globe, and we want to be vigilant to ensure the safety of our students. Our students suffer from depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, and other forms of mental health. As homeroom and content teachers, please be aware of the things students tell you, and contact the appropriate support staff to ensure students are getting the help they need.

Please review the trainings below. If you have any questions, please talk to one of the counselors. Always CALL a counselor or administrator if you suspect a student is in danger or in need of immediate help. If you think a student is immediately suicidal, call 9-1-1 and then call an administrator. Lives are our #1 priority.