Embedded Files
School Counselorsare trained and certified in school counseling with unique qualifications and skills to address all students' academic, personal/social and career development needs by the following:
- Individual Group Counseling
- Classroom Presentations
- Teacher/Parent Consultations
- 504 Coordinator
- McKinney Vento Contact Person
- Intervention Team Facilitator
Attendance Coordinator
- Character Ed ALL STAR coordinator
- WBAIN Correspondent: Messages of Character Traits and Bullying Prevention
- Liaison between families and community agencies
- Golden Trash Can Coordinator
- Paw Pride Award Coordinator
- Bain Buster Leader - Bain's Bullying Prevention Program
Students may be seen by the counselor on an individual or group basis. They may self-refer by telling their teacher, writing a note or having their parent email or call. Students may also be referred to the counselor by teachers, administration and parents.
Attendance - The School Counselor can assist parents and teachers when circumstances interfere with a student's regular presence in school. North Carolina does have a compulsory attendance law, which requires every child between the ages of seven and sixteen to attend school. Although children are not required to enroll in school until age seven, if the child is enrolled, the law applies regardless of age.
Attendance - The School Counselor can assist parents and teachers when circumstances interfere with a student's regular presence in school. North Carolina does have a compulsory attendance law, which requires every child between the ages of seven and sixteen to attend school. Although children are not required to enroll in school until age seven, if the child is enrolled, the law applies regardless of age.
The district sets specific guidelines for each school regarding student attendance. CMS policy recognizes the following excused absences:
- Illness of the student
- Death in the immediate family
- Quarantine
- Religious holidays approved by the school system
- Educational opportunities
All other absences are considered unexcused. Please know that a written note regarding the reason for the student's absence is appreciated. However, a written note does not mean that the absence will be excused if the circumstances do not meet the policy guidelines.
When a student's absences reach certain benchmarks, a letter will be sent home notifying parents. An individual attendance plan may be developed with the student and parent. With repeated absences due to the illness of a student, medical verification may be requested. Occasionally, court intervention is necessary when parents are not able to comply with the compulsory attendance law.
Tardiness - The school day begins at 8:15 A.M. Students are expected to be in classrooms ready to begin instruction at the bell. Many students actually arrive earlier and are provided instructional opportunities until the official school day begins. If the student develops a pattern of constant tardiness, the School Counselor will discuss the concern of tardiness with the parent and find ways to remedy the problem.
Counseling - The School Counselor provides individual and small group counseling regarding school-related issues and themes. Students are seen at the request of teachers and/or parents. Counseling services in the school setting are generally brief and goal-oriented. Students in need of long-term therapy are referred for private professional support.
Structured small group counseling is also provided as needs arise. Groups are usually formed from the School Counselor individual caseload or upon the request of teachers. Frequent themes are divorce, self-esteem, anger management, test taking skills/organization/time management and ADHD support.
Elementary School Students’ Developmental Needs
The elementary years are a time when students begin to develop their academic self-concept and their feelings of competence and confidence as learners. They are beginning to develop decision-making, communication and life skills, as well as character values. It is also a time when students develop and acquire attitudes toward school, self, peers, social groups and family. Comprehensive developmental school counseling programs provide education, prevention and intervention services, which are integrated into all aspects of children’s lives. Early identification and intervention of children’s academic and personal/social needs is essential in removing barriers to learning and in promoting academic achievement. The knowledge, attitudes and skills that students acquire in the areas of academic, career and personal/social development during these elementary years serve as the foundation for future success.
Meeting the Challenge
Elementary school counselors are professional educators with a mental health perspective who understand and respond to the challenges presented by today’s diverse student population. Elementary school counselors don’t work in isolation; rather they are integral to the total educational program. They provide proactive leadership that engages all stakeholders in the delivery of programs and services to help students achieve school success. Professional school counselors align with the school’s mission to support the academic achievement of all students as they prepare for the ever-changing world of the 21st century. This mission is accomplished through the design, development, implementation and evaluation of a comprehensive, developmental and systematic school counseling program. ASCA’s National Standards in the academic, career, and personal/social domains are the foundation for this work. The ASCA National Model: A Framework For School Counseling Programs (ASCA, 2002), with its data-driven and results-based focus, serves as a guide for today’s school counselor who is uniquely trained to implement this program.
Elementary School Counselors Implement the Counseling Program by Providing:
School Guidance Curriculum
- Academic support, including organizational, study and test-taking skills
- Goal setting and decision-making
- Career awareness, exploration and planning
- Education on understanding self and others Peer relationships, coping strategies and effective social skills
- Communication, problem-solving and conflict resolution
- Substance abuse education
- Multicultural/diversity awareness
Individual Student Planning
- Academic planning
- Goal setting/decision- making
- Education on understanding of self, including strengths and weaknesses
- Transition plans
Responsive Services
- Individual and small-group counseling
- Individual/family/school crisis intervention
- Conflict resolution
- Consultation/collaboration
- Referrals
System Support
- Professional development
- Consultation, collaboration and teaming
- Program management and operation
Elementary School Counselors Collaborate with:
Parents- Parent education; Communication/networking; Academic planning; College/career awareness programs; One-on-one parent conferencing; Interpretation of assessment results
Teachers- Classroom guidance activities; Academic support, including learning style assessment and education to help students succeed academically; Classroom speakers; At-risk student identification and implementation of interventions to enhance success
Administrators- School climate; Behavioral management plans; School-wide needs assessments; Student data and results; Student assistance team building
Students- Peer education; Peer support; Academic support; School climate; Leadership development; Community Job shadowing; service learning; Crisis interventions; Referrals; Parenting classes; Support groups; Career education
These examples are not intended to be all-inclusive
Why Elementary School Counselors?
Elementary school years set the tone for developing the knowledge, attitudes and skill necessary for children to become healthy, competent and confident learners. Through a comprehensive developmental school counseling program, school counselors work as a team with the school staff, parents and the community to create a caring climate and atmosphere. By providing education, prevention, early identification and intervention, school counselors can help all children achieve academic success. The professional elementary school counselor holds a master’s degree and required state certification in school counseling. Maintaining certification includes on-going professional development to stay current with education reform and challenges facing today’s students. Professional association membership enhances the school counselor’s knowledge and effectiveness.
Bain Elementary School Counseling Programs
Classroom Presentations - The school counselor provides lessons to classrooms of grade level specific topics throughout the school year. Classroom guidance is a planned, developmental program of guidance activities designed to foster students' academic, career and personal/social development. Topics ranging from: self concept / personal development, study skills / work habits, communication skills, problem solving and conflict mediation, recognizing differences, career development, transitions, listening, following directions, building positive self-esteem, the CMS character traits, emotions, getting along with others, test taking and study skills. Typically these lessons involve story telling, hands-on activities and group discussions.
Character ALL-STAR Program- The mission of the Character All-Stars program is to build a sustainable character education program that will cultivate healthy, respectful and responsible students and adults in our school. Character All-Stars is a joint collaboration with CMS, the Carolina Panthers and Duke Energy to promote positive character in our schools by recognizing students, staff and schools that exemplify the CMS monthly character traits(respect, responsibility, honesty, caring, justice & fairness, citizenship, courage, perseverance and hope).
Monthly student nominees will be reviewed by a district committee represented by a parent, teacher, principal, assistant principal, learning community representative and a central office representative. Three student Character All-Stars finalists will be selected each month from all the schools.
Paw Pride Award - Each week a special delivery is chosen from the Paw Pride Mail Box (located in the Front Office). The Paw Pride Award is given to a student who demonstrates "Paw Pride" with excellent behavior. The nominees can come from any staff member or parent. Teachers and staff members can also be nominated for this award. Winners are announced every Friday on WBAIN and also receive a prize pack.
Golden Trash Can Award - The Golden Trash Can Award is given to the two cleanest classrooms each week. The winners are chosen by the custodial staff and receive a golden trash can filled with prizes. The winners are announced on WBAIN every Friday.
Bain Busters -** Bain Busters is our character education program that includes bullying prevention, recycling and character education. Bain Elementary is home of the Bobcats. We at Bain love to show our “Paw Pride” by displaying good character and behavior. Bain Busters do not tolerate bullying in any way. We are a community at Bain and take care of our friends, our families and our planet. To become a Bain Buster you must simply display your PAW PRIDE by:
- Recycling
- Helping friends and family
- Displaying good behavior
- Reporting any bullying behaviors
- Working hard in school and at home
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