Middle School Counseling Program
The Middle School counselor interacts with students directly and indirectly in various ways:
School Counseling Curriculum
This curriculum consists of structured lessons designed to help students attain the desired competencies and to provide all students with the knowledge, attitudes and skills appropriate for their developmental level. The counseling curriculum is infused throughout the school’s overall curriculum and is systematically presented by other professional educators in K-12 classroom and group activities.
Areas connected to this include the following:
Advisory (via Learning Lab): In Grades 6-8 this is done with student advisors (Learning Lab teachers) every other day. For part of the time, the group discusses topics, learns skills, and gains information relevant to middle school. For the rest of the class, students cover designated topics, like technology use at WBAIS. Examples of advisory topics include the following: study skills, stress management, planning and implementing a volunteer program to give to the community, student-led conferences, internet safety, goal setting, and reflecting on learning.
Family Support: The counselor meets with parents during designated meetings, including book studies, Counselor Coffees, and by appointment.
Individual Student Support
Ongoing systemic activities designed to assist students in establishing personal goals and developing future plans.
Common areas connected to this include the following:
One-to-one Meetings: All new students, all Grade 6 students, and most other students meet at least once with the counselor at some point throughout the year. Although these might be casual conversations, they often lead to planning to achieve students' desired best hopes.
Class Scheduling: The counselor schedules students' elective classes and as a result often has occasion to meet with individual students to discuss their scheduling wishes and to find the best options to meet their needs. This often leads to good discussions regarding setting goals and planning for the future.
Transition Support: The counselor works with students and families before, during, and after their moves in or out of WBAIS. For families who plan on moving for the 2021-2022 school year, please contact the counselor as early as possible to start the process off smoothly. Similarly, please know that everything should go through the middle school office. We can then organize and get all the needed materials sent out promptly. In addition, please give Joe’s email address (jgeorge@wbais.net) as the WBAIS school contact. Finally, please know that we need to receive any needed requests at least two school weeks before any deadline.
Responsive Services
Activities designed to meet students’ immediate needs and concerns. Responsive services may include counseling in individual or small-group settings or crisis response. Common topics often such issues as self-esteem, skills for success, goal setting, friendship issues, conflict resolution, and transitions.
System Support (Indirect Student Support)
Like any organized activity, a school counseling program requires administration and management to maintain and enhance the program. These activities typically do not involve direct contact with students, but rather they indirectly support students and the school counseling program for the benefit of the program.
Common areas connected to this include the following:
Student Concerns: The counselor meets with teachers to follow the social and academic success of all students.