I'll be meeting with all the new students in Grades 1-8 during the months of September and October. We will have a "New Student Lunch Bunch" which will give me an opportunity to get to know the new students. This will also be a chance for all those who are new to get to know each other.
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Classroom guidance lessons are offered throughout the year for the students. The classroom/group experience is an enjoyable way for students to benefit from personal growth as well as to gain support from their peers. Classroom lessons are typically arranged through teacher and counselor consultation. These lessons can be a one time meeting or occur over several weeks, depending upon the topic at hand, and the needs of the particular class. Classroom guidance lessons are created as needed according to varying topics. They may focus on bullying, friendship skills, feelings, decision making, study skills, careers, etc.
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Students can be referred by their teacher, or a parent, to join a small guidance group. These group meetings are brief in nature and usually last for about 6-8 weeks. If further counseling is warranted, the school counselor can help the parents/family obtain support services outside the school environment. During group meetings with students, the school counselor can help children understand and accept themselves, cope with family changes and/or family crises, develop decision making skills, conflict resolution skills, anger management techniques, and problem solving strategies.
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CONFIDENTIALITY POLICY
Confidentiality forms the foundation of trust and safety in the counseling relationship and allows honest and uncensored communication. When counseling students are minors, or are so young they are unable to give voluntary informed consent, parents/guardians may be included in the counseling process as appropriate. Counselors act in the best interest of the student and take measures to safeguard confidentiality.
Students’ conversations with the school counselor are confidential except in certain instances. Although exceptions to student-counselor confidentiality are few, there are occasions when it is appropriate to expand confidentiality to include other adults in the student’s life.
Except in cases of life threatening emergency, students will be given advance notice that information will be shared with another person. Students can be assured that every effort will be made to provide sensitive care and protection of privacy.
All records of visits are separated from other school files and securely maintained by the counselor.
Limit to Confidentiality
There are some legally mandated exceptions to confidentiality. These include:
Notification of relevant others in cases of harm to self or others (e.g., in the case of threatened suicide or violent assault)
Notification of Child Protective Services in cases of suspected child abuse, neglect, or maltreatment
Notification of school officials in cases of abuse by a school staff member or a student’s intent to commit a dangerous school-related crime
Legal cases where information has been subpoenaed by the court