Counselor

About Maplewood School Counseling Program

At Maplewood, Counseling services are designed to optimize student learning by:
 

1. Helping to create a safe and welcoming learning environment for all students,
2. Providing instruction to promote and enhance growth in personal/social skills, student academic achievement and career development, and
3. Working to remove barriers to learning for each student.

Counseling services include the following components, which are supported by the American School Counseling Association (ASCA):

• Classroom and small group guidance lessons and activities
• Individual meetings with students focused on person/social competencies (e.g. conflict resolution, classroom social skills development, crisis response)
• Collaboration with staff members to identify needs and strategies to promote student achievement
• Meetings with parents to discuss concerns and/or provide referral resources

The Classroom Guidance Program at Maplewood involves instruction by the School Counselor on a variety of topics related to social-emotional development, academic success, and career exploration. Kindergarten classrooms receive at least five20-minute lessons per year. First through fifth grades receive ten to twelve 30-minute lessons throughout the school year and sixth graders receive 45 minute lessons for ten weeks.

Small Group Guidance focuses on combining students with similar needs related to topics such as: stress, responsibility, leadership development, organizational skills, social skills. Each group of 3-6 students meets weekly with the School Counselor during the school day for approximately 8 weeks to learn information and skills related to their group's topic.

Maplewood's School Counselor is also responsible for:

• Coordination of the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program
• Coordination and management of 504 Accommodation Plans
• McKinney Vento qualification
• Suggesting community resources for counseling, food, clothing and housing needs
• Connecting families with resources for gifts and/or food items for their children during the holidays