School Counseling Program

The school counseling program at Abney Elementary is aligned with the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) delivery model.

We provide services to students in the following areas:

School Guidance Curriculum

Individual Student Planning

Responsive Services

System Support

School Guidance Curriculum

Individual Student Planning

School counselors can help students with goals and future planning. As this delviery system is more applicable to Middle and High School, we can help elementary students work towards personal goals, discuss grades, and attendance.

In this area of service, students in Kindergarten through 5th grade receive classroom guidance lessons once a month. Lesson standards are aligned with the ASCA Mindsets & Behaviors, which includes Academic Development, Personal/Social Development, and Career Development. For a list of standards, visit www.schoolcounselor.org. Some of the topics discussed during classroom guidance lessons include:

*Bullying Prevention & Awareness

*Safety

*Social Skills

*Study Skills

*Test Taking Skills

*Georgia Career Cluster Lessons (1st-5th)

*Career Awareness

*Responsibility

*Feelings & Emotions

*Speak Up, Be Safe Body Safety Program

*Decision Making

*Conflict Resolution

System Support

Responsive Services

Our job as school counselors is to ensure that each and every student has the opportunity to succeed and achieve at school by reducing barriers that may interfere with the learning process. As part of the Responsive Services delivery system, we provide individual counseling and group counseling services. We encourage students, teachers, and parents, to seek our help when they are facing an issue or problem.

Issues & Problems students see a counselor for include:

*Grades

*Behavior

*Anger

*Sadness

*Bullying

*Family

-divorce

-changes in family dynamic (remarried, step siblings)

-death

-deployment

-illness

*Friendship/Social Skills

System Support includes all of the other job responsibilities that school counselors are involved with to further help our students and our school. Some of these other responsibilites include:

*Assistant Test Coordinator

*Character Education

*Inclusion & Diversity School Initiatives

*Career Crew after school meetings

*Fundraisers such as Pennies for Paulding and canned food drives

*Morning & Afternoon Duty (front office, car rider)

*Special Programs (backpack program)

*Community Resources

*School Tours