Many times people ask "What does an Elementary counselor do?" For most
people, the word "counselor" brings to mind someone they saw a few times
in high school to help them with their class schedules, testing, or
college applications.
The Elementary counselor at Voorheesville provides students with a
comprehensive and developmental school counseling program. At
Voorheesville Elementary, the counselor works as a team with students,
parents, educators and community members to provide a positive learning
environment where our children's needs are met through prevention, early
identification, and interventions. The counseling program focuses on the
academic, and social success of all students.
The elementary school years set the tone for developing the skills,
knowledge and attitudes necessary for students to grow into healthy and
successful adults. Elementary school is a time when students develop
attitudes concerning school, self, peers, social groups, and family. It
is a time when students develop decision making skills, and learn
character values. The counseling program at Voorheesville provides
numerous services for students, parents, and educators to participate
in.
Some of the roles of the counselor include:
Implementing classroom guidance programs,
focusing on understanding self and others, peer relationships,
social skills, problem solving, decision-making, conflict
resolution, study skills, bullying prevention, community building,
study skills, career awareness and multicultural awareness.
Providing individual and small group counseling,
dealing with topics such as self confidence, family issues, peer
relationships, academic skills, and peer mediation. To learn about
our BANANA SPLITS program,
click here.
Provide consultation with parents, teachers,
administrators, school psychologists concerning the personal and
academic success of our students.
Communicate and exchange information with
families by way of conferences, parent education programs and
newsletters. For a list of parent resources available through the
counseling office,
click
here.
Based on Elementary School Counselors: Helping
Students Make the Grade pamphlet produced by the New York State School
Counselor Association. Modified 2003 by K. Huntsman, last modified by S.
Paulson 2005.
