Frequently Asked Questions: This page contains answers to common questions of students and
parents.
- What is a school counselor?
- What do school counselors do?
- Who are school counselors for?
- How can a student visit the school counselor?
- Why would a student visit the school counselor?
What is a school counselor?
School Counselors are a type of helper in your school. I help
kids with things like problem solving, understanding feelings,
and making friends!
What do school counselors do?
� talk with individual students,
� meet with students in small groups, and
� visit classrooms to teach lessons about things that will help
you in school, and out of school!
School counselors also...
� Help identify needs of students
� Encourage better interpersonal relationships
� Promote positive attitudes and choices
� Aid teachers and parents in helping students
� Assist people in making use of community resources
� Coordinate efforts with other school programs
� Assist students with the process of growing up
� Coordinate referrals to outside agencies
� Assist with in-service programs for faculty
� Provide "preventative" services
� Maintain confidentiality
Who are school counselors for?
Your School Counselor is here for EVERYONE! I am here for every
student, every teacher, and every parent who is part of the
Woodruff Primary School community.
How can a student visit the school counselor?
* Student referral: students can write a note and leave it in my
box or tell their teacher they'd like to talk to me
* Parent referral: Parents can call the school, send a note or
email
* Teacher referral
* Administrative referral
Why would a student visit the school counselor?
Here are some reasons a student might want to talk to the School
Counselor:
� "I'm getting picked on at the bus stop and I don't know what
to do about it."
� "My best friend isn't talking to me and it's making me really
sad."
� "I want to show you what I just made in art. I'm very proud of
it."
� "I'm new to this school, and I'm really scared!"
� "When am I going to get to be in a Friendship Group?"
� "I just want to talk to someone who won't laugh at me."
� "I did a lot better on my last math test, and I'm so excited
to tell someone!"
� "Tim, Samantha and I had a problem at recess. Can you help us
work it out?"
Here are some reasons parents might want to talk to the School
Counselor:
� "Sarah doesn't want to go to school in the mornings."
� "I'm concerned because Allen keeps telling me that he doesn't
have any friends. Do you think a Friendship Group might help?"
� "We recently had a death in the family, and I'm not sure how
to tell my child."
� "Kevin has difficulty going to sleep at night and often has
nightmares."
� "My wife and I have been divorced for two years, but we think
our kids could really benefit from talking about it with other
kids who are going through the same thing. We'd like to refer
them for a Family Change Group."
� "Jason seems to get really frustrated doing his homework, and
nothing I say seems to help."
� "I just wanted to thank you for inviting my daughter to
participate in a New Student Group. She really enjoyed meeting
some other kids who were new to WPS."
Here are some reasons teachers or administrators might want to
talk to the
School Counselor:
� "I need some ideas to help my students develop more positive
relationships."
� "John just can't sit still in the classroom."
� "Sue is absent a lot."
� "Patrick is new to this school and needs some special
attention."
� "I've noticed that Amanda seems distracted and anxious a lot
lately."
� "Lisa is a great kid, but she's really shy and doesn't seem to
be comfortable initiating friendships. I think she'd benefit from
participating in a Friendship Group."