PROGRAM PHILOSOPHY:
Counseling is the personalized part of education which provides the
foundation for helping the individual understand and accept self, to
recognize personal needs, to assess potentialities and to formulate plans of
action based on the foundation.
Counseling is an integral part of meeting the individual needs of each
student. Therefore, the counseling and educational opportunities should be
in cooperation with home, school and community so interrelated and
articulated that each student will have access to a well-planned, unified
program.
All students are eligible to receive the benefits of a school counseling and
guidance program, which is an integral part of the total educational
experience. Each child has access to services that are developmental in
nature, preventive in design, and comprehensive in scope. Every student
will have access to counseling and guidance services so that they may be
challenged and supported to be the very best individuals they can become.
PROGRAM DELIVERY:
INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING is an important element of the counseling
program. Our goal is that all students should have equal opportunity
and access to the school counseling program. Ms. Cottle-Makhene
is available for all students. Students may self-refer or be referred to
the counselor by teachers and/or parents. Confidentiality is required and
respected.
GROUP COUNSELING is provided for small groups of students
experiencing similar needs. These may include but not limited to anger
management, friendship, family stresses, separation/divorce, social skills,
organizational skills, self-esteem, test taking/test anxiety management
skills, bereavement, incarcerated parent, loved ones deployed, etc. Groups
and their dynamics may change according to the school wide population.
Suggestions for groups are welcomed from parents, students, or teachers.
Children will be given permission slips for their parents to sign to become
members of each group.
Look for the groups to begin shortly! Confidentiality is required and
respected.
CLASSROOM COUNSELING lessons will be presented on the 12 day rotating
schedule by the school counselor in grades K-5. They cover a variety of
areas of importance in helping students learn about themselves and others in
developing personal and interpersonal skills (see The Prince William County
Guidance Curriculum.) The Mullen Elementary Counseling Program addresses the
educational process by providing several lessons in testing anxiety, study
skills, test taking skills. We also try to align the school counseling
objectives with each grade level SOL objective instruction. This offers
students the opportunity to see how the state of Virginia Standards of
Learning can be applied to all areas of life.
