The counseling center offers a variety of services for students and parents and is described in four basic domains...
Scholastic
Students and parents receive help choosing the correct classes and the correct level. If a student is in a class or level that is incorrect a schedule change may be needed.
A counselor could help with additional interventions that might include daily agenda monitoring, weekly progress reports, time management explanations, organizational skills, and parent meetings. Contracts can be written to help set goals and detail responsibilities.
Social and Emotional
Middle school is a very trying time for students. Counselors are available to see students
on an individual basis. Counselors are available to talk to a student in crisis or a student
who may need to just talk. Students can be seen on a regular basis if needed.
Students may be asked if they want to join a peer support group. Groups are offered throughout the year and meet during a different class period each week so students do not miss the same class. Most last for eight weeks. Groups offered are divorce, grief and loss, bullying, girls are great, and general peer support. Students can be placed in a group by self- referral, teacher referral, or parent request.
Middle school is a time for growth and change. Often conflict comes with this. Conflict mediation is offered with a counselor. Students can ask to meet with another student to work through a disagreement and decide on an agreeable solution.
Welcome Everybody (W.E.B.)
The WEB program is a national program. We call our WEB leaders Spiders. Spiders are 8th grade students that are chosen to be mentors to 6th grade students for the year. There are 40 Spiders so each Spider has 4 or 5 students to mentor. Approximately 25% of the 8th graders get to be Spiders. It is very big privilege and comes with much responsibility!
Spiders go through 2 days of intense training in the summer to prepare for the first day of school. The first day Spiders make sure 6th grade students feel welcome and safe. They teach students about Southern Hills and how to be successful here. They help them learn other students names, learn ways to fit in, and help relieve the anxieties of middle school.
Throughout the year, Spiders do an activity once a month with the 6th graders. The Spiders meet once a week before school to prepare themselves to teach a variety of themes. These activities are designed to teach the 6th grade students about:
Bullying
Team work
Non-verbal communication
Multi-cultural acceptance
Conflict resolution
Goal setting/commitments
Spiders also help students with organization, lockers, notebooks, friends, homework, and also make sure to celebrate birthdays by decorating lockers!
This program not only helps the 6th grade students, it is an excellent opportunity for the 8th grade students to learn about leadership, teamwork, and teaching. Many go on to high school and become LINK leaders (the high school versions of this program).
Community of Caring
In order to keep Southern Hills a safe and friendly environment, we have implemented a comprehensive school-wide bullyproofing program. Teachers, the counseling department, and administrators work together with students to arrive at solutions and to mediate conflicts. The program begins with five class periods of curriculum at each grade level. The curriculum includes topics such as...
What is bullying?
Ways to deal with bullies
The role of bystanders
The difference between sexual harassment and flirting
What to do if bullying continues
The importance of including everyone
Stepping into a leadership role