Dawn Suitts                 Patty Patterson
dawn.suitts@bvsd.org                         patty.patterson@bvsd.org

2009-2010                                                 2009-2010
Counselor for 6th & 7th Grades                  Counselor for 8th Grade & Choice

“I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”  Maya Angelou

Meet Your Counselors

Meet Mrs. Patty Patterson:

I grew up in Omaha, Nebraska and went to the University of Nebraska to major in Family and Consumer Studies. Later I attended the Univ of Phoenix for my masters in education with a focus on counseling.

I have four children ranging in ages from 27 to 18-two boys and two girls. I love to garden, walk, be with family, talk…did I say talk?

The best thing about being a counselor is working with kids, families and teachers.

Meet Ms. Suitts

I was born and raised in Boulder, Colorado. I went to the Colorado College to major in Political Sceince/Ecomonics. I moved to San Diego and lived in California for almost 20 years, getting a Masters in City Planning from the University of California, Berkeley.  I returned to Boulder in 1998 and went to the University of Phoenix for a Masters in Education with a focus in Counseling.

I have two girls aged 20 and 17 a husband, and two golden retrievers, one is a puppy and I hope to train her to be a therapy dog.

 I love gardening, reading, cooking, my family, travel, chocolate and my job.

The best thing about being a counselor is the opportunity to develop relationships with students, their teachers and parents so that I can support students in their social, emotional and academic growth. I love watching the transformation that happens to students from sixth to eighth grade.

News from the Counseling Department

NO PLACE FOR HATE We are happy to announce that Platt received our official “No Place for Hate” Designation from the Anti-Defamation League in April. As part of our work towards receiving this designation, many students, Platt Staff and community members signed the Resolution of Respect.

STUDENT ALLIES We now have a Student Ally Organization that is comprised of students from all grades.

Allies Annoucements:

     The student allies are sponsoring a poster design contest for students to design posters around the BIG 5 that will more permanent reminders…grand prize is an IPod shuffle!

Student Ally Mission Statement:

Allies are students committed to a safe school environment and work to keep our school free of hate.

Student Ally Vision Statement:

Student Allies will lead by example, and display the following characteristics: trustworthiness, respectfulness and kindness

They will be friendly, help others and will go outside their comfort zone to go to the defense of another member of the community.

WE WELCOME ALL STUDENTS WHO ARE WILLING TO CARRY OUT THE STUDENT ALLY MISSION AND VISION.
PLEASE CONSIDER JOINING FOR THE 2009-2010 SCHOOL YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!

 BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT PRESENTATION

What Do Counselors Do?

• We hold 6-8 week peer counseling groups that have different themes such as: boy’s friendship groups, girl friendship groups, girl’s leadership groups, grief groups, family change groups.
• We teach 8 week study skills classes that occur during Connect
• We help to develop the affective curriculum that is delivered through Connect and Coop to ensure it meets the BVSD Counseling Standards
• We sponsor the Student Ally Organization and the Student Ally Store
• We meet with teachers every week at grade level team meetings to talk about kids with teachers
• We make phone calls and set up meetings with parents, teachers and the administration to solve issues
• We are the project managers for the Honor Roll, Awards and Continuation Ceremonies
• We go to 100 Elks and other field trips with our kids
• We help develop and monitor interventions for students and attend weekly or biweekly Rseponse to Intervention meetings with our grade level teams
• We respond to crises with students and families
• We head up the climate committee at our school
• We oversee the No Place for Hate designation process for Platt
• We change a lot of schedules
• We hold several parent evenings and coffees throughout the year on topics that are selected by the Parent Engagement Network

Links to Important Resources

For great information on teen health and wellness and advice on difficult issues adolescents face in their daily lives go to www.BoulderTeens.org and click on the Teen Heath and Wellness banner, then click on Dr. Jan's Corner.

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Platt Middle School
303-499-6800
Email: bvsd.npm@bvsd.org
6096 Baseline Road
Boulder, CO 80303-3099