Counselors' Connection

Welcome to the Counselor's Connection!

Welcome to the Counselors' Connection BLOG! We are excited to have yet another avenue in which to communicate with parents, students and the community.

The goal of the guidance and school counseling program at Murdock is based on our school's mission statement, "to create lifelong learners by establishing a balanced foundation based on character, creativity, and achievement".  Counselors will implement the program using a developmental approach (K-5) within three major categories:  classroom guidance, individual counseling, and small group counseling.

Classroom guidance topics are based on state and local guidelines that encourage a model for life-long learning with an emphasis on decision making and communication skills.  Topics include:  personal safety, health and personal development, test taking/study skills, career awareness, friendship/conflict resolution, and character education.

Small group and individual counseling is offered to students in the areas of:  anger management, divorce and separation, grief and loss, social skill building.  Teachers, administrators, parents, and students can make referrals for small groups and/or individual counseling.  Written parental permission will be obtained before students participate in small group counseling.  In addition, we offer activities for newcomers and provide leadership opportunities.

Check out the mission and philosophy statement for Murdock E.S.'s school counseling program!!!

Mission Statement

The mission of Murdock Elementary school ’s school counseling program is to provide a safe and supportive environment for all students regardless of individual differences.  All students will have access to support and learning in the areas of academic, career and personal/social growth.  Our ultimate goal is for students to make self-directed, realistic and responsible decisions, and to be successful contributors to society. 

We believe

We believe that all students have a right to…

• A safe and supportive environment
• Be respected and valued regardless of individual differences.
• To services that support academic, career, and personal/ social growth.
• A professional school counselor who collaborates with educators, parents, and community resources and acts as an advocate to develop the full potential of students.

And that our School Counseling Program

• Developmental and proactive in design
• Comprehensive in scope
• Utilizes the American school counseling association (ASCA) National Standards as the basis for developing a program that supports academic, career, and personal/ social development
• Is an integral part of the educational program for student success
• Uses data to drive intentional guidance activities and to advocate for systems change
• Is preventive in nature
• Seeks improvement each year based on results data

And that all school counselors will

• Abide by the professional school counseling ethics as advocated by the American School Counselors Association
• Participate in professional development activities, which are vital to developing an exemplary school counseling program
• Develop and implement the comprehensive school counseling program that aligns to the local and district goals and objectives.

May Classroom Guidance

May has been a fast paced month with Field Days and lots of Moving Up Days for the younger students. I enjoyed seeing a lot of parents at the Inflatable station this year. You may want to ask your child what he/she learned about the visit to a classroom at the next grade level. I sat in on a couple and enjoyed the younger student's questions. I really enjoyed meeting the new parents and curious new students at Sneak a Peek. For classroom guidance I used a computer program called "What's the Safest Thing to Do?" On this interactive CD that projects onto the Smart Board, students listened to the four choices and colored the correct answer on their papers. They always enjoy going to the Smart Board and touching the correct answer. A few times, they heard "Oh No" and tried again for the best choice. The 35 topics include more than the following categories: Bike and Skate Safety, Poison Control, Car Safety, Electrical and Storm Safety, Safe Shopping and A Police Officer Can Offer Help. Every year in August when I return several children tell me about one of the safety scenes and how kids have made a safe choice.

                                                                                                            

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I have talked with several parents about the value of groups and one on one visits and of course these options will be available in 2009-2010.  Have a wonderful and safe summer with your precious children. I look forward to seeing everyone in August. It is always a pleasure to work with the children and parents at Murdock Elementary School!

End of the Year Intermediate Guidance

For the end of the year students have been preparing to be safe during the summer.  In grades 3rd and 4th, we have been learning ways to have fun this summer, but also to be safe.  The last lesson of the year focused on three topics: sun safety, water safety, and bike safety.  The students learned the 5' S's inorder to stay sun safe: slop on sunscreen, slap on a hat, slip on a shirt, seek shade, and slide on sunglasses.  By following all 5 of these students will lesson their chances of damaging their skin.  For water safety we watched a small video and then discussed the importance of swimming with an adult, having  a swim buddy, not running around the pool, watching where you jump, and make sure not to dive in too shallow of water.  Lastly, bike safety was discussed.  The students and I reiterated the fact that a helmet was important when riding your bike, to stop, look, and listen when entering the street, slow down when coming up behind someone, ride single file when riding in a group, and to obey traffic signs.  The students should have a safe summer by following these safety tips.  

Since 5th grade is getting ready to go onto middle school, the last lesson was about opening your locker and what you are about to encounter when going to middle school.  Students were given the opportunity to ask questions about middle school.  After a period of questions, students were given a pamphlet "What I wish I knew before I went to middle school."  This is a compilations of quotes from middle schoolers about what they wish they would have known before they went to middle school.  Lastly, the students were given locks and to practice opening.  Many students struggled to open these locks.  If your student is still struggling to open their locks and are nervous about opening their locker then practice opening locks over the summer.  This is one of the biggest things that students worry about before going to middle school.  Locks can be purchased at most stores.  If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to ask.

Have a wonderful summer,

Ms. Struletz

Sneak a Peek and student council in action

Student council as usual did a wonderful job at helping out with all the incoming kindergarteners.  Murdock's student council is amazing.

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Student Council Helping out with the Principals Meeting

The students helped out with the principals meeting and did a wonderful job.  They received so many compliments from the principals.  Way to go student council!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Meet the counselors

Cathy Fogel has been a School Counselor for sixteen years. Mrs. Fogel obtained her Ed.S. degree in School Counseling from West Georgia University. She has also taught for twelve years and worked as a Licensed Professional Counselor for six years.

                                     Please email me at cathy.fogel@cobbk12.org

 

Jessica Struletz has taught science for four years in the middle school setting. Ms. Struletz obtained her M.Ed. degree in School Counseling from the University of West Alabama.

                  Please email me at jessica.struletz@cobbk12.org

Murdock's School Counseling Program Brochure

Download guidance_brochure.pub