COUNSELING SERVICES AT ROME MIDDLE SCHOOL
Why Middle School Counselors?
Middle school students are characterized by rapid physical growth, curiosity about their world and an emerging self-identity. Through a comprehensive developmental school counseling program, counselors work as a team member with school staff, parents and the community to create a caring, supportive climate and atmosphere whereby young adolescents can achieve academic success. Middle school counselors enhance the learning process and promote academic achievement. School counseling programs are essential for students to achieve optimal personal growth, acquire positive social skills and values, set appropriate career goals and realize full academic potential to become productive, contributing members of the world community.
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSedAq2ZGoH3xRYjCegC4M_efQm4-mXUXDW14H-zst_-cLb2Mg/viewform" Life is a puzzle. Putting it together is a challenge." -unknown
The school guidance program helps build the foundation for life-long learning by assisting students in developing self-respect, awareness of others and positive learning attitudes. School counselors provide direct and indirect services and activities to students, families, and school staff for developing strategies that deal with education, personal and social challenges that may interfere with the educational process. All students have the right to pursue an educational program without regard to sex, religion, or ethnic background.
The four components of the school counseling delivery system are:
"Arrange whatever pieces come your way." -Virginia Woolf
Services offered by the Counseling Department:
"There are no extra pieces in the universe. Everyone is here because he or she has a place to fill, and every piece must fit itself into the big jigsaw puzzle." -Deepak Chopra
Confidentiality
Counseling relationships require an atmosphere of trust and confidence between students and their professional school counselors. A student has the right to privacy and confidentiality. Students should be informed that exceptions to confidentiality
exist in which counselors must inform others of information they learned in counseling relationships in order to protect students, themselves, or others. It is the professional responsibility of school counselors to fully respect the right to privacy of those with whom they enter counseling relationships.
The limitations of confidentiality don’t include information of possible abuse or harm to a child. By law, school counselor must report any case of abuse or neglect to the appropriate authorities. School counselors inform parents/guardians or appropriate authorities when a student’s condition indicates a clear and imminent danger to the student or others. This is done after careful deliberation and, where possible, after consulting with other counseling professionals. In some situations, school counselors must also respond when subpoenaed in court. If reports are required, the school counselor makes every effort to limit information to what is relevant to the legal proceedings.
If you would like to speak with the counselor about counseling services or to schedule an appointment, please contact the grade level counselor by email or phone.
The school guidance program helps build the foundation for life-long learning by assisting students in developing self-respect, awareness of others and positive learning attitudes. School counselors provide direct and indirect services and activities to students, families, and school staff for developing strategies that deal with education, personal and social challenges that may interfere with the educational process. All students have the right to pursue an educational program without regard to sex, religion, or ethnic background.
The four components of the school counseling delivery system are:
- Guidance Curriculum
- Individual Student Planning
- Responsive Services
- System Support
"Arrange whatever pieces come your way." -Virginia Woolf
Services offered by the Counseling Department:
- Counseling related to education or college, academics, or personal/social issues
- Counseling related to careers, which may include interest inventories and job information
- Counseling groups (topics to be determined)
- Counseling individuals
- Involvement with parent-teacher and/or student-teacher conferences
- Assisting with special program or extracurricular applications
- Processing of referrals for additional services
- Standardized or state-mandated testing
- Back-Pack Buddies
- Coordinating Mentoring Services
- Other student needs as they arise
"There are no extra pieces in the universe. Everyone is here because he or she has a place to fill, and every piece must fit itself into the big jigsaw puzzle." -Deepak Chopra
Confidentiality
Counseling relationships require an atmosphere of trust and confidence between students and their professional school counselors. A student has the right to privacy and confidentiality. Students should be informed that exceptions to confidentiality
exist in which counselors must inform others of information they learned in counseling relationships in order to protect students, themselves, or others. It is the professional responsibility of school counselors to fully respect the right to privacy of those with whom they enter counseling relationships.
The limitations of confidentiality don’t include information of possible abuse or harm to a child. By law, school counselor must report any case of abuse or neglect to the appropriate authorities. School counselors inform parents/guardians or appropriate authorities when a student’s condition indicates a clear and imminent danger to the student or others. This is done after careful deliberation and, where possible, after consulting with other counseling professionals. In some situations, school counselors must also respond when subpoenaed in court. If reports are required, the school counselor makes every effort to limit information to what is relevant to the legal proceedings.
If you would like to speak with the counselor about counseling services or to schedule an appointment, please contact the grade level counselor by email or phone.