Services

Elementary school sets the foundation for developing the knowledge, attitudes and skills necessary for children to become healthy, competent and confident learners. Through a comprehensive developmental school counseling program, school counselors work as a team with the school staff, parents or guardians, and the community to create a caring climate and atmosphere. By providing education, prevention, early identification and intervention services, school counselors can help all children achieve academic success.(Adapted from the American School Counseling Association, ASCA)


What does the School Counselor do at Chamberlayne Elementary?

Classroom Lessons

  • Every month I will visit your child’s classroom to present a lesson on topics like responsibility, friendship, study skills, career goals, and conflict resolution. All students in grades K-5 will receive classroom lessons that address college and career preparation, social/emotional development, and academic achievement.

Small Group Counseling 

  • Small group counseling can be requested by the student, teacher, or parent. Small groups provide students the opportunity to work with and receive support from peers experiencing similar challenges. Topics vary year to year but can include grief/loss, self-esteem, coping with parental incarceration, making positive behavior choices, or leadership skills – just to name a few!

Individual Counseling 

  • Short-term, structured, individual counseling is available to students at the request of the student, teacher, or parent. This type of individual counseling is usually requested when the student is having difficulty with academic, personal, or social issues.

College and Career Readiness

  • Our teachers, staff, and parents aim to expose our students to a variety of experiences in the area of college and career preparation. Throughout the year, I will collaborate with them to plan career days/events and classroom lessons that will enrich our students’ college and career exploration and goal development. We will have a Career Day in April, and parent and community volunteers are welcome to come share their work experiences with us!

Parent & Teacher Consultation

  • I am available to meet with parents and teachers to discuss any concerns you may have about your student’s academic achievement and/or social & emotional development. Please contact me by phone or email to schedule a meeting.

Community Resource Assistance

  • I work closely with our Family Advocate, Ms. Sandra Jefferson, to help your family locate community assistance and services. It is important that all of our students have what they need to be successful at school and in life. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you need some help. I will also be updating the Links & Resources page of this blog with HCPS and community resources… stay tuned! Here’s the link to the HCPS Family & Educator Resource Center: HCPS Family Resource Center

Middle School Transition Services

  • The transition to middle school can be exciting and stressful for both students and parents/guardians. I will work closely with the middle school counselors to help our fifth graders prepare for the challenges of middle school, including exploring IB program options and electives for their 6th grade year.

Intervention Team Member and Eligibility Team Chair

  • The Intervention Team (IT) meets weekly to monitor students’ progress based on data collection and assessment scores. If various strategies have been tried without significant progress, the IT will recommend that the student be brought before the Eligibility Team to determine whether he/she may need to be evaluated to see if they qualify for special education services or accommodations through an IEP (Individualized Education Plan). IEPs are legal documents that move with your student through each grade level, updated as a team (including parents) as the student gets older and develops different goals and needs.
  • Parents are important partners in this process! If you suspect your child has a disability that requires special education services, please reach out with your concerns (my contact info is on the right sidebar). You will be invited to join the team in looking at the data on your student. The decision to evaluate a student is a team decision and one that is made at a scheduled Eligibility Team meeting.
  • If students have health-related issues that affect their learning, they may need a 504 plan (a different legal document) to provide for modifications in their learning environment to help them succeed. At Chamberlayne, Mrs. Mullens (Associate Principal) is the 504 chair/contact.
  • Sometimes these processes, teams, documents, and meetings can feel overwhelming or confusing, so don’t hesitate to contact us if you have questions! We want to make sure every student in our building has what they need to succeed. More information on these processes can be found on the HCPS website: Special Ed Resources, Rights, & Services

Gifted Identification Coordinator 

  • If you would like to have your child evaluated for gifted services, please contact me via email or letter during the appropriate referral windows. Per HCPS policy, these requests must be in writing. Gifted Identification Process – FAQ

International Baccalaureate (IB) Program Application Coordinator 

  • IB program applications for current 5th graders who are interested in applying for the IB program for 6th grade will be available from me starting September 28, 2016. The application process is multi-step and involves several people. If you are a parent of a current 5th grader and are interested in the program, I recommend attending the IB open house at Fairfield Middle School on October 13th (two identical info sessions will be held that evening – 5:00-6:00 and then 6:00-7:00). A flyer will be sent home closer to that date.

Safety Patrol Coordinator

  • A group of current 5th graders, selected at the end of their 4th grade year, have the opportunity to participate on the school’s Safety Patrol. Starting the week of September 19th, these students will help monitor school safety during arrival and dismissal times, demonstrating positive role model behavior for the younger students at Chamberlayne.