School Counseling & Guidance
SUMMARY OF SERVICES
Helping resolve problems that interfere with learning Encouraging academic, social and personal potential Academic Providing career exploration opportunities Overseeing all standardized testing Supporting students with special needs Consulting with teachers, administrators, and parents to support struggling students Social/Interpersonal Educating students about conflict resolution and problem-solving skills Providing crisis intervention and prevention Planning and supporting Advisory program Transitioning students from Hampden Meadows to BMS and from BMS to the high school Facilitating group meetings with students and their peers Personal Helping students develop self-awareness Assisting in personal decision making Parent Conferences
Individual Learning Plans Individual Learning Plans (ILP’s) are now required for all students in grades 5-12 as a part of the RI High School Diploma System. An Individual Learning Plan (ILP) is primarily authored by students themselves, with guidance from adults who know and care about them: their school advisors, teachers, counselors, and parents. They are a foundational component of personalization efforts intended to help students reflect upon and plan for their future in three developmental domains: academic, personal/social, and career. Barrington Middle School has created a grade specific plan for students to fill out and keep in their google drive accounts. Each plan includes questions that require each student to think about their academic, personal social, and pathways or career planning at different points in the year. In addition, students will revisit their ILP each year to look over their information. That way, students are able to view their experiences retrospectively and gain an awareness of how they have developed as students and individuals. ILP’s also offer an excellent opportunity to engage parents in their child’s learning. It is encouraged that parents ask their child to view and comment on their ILP to ensure family involvement in the process. Click Below for the Individual Learning Plans Grade 6 ILP Grade 7 ILP Grade 8 ILP TRANSITION INFORMATION
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Staff:
Guidance: Sandra McCauley - 6th Grade, [email protected] Jaime Poirier - 7th Grade, [email protected] Krystal Sleboda - 8th Grade, [email protected] Guidance counselors at BMS remain a constant in students’ lives throughout their 3 years. We oversee all academic, social, emotional and behavioral aspects of our students’ experience. We meet with students individually and in groups, in planned meetings or at a moment’s notice. Our offices are always open to our students and their parents. We collaborate with parents, teachers and administrators, and consult with outside agencies and experts in order to enable our students to grow and develop their full potential. Some of our many other activities include helping students to discover their learning preferences and recognize their strengths, conducting career exploration lessons, planning high school classes and teaching students coping skills and social skills. School Psychologist: Kristen Fuller, [email protected] The school psychologist functions with broad areas of responsibility to consult, educate, research, assess and intervene on behalf of the children with whom they work. The school psychologist provides services that meet the unique needs of the population being served. Specific services provided are based on a collaborative effort among parents, school personnel and the school psychologist. School psychologists utilize a variety of assessment tools and techniques in order to best determine a student’s intellectual or emotional functioning. School psychologists are skilled in the implementation of intervention strategies which can be designed to enhance educational performance as well as developmentally appropriate behavior. Within the consultation model, the school psychologist works collaboratively with parents, teachers, administrators and other professionals to positively influence the learning of all students. School Social Worker: Courtney Frye Canario, MSW, LICSW: 401-247-3160 x1421 [email protected], School Social Workers(SSW) are a vital part of the total educational team. Working in collaboration, the SSW integrates the information from all school sources to provide social, emotional, behavioral and adaptive functioning support to the child, the child's family and the school. The SSW offers group, individual and family meetings, as well as parent support groups for common concerns. The SSW also works closely with the teaching teams to support the individual needs of students and they grow and learn. As a SSW, Courtney pays particular attention to transitions between schools, and offers good information about each of the schools that is often helpful to families. She also sits on the evaluation teams for special education in the middle school. Her knowledge of the community can serve as a resource when families are seeking help in the area to support their children. Student Assistance Counselor: Katie Hamel, MA [email protected] The Student Assistance Program allows easy access to highly trained, on-site, Master's-level counselors. At BMS, Katie Hamel, provides a wide range of prevention and early intervention services for students and families. She provides assessment and conducts individual and group sessions for students with alcohol, drug, school, family, peer or other problems that can lead to alcohol and other drug use. Prevention efforts are aimed at changing student, parent and community norms and expectations about substance use. This early detection and intervention has proven effective in delaying the initiation and use of alcohol and other drugs, and reducing the resulting school/life problems. Students can make self-referrals or referrals are made by school administrators, guidance counselors, teachers, parents and friends. Student Assistance Counselors maintain strict adherence to State and Federal laws governing the confidentiality of federally-assisted alcohol and drug abuse services. Miss Hamel is also the advisor for CHOICE Group which is a student group which promotes healthy habits and educates the BMS community about making positive life choices. She is available Mondays-Thursdays as a resource for students, and family. Resources: The BAY Team- Barrington’s Prevention Coalition- www. thebayteam.org Rhode Island Student Assistance Program- www.risas.org |