Mrs. Paula Vunk, counselor
853-4747 ext. 4213

Roles of the middle school counseling program:

• Group counseling with specific focuses, i.e. Banana Splits, anger management, social skills and academic planning
• Individual counseling. A counseling referral must be processed through the counseling office
• Classroom activities and presentations
• Career Awareness Program
• School liaison (parents, teachers and students)

If anyone is interested in participating in one of these groups, please give us a call.

Banana Splits – This is a peer support group for students who are facing the issues of separation and divorce. Students meet once a week for approximately eight weeks. Several sections will be facilitated throughout the school year. We have groups for students from fifth to eighth grade.

Anger Management – This is a group for students who have difficulty expressing their anger or who express their anger inappropriately. Students will work together to develop anger management plans to ensure the safety of themselves and others.

Academic Planning – This group is for students who just cannot get organized. They will learn how to plan, study and keep themselves organized to achieve success. It makes life so much easier.

Career Awareness Program – Our eighth grade students participate in a career awareness class incorporated into their Home and Careers class by the school counselor. Students will meet with the counselor four to five times as a group and discuss many aspects of the working world. The three areas of focus for students are:

•  “Who am I?”
  
• “Where am I going?”
  
• “How will I get there?”

Students will keep this information in a career prep workbook titled, Coin Jr. In this workbook students will complete an “Interest Inventory” to find out who they are. This inventory will follow them through their high school career to assist with future planning. Students can research careers of their choice on the web through a component of the Coin Jr. program.

Career Day/Wellness Day – Career Days and Wellness Days are offered in alternating years. Fifth and sixth graders participate in Wellness Day while seventh graders attend a Career Day. By offering these events in alternating years, students attend one Career and one Wellness Day by the time they complete middle school. This event brings together many outside business people and educators. Students have the opportunity to meet with individuals of their choice and get first-hand information pertaining to the occupation or specialty he or she has.

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