Counselor's Corner

I am excited to announce this week we have our 1st guest blogger!  A HUGE thank you to Ms. Beckham for her contribution!  I look forward to additional columnist.  

The Scott PTSA has announced the first ever Scott Scorpion 5K on September 27!  The cost is $10 for PTSA adult members which includes a t-shirt and begins at 9 a.m.  The proceeds go towards Scott educational activities.  Flyer is forthcoming via email.  Runner or walker...please begin spreading the news and sharing with your friends.  The cost for non-PTSA members is $20 and also includes a shirt.  We would like this to be a special event!    

by Alyson Beckham

According to the American School Counselor Association, the primary function of a school counselor is to assist students with their academic, college, career, personal, and social concerns.  However, the most common issue at the middle school level revolves around student conflict.  I say conflict because bullying, as defined by the state of Indiana, occurs less than the media and popular opinion leads us to believe. I was inspired to address this topic after reading an article on Huffington Post.   As you will read, it emphasizes the importance of distinguishing between being rude, being mean, and bullying for students, parents, and teachers.  As we delve into our anti-bullying curriculum, I hope that this article can serve to remind us why it’s essential to teach our students, parents, and ourselves what true bullying is. 

Although, a school counselor is primarily here for the students, an essential component of our job is to share knowledge we have gained with all stakeholders.  Therefore, I’d like to share a few helpful sites.  If you know of any great sites please share them with me-I am always looking for more resources! 

For Who	Website	Description
Educators	http://findyouthinfo.gov/program-directory	Database for youth topics including evidence-based programs.
Students	http://www.jobshadow.com/	One of my favorite websites!  It has interviews from hundreds of professionals who discuss their careers.
Parents	http://www.discoveryeducation.com/parents/	Great help for parents of students struggling with academics or motivation.