HES School Counseling Program

 

I'm so excited to be starting my next chapter as a school counselor at Hopewell Elementary School!  If you need to speak with the counselor, complete a referral by following the link on my webpage or send me an email. Students, staff and families can also access my Calm Corner to take a break until they are feeling ready to learn. 

 

 

The philosophy of the counseling department in the Hopewell Valley Regional School District focuses on the individual student.  All students are accepted as unique individuals of worth, having personal, social and academic needs. The emphasis of the counseling program is to maximize the potential of all students through a comprehensive developmental approach. 

 

Hopewell Elementary School Counseling services include:

 

• Individual counseling: Students can talk to the counselor about many issues including, but not limited to divorce/separation, feelings, physical/emotional abuse, conflict resolution, peers, family relationship and grief/loss. Sessions are confidential unless the subject matter has resulted in or could result in harm to self or others.
• Group Counseling: Groups are based on student need. Some possible groups could include K.I.D.S. (Kids in Divorce and Separation), Friendship groups, Self-regulation groups and Worry Warriors groups.
• Classroom lessons: Students in each class receive at least 8 lessons, as well as assemblies, throughout the year focused on topics in the domains of academic, personal/social and career development.
• Intervention and Referral Services: I&RS meetings are available as requested by the teacher or parent.  The I&RS team is made up of you, your child’s teacher, counselor, principal, child study team members, resource room teacher and basic skills teacher who all work collaboratively to develop a plan of action for your child’s individual needs.  Interventions are discussed and recommendations are made to help your child be successful in the classroom.  In addition, measurable, reasonable and attainable goals are set for your child. Monitoring and follow-up meetings are scheduled as necessary to examine if progress is being made.  
• Crisis management: HES has a crisis management team consisting of the nurse, the principal, and other trained staff and lead by the counselor in the event of a crisis.
• Parent/teacher meetings and conferences: Request a meeting with your child's teacher and counselor to discuss any concerns you have. 
• 504 Coordination: If your child has a physical or mental disability and is in need of 504 accommodations in a general education classroom, you can request a 504. For more information about this process, please click here. 
• School Climate and Anti-Bullying Prevention: The school counselor leads the School Climate Team which plans school-wide programs to recognize students and engage in practice of our Core Values throughout the year. If you have concerns about your child or another child being bullied, please contact the counselor. 

 

 

Elementary counselors are an important part of a student's academic, social and personal success. Through a comprehensive developmental school counseling program, school counselors work as a team with the school staff, parents and the community to create a caring climate and atmosphere. By providing education, prevention, early identification and intervention, school counselors can help all children achieve success. Please click the link at the bottom of the page to learn more about why elementary school counselors are important.