Welcome to the Guidance Office

School Year 2007

Dear Parent(s):

It is my privilege to serve as your child/children’s guidance counselor. Children have the feelings, hopes, dreams, fears, anger and other emotions we adults experience. Each of us can benefit by sharing these experiences with qualified professionals who assist and guide us in decision making and peaceful conflict resolutions. Each child at St. Agnes is challenged to respond to God’s call to be a fully alive human being who has positive self-esteem and cares about God’s people and our earth. St. Agnes’ Guidance Program is an important means of living out the school’s philosophy of gospel values. Guidance services are available to all children in grades K through 8.

More and more parents are eager to encourage their children to participate in one or more aspects of the guidance program.

The following are the guidance services being offered:

1. INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING - One to one counseling initiated by parent, student, teacher, administrators or guidance counselor for a variety of reasons such as: sharing one’s hopes, fears, worries. In this setting students are also helped to set goals, improve self-concept, express and deal with feelings especially anger, assess academic strengths and weaknesses; explore how to improve inter-personal relationships and gain self-awareness.

2. GROUP COUNSELING - The group usually consists of five to eight children who participate in directed group guidance activities. Students are taught communication skills, especially listening and group interactions.

3. SECOND STEP PROGRAM - Teaches skills that help children to get along better with other people and to do better in school. The program focuses on feelings and problem solving, including cultivating empathy, impulse control and anger management. All children in grades 1 - 5 will be involved in this program.

4. “RAINBOWS FOR ALL GOD’S CHILDREN” This national program is designed to provide a supportive environment among a small group of students who have experienced the trauma of the loss of a loved one by death, separation or divorce.

5. FAMILY CONSULTATION - Parents are encouraged to meet with the guidance counselor to assess any issues affecting the family system, i.e. death in family, separation, divorce, etc.

If you are interested in having your child/ren to participate in any of the guidance programs, please fill out the form below and return it to school as soon as possible.

If you would like further clarification of our guidance services or would like to schedule an appointment, you may call me at 678-5550 Ext. 19.

Sincerely,

Sr. Lucille DeRosa, O.P.

Guidance Counselor

Please detach, complete, and return to St. Agnes School.

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Dear Sr. Lucille,

I give permission for child/ren to be included in the following guidance program(s):

Child’s Name Grade and Room # Program Name

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Reason(s) for choosing this program for my child/ren.

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Parent Name (please print)_______________________________________________

Parent Signature _______________________________ Date: ___________________

Home Telephone Number______________________________________________________

Work Telephone Number______________________________________________________

Cell Phone Number __________________________________________________