South Seneca’s Middle School Counseling Program
Contact:
Mrs. Kimberly Bell, Middle School and Grade 9 Counselor
(607) 869-9636, Ext. 4105
Important Dates in September
September 2, 6th Grade Orientation Night
September 9, 8th Grade Field
Trip to Cayuga Nature Center
September 16, Picture Day
September 21, Half Day of School
September (TBA) Gates-MacGinitie Reading Assessment Grades 6-8
What is School Counseling?
School Counseling is an integral part of South Seneca’s total educational program. It is developmental by design and implemented by licensed school counselors with the support of teachers, administrators, students and parents. Our school counseling program delivers services in four areas:
ü School Counseling Curriculum
South Seneca’s Guidance Curriculum is a written program consisting of structured developmental lessons designed to assist students in achieving the American School Counselor Association National Standards and Competencies, NY state and South Seneca’s district academic goals. New this year, all 6th grade students will be scheduled for a 10 week block of guidance classroom instruction providing students with knowledge and skills appropriate for their development in the Academic, Career and Personal/Social Domain.
ü Individual Planning
The Individual Planning component allows counselors to help students to establish, monitor, and complete personal goals as well as develop plans for their future. This service includes advisement, assessment, and placement and follow-up. Examples of Individual Planning include: study skills, goal setting, behavior planning and monitoring, social skills, bully prevention, transitions, test score review, career awareness, interest inventories, etc.
ü Responsive Services
Responsive Services are planned and goal-focused addressing the immediate needs and concerns of students. Services may range from intervention to crisis response. Students may self refer or be referred for counseling services by parents or school staff. There are five methods of service delivery available to your student: consultation (sharing of information to better serve our students), individual and group counseling, crisis counseling, referrals to outside agencies, and mediation.
ü Program Support
Program Support includes all the activities that enhance the total school program: Parent/Teacher Conferences, Open House, Response to Intervention, Instructional Support Team Meetings, Consolidation of Services Team, monthly counselor meetings, newsletters, data anlaysis, test coordination, and resource sharing.
South Seneca’s Counseling Program strives to address the needs of all students by helping them to achieve educational success, develop competencies in career and life planning, and acquire and apply personal and social knowledge.
Resources for Students and Guardians
KIDSAID is a safe place for kids to share and to help each other deal with grief about
any of their losses. It's a place to share and deal with feelings, to show artwork and
stories, to talk about pets, to meet with one's peers. There are even some games and
contests. KIDSAID is owned and run by GriefNet. http://kidsaid.com/
Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul. While this is not a grief-support site, it is a
site for teens (and kids) that allows you to submit poetry and stories to books and
contests, has message boards for all kinds of issues teens deal with, and a lot of
great resources that you may find helpful.
http://www.teenagechickensoup.com/main.php
The place to explore careers related to
your strengths, skills and talents.
E-monitoring
Did you know that 64% of online teens say that most teens do things online that they wouldn’t want their parents to know about?
http://www.theantidrug.com/E-monitoring/internet-lingo.asp
Silence isn’t Golden; It’s Permission
Parent Communications
http://www.theantidrug.com/advice/chronicles-column.aspx
Healthykids
The Career Key –free online career assessment tool – http://www.ncsu.edu/careerkey/index
The Interest-Finder Quiz – a sample quiz (60 interest test items) designed to acquaint the user
with a national test Interest-Finder which is a part of the ASVAB Career Exploration
Program – www.myfuture.com/secondary/career/ch_interestquiz
The Career Questionnaire – College Board developed this quick questionnaire. Results are then
linked to a list of matching occupations – www.collegeboard.org/career/html/searchQues
Interest Finder Quiz – www.schoolfinder.com/career/carquiz.htm
America’s Career InfoNet – site provides links to a comprehensive source of occupational
information – www.acinet.org/acinet
Eating Disorder Information. A website that provides free information concerning the
symptoms and treatment of eating disorders. Also provides links for further information.
www.eatingdisorderinfo.org - Free.
Forms 
Working Papers
http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/sss/pps/workingpapers/Refreshed-ApplEmploymentPermit1.pdf
http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/sss/pps/workingpapers/AT17.pdf