School Counseling Team
Recent ActivityInstructor: Mrs. Fasana and Mrs. Bernsen
Westridge Elementary School’s
Counseling Program
Classroom Guidance
The role of the school counselor is to promote academic/educational development, personal/social development, and career awareness. Throughout the school year, classroom guidance lessons will be conducted in every classroom according to these three domains. The objectives of the lessons are based on the curriculum established by Prince William County Schools.
Small Counseling Groups
A variety of groups will be offered based on the needs of the student population and academic impacts. Group counseling is available to all students. Groups that may be offered are: grief and illness, study skills, self control, military deployment and changing families. Parental permission is required.
Individual Counseling
Individual counseling is available to all students. It is short-term in nature and geared toward student success in the classroom.
Additional Services Available to Students and/or Parents:
Additional Services Available to Students and/or Parents:
- Consultation with parents and/or teachers to discuss problems which might be interfering with academic achievement and to plan strategies for successful learning.
- Parent resources located in the School Counseling room and library.
The Following Programs Are Sponsored by the School Counselor:
· Career Day
Olweus (anti-bullying program) The Bully Plan Assembly Dec 13th
Secret Agents--Character Program
Secret Agents--Character Program
Contacting the Counselors:
We look forward to partnering with you to help your student(s) reach his or her full potential. Please feel free to contact Mrs. Fasana or Mrs. Bernsen (at Westridge Tuesday and mornings Wednesday-Thursday) with any questions or concerns at (703) 590-3711. Or please email us at: fasanaca.pwcs.edu orbernsecl@pwcs.edu
Counseling Updates Middle school speciality programPlease note Changes to the Essay writing dates below
The Transition to Middle School Begins… January’s fifth grade guidance will focus on the transition to secondary education and the options available to students in 6th grade. Information on specialty middle school programs will be presented during the first week in January.
Contact me (fasanaca@pwcs.edu) as soon as possible, if your student will apply to a program. Completed Application packets are due to the counseling office by Feb 10th.
Student essays(a requirement for some specialty programs) must be written in school. Extra time for essay writing will be 8:15 AM, Jan 18 and 19th. 8:15, Jan 17th is reserved for ESOL students (only) applying to specialty programs. Snow dates are Jan 21 and 22. Space is limited so reservations are required. Essay writing will be held in our library.
Please check the following school’s websites for information on application requirements:
Middle School Special Program Useful Links
Speciality program locations vary by student's base middle school PWCS General Information Brochures (in English/Spanish):
http://www.pwcs.specialtyprograms.schoolfusion.us/?
Rippon Middle School—Math and Science Program:
http://ripponms.schools.pwcs.edu/modules/groups/homepagefiles/cms/212714/File/MathScienceDocuments/MMSapplication2012-2013%20Rippon.pdf?=ae1af9c0964d34e5aed8c20db22a324c
Graham Park Middle School--Math and Science Program: http://grahamparkms.schools.pwcs.edu/modules/cms/pages.phtml?pageid=35161&sessionid=e1eb165ac14f82accfd5f27dcb2aeb29 Open House January 11, 2012 from 7 to 9 PM (Snow Date: January 17, 2012) Beville--IB Program Beville will hold one “IBMYP Information Night” for those parents interested in hearing about the IB Programme and will have upcoming sixth, seventh or eighth graders in the 2012-2013 school year. The date for this meeting is Thursday, January 12, 2012 at 7 PM in the Beville cafeteria. The snow date for the meeting is Thursday, January 19, 2012.
Woodbridge Middle School --Single Gender Program
http://woodbridge.ms.groupfusion.net/modules/groups/homepagefiles/cms/206532/File/Opt-In%20form_1.pdf
Fred Lynn Middle School--World Language Program http://lynnms.schools.pwcs.edu/modules/cms/pages.phtml?pageid=87253&sessionid=265ee92abda95626d35a7ded16371b86 Lakeridge Middle School--World Languages Program (must have a transfer form and approval of both principals)
http://foreign-lan.foreign-language-f.lakeridge.schoolfusion.us/modules/groups/integrated_home.phtml?gid=392250&=90571aa4a0a5b7b45e1cfb74e1d139cd&t=8ac8b0384ec7d95277213b973f749905
ase check the following school’s websites for information on application requireme Bully Rules Assembly Tuesday, Dec 13thANTI BULLYING PROGRAM, EVERYONE BELONGS, COMES TO Westridge Elementary
Therapist, Paul Hadfield Combines Magic and Humor To Help Reduce Bullying In Schools
On , Dec 13th . Paul Hadfield, Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) brings his
assembly program, Everyone Belongs to Westridge.
The National School Safety Center believes bullying to be the most enduring and understated problem in US schools. Perpetrators, victims, and those who witness bullying suffer from the effects. For victims, symptoms include heightened anxiety, depression, and lower sense of self-worth, in addition to chronic absenteeism, reduced academic performance, abandonment from peers, and suicide. Bullying behavior has been correlated with fighting, alcohol abuse, smoking and delinquency. Mr. Hadfield's program addresses bullying from a mental health standpoint, with an emphasis on empowering bystanders to reduce bullying behavior. Program topics include bullying awareness, recognizing feelings, empathy, bystander skills, knowing when to talk to an adult, and using school resources.
In addition to his work in the mental health field, Paul is an accomplished comic entertainer and circus artist. He combines magic, acrobatics, and humor to develop rapport and engage students. Mr. Hadfield describes the program as being different from most: "Whereas many programs focus primarily on bullies and victims, Everyone Belongs seeks to engage the majority of students, a group that we commonly refer to as bystanders. The majority is where the power lies." www.thebullyplan.com Nov-Dec Classroom Guidance ObjectivesK - Appropriate behavior at school/Identify and understand feeling words
1 - Goal Setting/Bullying Prevention 2 - Goal Setting/Bully Prevention 3 - Understanding the importance of working effectively in groups/Bullying Prevention 4 - Decision making, coping skills and problem solving/Bullying Prevention 5 - Understanding how verbal and non verbal communication effects relationships/ Bully Prevention Thank you for reinforcing the content of these lessons with your student(s) Parenting Workshops"Parents, Children and Divorce" and is offered at the Woodbridge and Manassas campuses of NVCC. The cost is $50 and it's 4 hours. To read the course description and register, they need to go the website, http://www.nvcc.edu/wdce/pwregional. Click on Alphabetical Course Listing and go to "P." The contact person is Patricia (Pat) Carrow, pcarrow@nvcc.edu or 703-257-6631 (mornings). Participants will need to complete an application to get a student number in order to register.
Food AssistanceIf you or someone you know needs emergency food assistance, please contact the Hunger Lifeline sponsored by the Capital Area Food Bank. The number is: (202) 639-9770 and the website is: www.capitalareafoodbank.org Discussion Topics Important Information
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Class Links NetSmartz, a website maintained by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, provides great information to assist school, students and parents in their efforts to prevent and deal with cyberbullying.  Cyberbullying Information Especially for StudentsFor students to learn more about cyperbullying: http://learninglab.org/ The animated characters from Garfield and Friends explain important truths about Cyberbullying. The characters give examples on how to stop a cyberbully. |
Grief and Loss Information
