School Counseling

John Toto, ext. 224, jtoto@haddonfield.k12.nj.us , eBoard

Nathana Hirsch, ext 332, nhirsch@haddonfield.k12.nj.us , eBoard

Danielle McKelvey, ext 383, dmckelvey@haddonfield.k12.nj.us , eBoard

Linda Stoops, ext. 223, lstoops@haddonfield.k12.nj.us , eBoard

HMS COUNSELOR RESPONSIBILITIES

 JULY

• Prepare our respective grade’s student rosters, after getting input re math levels, world language choices, teacher feedback and special needs requirements.
• Participate, as needed, in Child Study Team and 504 Team Meetings, to develop appropriate courses of study. These meetings continue through June, and involve updates, re-evaluations, progress assessments, and annual reviews.
• Continue correspondence with parents via phone calls and emails.

AUGUST

• Student rosters are reviewed and refined prior to their mailing to students’ homes.
• Periodically check and return parent calls to insure a smooth first day of school.
• Begin to plan the Skills For Life Classes for the upcoming school year. Both the planning and the classes continue through the last week in June.

SEPTEMBER

• Coordinate The John Hopkins Talent Search
  • Check standardized test scores of the students.
  • Give to secretarial staff to mail by 3^rd Friday in the month.
• Serve as Case Manager for students in the respective grades who are identified and discussed in the monthly Intervention and Referral Services Team meetings. These meetings and subsequent case management continue through June.
• Be present during Back To School Night outside the auditorium to hand out schedules and then be available in the main office.

OCTOBER

• Grade 6 Counselor, assisted by the district S.A.C., facilitates the 6^th grade Decisions Program.
• Grade 7 Counselor, assisted by the district S.A.C., facilitates the 7^th grade Decisions Program.
• Grade 8 Counselor, assisted by the district S.A.C., facilitates the 8^th grade Decisions Program
• To assist the district S.A.C. in organizing and running the annual Wellness Day.

• Begin to plan November Parent Conference Schedule.
  • Initial letters are sent to parents, during first week in October, in order for them to request a meeting.
  • A deadline around 10/15 is set for counselors to receive parent requests.
  • During the week after 10/15 deadline, counselors meet to coordinate conferences for parents with multiple children in the middle school.
  • Counselors develop schedule and appropriate parent letters for mailing prior to the NJEA Convention break.  

NOVEMBER

• Coordinate the Conferences, and be available to great and to meet with parents.

BETWEEN DECEMBER AND SPRING BREAK

• Grade 8 Counselor:
  • Finalizes process and schedule for course selections
  • Meets with teachers, parents and students in developing the 8^th grade students’ initial HMHS 9^th grade course selections
  • Follows the process until all 8^th grade students are rostered in HMHS

FEBRUARY THRU APRIL

• Counselors coordinate the Testing for respective grade levels
• All counselors:
  • attend any necessary training.
  • insure testing materials are ordered.
  • plan and coordinate testing and makeup testing procedures.
  • distribute information to staff, to the proctors.
  • arrange for the pickup and return of all materials, and supervise the actual testing.
  • gather completed tests and send either to district personnel or to the appropriate testing centers for scoring.

SPRING

• Participate in the Annual Review Process for their respective grades

MAY AND JUNE

·         Grade 8 Counselor, meets with the families and students in the current 5^th grade, to provide orientation to the middle school.

·         Order materials needed for upcoming year.

·         Upcoming Grade 8 Counselor orders COIN books as needed.

·        Secretary will send grade 7 World Language request letters to parents in mid May with a 6/1 choice deadline.

·         Grade 6 counselor will tally student preferences for 7^th grade World Language choices.

·         During first week, grade 6 counselor distributes 7^th grade math placement rubric to 6^th grade math teachers.

·         Begin to work with the district Substance Awareness Coordinator (S.A.C.) and the I & RS Team to plan for next October’s 6^th and 7^th grade Decisions Days, and the annual Wellness Day. The SAC continues this during the summer and Autumn.                                                                                                                            

YEAR LONG ACTIVITIES -- SEPTEMBER THROUGH JUNE

• Begin the following counseling services. These continue, as needed and when requested, through the last school day in June:
  • Teach Life Skill Classes;
  • Teach the COIN Careers Program;
  • Make adjustments to original student rosters;
  • Individual academic, personal and social counseling;
  • Group counseling;
  • Crisis counseling and referrals;
  • Consultation with  and referrals to the Child Study Team, to the social worker or to other specialists in district;
  • Tours and orientation for prospective students and families;
  • Maintenance of pupil records;
  • Coordination of homebound instruction;
  • Recommendation to parents of  academic tutors and medical professionals;
  • Help, as needed, in preparing transcripts and recommendations;
  • Problem solving meetings with staff and parents;
  • Participation in parent/teacher(s) conferences;
  • Participation in other required meetings; and,
  • Participation in ongoing professional development programs.

Each counselor has her/his own phone extension, email and eBoard.