School Guidance Counselors are specially trained educators charged with helping students and their families make important academic and personal decisions.  Counselors consult with parents or guardians, teachers, other educators and community agencies regarding strategies to help students and families.  We support the development of the whole student: academic, social, and emotional.  The School Counseling Program promotes a commitment to learning. You as parents are an important part of the program. Please feel free to contact one of the counselors any time and one of us will gladly assist you!

A comprehensive school counseling program:

• serves all students
• includes large and small group counseling
• incorporates individual counseling
• works with all stakeholders: parents, teachers, and community

A school counselor is an educator who:

• Advocates for the student at school.

•  Provides individual counseling 

• Individual counseling provides assistance with school adjustment, understanding of difficulties in dealing with relationships, and support for short-term and temporary crisis situations in a student’s life that may interfere with learning and social development 

•  Provides small group counseling

  • Developmental groups help students build self-control, social skills, and help them understand normal developmental growth

  • Problem-centered small groups help students identify problems, causes, alternatives and possible consequences so they can take appropriate action and understand how to cope with personal issues

• Provides classroom guidance for every class.

  • Classroom guidance encourages choices and decisions that will lead to effective functioning as students and future citizens.  Students will learn to take responsibility for their actions.  Lessons focus on skills to foster student understanding of the relationship between their personal qualities and success in school and life outside school.  Lessons are derived from Kentucky Core Content.

• Works with teachers and parents to provide suggestions and support for children’s needs.

• Helps in identifying academic and social/emotional needs of children.

• Helps children understand themselves and others.

• Provides information about community resources that would benefit children. 

•   Makes referrals to outsides agencies.

• Provides parents with resources and information.

 All classes have had the opportunity to host the annual Parent Picnic.  Thank you to all the special adults that were able to attend with their special student!

Things You Might Like to Know…

   What should I do if my child is being bullied?

First, talk with your child about the situation. Have they tried standing up for themselves?   It is always better to empower children to solve their own problems before rescuing them.

If the child has tried numerous times to advocate for themselves, then adult assistance is needed. Contact the child's teacher to let him or her know of the situation. Many times, children have not made their teacher aware of what's going on.

Strategies could include (these are familiar strategies that we practice in classroom guidance frequently):

1. Ignore
2. Avoid the student
3. Make a joke
4. Use an I feel statement "I feel ________ when you ________, please _________.
5. Stay in a group - stick up for each other!

Will my child be embarrassed to leave the classroom with the school counselor?

 No! The school counselors at Mayfield Elementary School believe in being highly visible throughout the school. Because of this, the counselors are seen as a normal part of the school atmosphere. Most of the time, kids beg to be picked up by the counselor.

Ways to Improve Your Child’s Study Habits

1. Schedule a regular homework time.  Remind your children when it is time to do homework, help them get started then let them do it.
2. Be available to answer questions.  Encourage them to try solving problems themselves first before they turn to you for help.
3. Be a cheerleader for your child.  Praise your child often.  Let them know you realized how hard they are working.
4. Post a study calendar.  Monday evenings would be a good time to look ahead for upcoming test.  Allow kids to pencil in test dates and due dates.  This allows them more responsibility. 
5. Each child should use an assignment book.  Kids can write down what they’re assigned each day, so they won’t forget.  This is also a good place for parents’ and teacher’s to jot down notes. 
6. Keep in touch with teachers.  Talk regularly with your child’s teacher.  It helps the child to know that the teacher and parent communicate often, even by notes.

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