Counseling

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SJMS Counseling Website

Our counseling program at St. Johns Middle School offers a variety of services for your child. Here are the programs and services available at St. Johns Middle School.

Individual Counseling:
Counselors are available to meet with students on an individual basis for any social, emotional or academic concerns. Referrals are through staff, parent, peer or self. All SJMS students have access to the SJMS Counselor Referral on their school-issued chromebook.

Group Counseling:
We will be offering various support groups, based on student need, throughout the year. Groups meet once a week, during rotating periods. Students participate in groups through a parent or staff referral, or they may refer themselves. Written parent permission is required.

6th Grade & New Student Orientation:
Counselors facilitate 6th grade and new student orientation via a school tour. Counselors look forward to meeting new students at the orientation.

Instructional Support Team (IST) Meetings:
IST meetings are designed to assist struggling students with strategies that may help improve academic performance. Teachers, administration, parents and counselors provide input on student progress and suggest ways for students to be successful.

Classroom Lessons:
Counselors visit 6th, 7th and 8th grade classrooms year-round to present information on College and Career readiness, age appropriate social and emotional topics, as well as scheduling procedures and class selection for the following year.

The Role of the School Counselor and Mental Health (via American School Counselor Association Position Statements)
Students’ unmet mental health needs pose barriers to learning and development. Because of school counselors’ training and position, they are uniquely qualified to provide instruction, appraisal and advisement and short-term counseling to students and referral services to students and their families. Although school counselors do not provide long-term mental health therapy in schools, they provide a school counseling program designed to meet the developmental needs of all students. As a component of this program, school counselors collaborate with other educators and community service providers to meet the needs of the whole child.