2009 -2010 School Counseling Staff

Mrs. Maryann Smith

Mr. Dominick D’Antonio, MS

Mrs. Robin Massari-Steele, MS, LPC

Mrs. Teresa Mentgen, Eds

Counseling Department's Role

Counseling Curriculum

Counseling Services

What do “they” do?

The goal of the Counseling Department is to work collaboratively as a unit in order to assist middle school students’ through their adolescent years which can be very challenging.  Students’ will see the counseling staff in many ways; such as: Guidance class; individual or group counseling; facilitating the peer tutoring program; facilitating the peer mediation program; or just to say “hi”. 

 The Counseling Office is a non-confrontational safe zone for students to come and feel comfortable to express their feelings; opinions and perceptions; concerns for others; how to do better in school; or just to run an idea by someone.  The job of the department; is to assist each student that walks through the door and help he/she feel comfortable and welcome, which in turn will help the day run as smoothly as possible.
 

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Comprehensive School Counseling Curriculum

 The Comprehensive Counseling Curriculum at Rochambeau was created by the school counselors in order to assure that all students would have awareness in three major content standards: academic, career and personal/social.  The curriculum is delivered to all students through lesson plans that have identified goals, student competencies, and activities for achieving these competencies.  The class is already a part of each student’s schedule on a weekly basis (6^th grade for the entire year) or two times a week (7^th and 8^th grade) for half the year. 

 The curriculum is based on the “Connecticut Model Comprehensive School Counseling Program” through the State Department of Education.  These guidelines have allowed the counselors to create various activities that allow students to work together collectively on everyday life situations/decisions.

 At Rochambeau each grade level (6^th, 7^th, and 8^th ) involves specific topics to cover throughout their time at Rochambeau.  If you click on the following links below, you will be able to see an overview of each: 
 

6th Grade Curriculum

7th Grade Curriculum

8th Grade Curriculum

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6th Grade Comprehensive Counseling Curriculum

Counseling Curriculum

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7th Grade Comprehensive Counseling Curriculum

Counseling Curriculum

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8th Grade Comprehensive Counseling Curriculum

Counseling Curriculum

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Do you think you can handle the world on your shoulders?
Do you think you can conquer every thing that comes your way?

If so, we would like to meet you just because of that.(picture).  However, if you answered “no” to one of the above questions then we are here for YOU!  The Counseling Department offers a variety of services however, one of the support services can be either through individual or group counseling.

Individual Counseling

Group Counseling

Peer Mediation

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Individual Counseling

Individual counseling allows any student to come to the Counseling Office and speak to their counselor in a confidential manner.  If your counselor is not there, you can either speak to whoever is available or leave a message with Mrs. Smith (secretary) and she will make sure the person gets it.  Students come for all sorts of reasons, fights with friends, parents, wanting to do better in school, etc. Students don’t have to have an appointment to come, one can come when their schedule allows.  It is important to be able to discuss situations before they get worse.  Think about it, we would love to see you!

Counseling Services

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Group Counseling

Do you ever feel like you’re the only one?
Do you notice there are other students that share your same concerns?

If you answer “yes” or “no” to either question, then checking out what group is all about may be for you.  The Group Counseling program at Rochambeau allows for students to work together in a specific area that others’ in the group seem to share.

Some topics range from:
         Self Image/Esteem
         Grieving
         Decision Making/Coping Strategies
         Social Skills
         Extended Families
         Divorce
                   And
                          Many
                                  More!!!!!!!

Counseling Services

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Student Peer Mediation Program

Have you ever had a fight with a friend?  Has someone been mad at you and you have no idea why?  Then maybe a good way to resolve the problem is through peer mediation.

What is Peer Mediation?
Peer mediation gives students a chance to sit face to face and talk, uninterrupted, so that each side of the dispute is heard.  After the problem is defined, solutions are created and then evaluated.  When an agreement is reached, it is written and signed by both students’.  This is all facilitated by a student who is a trained peer mediator.  The peer mediator does not take sides, give advice or assume the responsibility for solving the problem.  The mediator is there to help the disputants (students in conflict) solve their own problem.  All mediation sessions are completely confidential unless.  Anytime you are in conflict with another student, peer mediation can help.  Unresolved conflicts often result in hurt feelings, loss of friends, increased anger and frustration.  Nobody ever wants to feel like that.  Give it a try, it won’t hurt, promise.

 If you are and want to resolve a situation one can either see their school counselor or fill out a form on line that is located in your teachers’ classroom or the Counseling Office. 

Counseling Services

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