School Counseling at

Harmony Elementary

 

 

 

 

 

   

     This school year (2007-2008), Tina Byrne is our school counselor. Mrs. Byrne works with all grade levels kindergarten through 5th grade at Harmony.   Below you will find out about five key areas of her School Counseling program at Harmony.

 

 

Classroom Guidance Lessons

     This school year, she will visit each classroom once every three weeks for a thirty-minute classroom guidance lesson. She will cover many different topics with each grade level corresponding to the Gwinnett County Guidance and Counseling Standards and Competencies approved for each age group.

 

Major topics covered for each grade level are listed below:

 

Kindergarten: Following rules and directions; listening skills; exploring feelings

 

First Grade: Listening and following directions; being    respectful; friendship skills; recognizing abilities and potential

 

Second Grade: Responsibility for self and schoolwork;    using cooperation; showing compassion and generosity

 

Third Grade: Organization skills and time management; problem solving skills; coping with classroom problems

 

Fourth Grade:  Study and test taking skills; dealing with peers in difficult situations (peer pressure);  taking         responsibility for behaviors

 

Fifth Grade: Study and test taking skills; conflict resolution; communicating and relating to

peers appropriately

 

 
 

 
 

 

Individual Counseling

     Students may be referred for individual counseling sessions by their teacher, parent, or by a self-referral. Teachers and parents may contact me directly and students are instructed on how to fill out referral notes during the first classroom guidance lesson of the year. School counseling is designed primarily as a brief intervention for temporary situations that may arise, but students may be seen on and off during the year depending on the severity of the personal situation. Seeking outside counseling/therapy may be beneficial for students with more traumatic, on-going issues.

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

Character Education

     Character Education is an important component to our students' overall education at Harmony. This year, we are taking part in the Chick-Fil-A character education program, Core Essentials. Each month Harmony will concentrate on a different value in the child’s regular classroom in addition to classroom guidance lessons. Each month your child will bring home a “meal-time card” that will prompt basic family discussions to better help your child understand the value for the month. In addition, students can earn a “Value-able Reward” for displaying good character which can be redeemed for a free Chick-Fil-A kid’s meal!  Check out the Core Essentials website by using the link at the bottom of this page.

Below you will find each word of the month for this school year:

 

September: Responsibility  December: Compassion   March: Honesty

 

October: Individuality   January: Discipline   April: Courtesy

 

November: Cooperation   February:  Friendship   May: Learning
 
 
 
 

 

 Care Team

     The purpose of the Harmony Care Team is to help provide funds or supplies for needy students and their families. The Care Team has school supplies and some clothing items at school to donate to needy students and also raises money each year to help cover various expenses that arise during times of economic difficulties. The majority of the money collected goes towards helping out families at Thanksgiving and Christmas and also is used to help pay for some student field trips. Please contact me   if you feel that your child and/or family may be in need of Care Team funds or if you would like to help by donating money, supplies, or holiday items.

 

 

 

 

Helpful Links:

 

Chick-Fil-A Core Essentials Homepage

School Phobias

Positive Discipline

Parent Soup

Study Skills

No Child Left Behind Act