The Conflict Management Program at Smedberg:

Helping guide students make healthy and safe decisions is an important part of what we do as counselors. Learning to solve problems in a respectful, appropriate way is a important life tool. At Smedberg, the conflict management program offers a safe and respectful way to solve problems with peers. Students have to mutually agree to participate in conflict management. The process is facilitated by trained peer mediators or counselors. The goal is to peacefully resolve a conflict so both students feel comfortable with the solution.

 

 

Our Counseling Mission:

The Counseling department is committed to enhancing the academic growth of students. Members within the department strive to develop comprehensive programs and services that contribute to a positive learning environment by involving students and their parents or guardians in the counseling process

Cheryl Stark	Last Name A-L
Meghan Miller	Last Name M-N
Yer Gutierrez & Vanessa Taylor	Last Name O-Z

 

Academic Counseling: Counselors ensure that each student at Smedberg is enrolled in their appropriate classes. Scheduling is major part of our job, and we strive to make sure each child is in the appropriate class so they can succeed. Counselors will review grades each progress report and term. In addition, counselors will meet with students who are struggling to set up a plan for success. Counselors will notify parents at term grades if a student fails a course. If you are concerned, at any time, for your child’s academic success please contact their counselor. We strive to help each student at Smedberg achieve their best. Counselors can coordinate meeting with teachers to discuss academic concerns, and meet with parents to discuss any academic issues and create plans for academic success. Smedberg counselors also work with the counselors at Sheldon High School to help ease the transition to grade 9. Sheldon High School counselors visit 8^th grade Language Arts classes during term 3. At this meeting they discuss high school course requirements, life at high school, and review course registration with the 8^th graders.

Social / Personal Counseling: Middle school is a time of transition and change for many students. Learning to adjust to a larger school, meeting new people, and establishing new peer relationships can be difficult. Counselors are here to helps students navigating this new path. Counselors can help students with difficulties at school, at home, or personally. Supporting the needs of our students to help them succeed academically is crucial.

College/ Career Counseling: Middle school is a time when we want students to begin thinking about their future. Helping students understand life after high school in middle school, will help them understand how important the academic decisions they make now are for their future. Counselors will visit 7^th grade students and begin the discussion of college with them. Students will learn about types of colleges and do an activity that begins to explore their skills and careers they are interested in. During the 8^th grade year students will work with counselors to explore colleges and careers they are interested in. Students will work on computers to investigate careers and the training necessary for certain careers. Students are also given the opportunity to take the PSAT exam at Smedberg Middle School. This is a practice test for the SAT (most colleges require this exam.) Students will be able to see what the questions are like and be able to begin a student profile on My College Quick Start via the College Board website. More information can be found at: http://www.collegeboard.org/

 

Synergy is an important tool in your child’s academic success. Synergy helps you monitor your child’s academic progress, communicate with teachers, and connect with information at your child’s school. We recommend all parents sign up for Synergy.

Smedberg Middle School strives to be a place where all students feel safe and welcome. Counselors are here to work with students to help them feel safe, empowered and strong about their middle school experience. Unfortunate, bullying is present in all schools. We work to teach our students to show respect, and to stand against bullying. If you feel your child is being bullied, either at school or via social media please contact your child’s counselor. We will work with you and your student to make school a safe place they look forward to coming to. For more information on bullying please visit:

http://www.stopbullying.gov/what-is-bullying/ 

Transitioning from Elementary to Middle School

Middle school is big change for our 7^thgraders. Students encounter new people, larger campus, new activities, and multiple teachers, changing classrooms, more homework and the loss of recess. Sometimes this can be very difficult for students. Counselors are here to help with the transition. We are happy to meet with you and your child to help ease the transition to middle school. If you notice your child exhibiting anxiety about school please contact your child’s counselor to set up a meeting. 

Are you and your student thinking about college? There is a great college and career website available for students and parents..  Please keep in mind it is never too early to think about the future and begin to consider options and start to set goals to fulfill ones dreams.  Below is the link to California Colleges.

https://www.californiacolleges.edu/#/

If you have questions about the site or about college in general please contact your students counselor.