Welcome to Marston Middle School’s Counseling Website! Marston takes pride in its counseling and guidance program. Services offered are social and emotional, academic, career and group counseling and guidance. Counseling can be on a one-time basis or on a continuing basis. In addition, the counselor can assist in referrals to outside agencies. Students wishing to see the counselor should use the sign-up sheet in the Counseling Center. Parents should feel free to call with any questions regarding their child. Counselors Rose Andres: 7th grade; 8th grade (A-L); randres1@sandi.net Joni Moravec: 6th grade; 8th grade (M-Z); jmoravec2@sandi.net Counseling Secretary/Registrar: Maria Falk; mfalk@sandi.net Counseling and Guidance Services at Marston The counseling department uses curriculum and practices that consist of structured developmental experiences presented to students in the classroom, small and large groups, and individually. Our counseling staff is committed to using the ASCA National Counseling Standards; http://www.schoolcounselor.org/files/NationalStandards.pdf Counseling Guidance Curriculum includes: • Orientation and registration of new and existing students • Support of at-risk students • In school articulation • Conflict resolution • Classroom Guidance lessons that support our goals • 8th grade 4 year plan conferences • STAR report results • Support, education and prevention of at-risk behavior in small and large groups • Career and College Exploration and Planning Beginning of the year guidelines for Marston students and parents Students’ elective courses were selected based on the course requests submitted by students during the previous spring semester. Students who did not submit a course request card will be placed into elective classes based on available space. Students who meet grade level proficiency on CST/STAR testing will be placed in electives. Teacher requests and/or schedule changes will not be honored. FAQ’s for Parents and Students When should I see a counselor? A student should come see a counselor if they have questions about their academic and career goals, need help finding tutoring, to report bullying or harassment, to seek help with problems with friends or family, and many other issues. Parents and families may also seek assistance from counselors for outside counseling and community agency referrals. How do I see my counselor? To see a counselor, students may fill out a green request form in the counseling office before or after school. Parents may call or email counselors to request a meeting. Counselors will make every effort to return phone/emails within a 24 hour period. What is a typical homework schedule like for a middle school student? Every middle school student will be expected to complete 1-1.5 hours of homework Monday-Thursday. Students are expected to write their homework for each class in the agenda; please check this nightly. If your child insists they have no homework, they should be reading and recording these hours in a reading log. How can I help my middle school student be successful? To help your child be successful in middle school, it is very important to remain involved in their academic and social life. Talk to your child frequently about their school; students retain information better when they are able to “teach” another person about their learning. Each night, a specific time should be designated as “homework time” and should be completed in an area of the home free of distractions. You should also limit their access to TV and the internet during school days. Most importantly, be sure to be well informed about their friends and activities. My child is having problems in some classes. What can I do to help support him/her? The first point of contact for specific course concerns should be directed to the course teacher. During middle school, it is the student’s responsibility to seek assistance when struggling in courses. Parents can help support their struggling student by contacting teachers, checking the assignment agenda, monitoring homework completion, and requesting teacher-parents conferences. I am having trouble communicating with my child about their grades. Is there any easy way to get this information from the school? Yes indeed! Your child may pick up a weekly “pink progress report” on Fridays in the counseling office and submit to each teacher for grade progress. School wide progress reports are sent home with students every 6 weeks. You may also sign up for Parent Connect to see your child’s progress online. You can sign up for Parent Connect on the Marston website, under the "Parent" link. What are “6 week Progress Reports” and what is the schedule? School wide progress reports are submitted to students every 6 weeks during the school year. If your child is receiving a D or F on their progress report, please contact their course teacher(s) immediately. Progress reports are distributed on the following days: • Thursday, October 21 • Thursday, December 9 • Friday February 18 (semester grades; report cards mailed home) • Thursday March 17 • Thursday March 5 • Thursday June 30 (semester grades; report cards mailed home) My child is having problems with a teacher. What should I do? The first point of contact for teacher concerns should be the individual teacher. If your child is having problems with a teacher, please contact that teacher for a conference. Counselors will be happy to assist you in scheduling a meeting. If further problems persist, please contact your child’s counselor or Vice Principal. I am being bullied by another student. What do I do? Any student feeling threatened by another student should immediately report the harassment to a teacher, counselor, or administrator. This report will remain confidential and the student’s rights and privacy will be protected. Bullying will not stop unless it is reported. Students should also report any bullying they witness on campus. |