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  • IXL funded by PTA through proceeds from the Boosterthon Fun Run.

Welcome!

School_bus_side_back_to_school_hg_clr 
 Welcome back to the 2011-12 school year! We don't know who is more excited...the children or the counselors! We also want to welcome you to the  Sope Creek Elementary Professional School Counselors' blog. We are excited to provide updated information about the professional school counseling program and how students and parents can benefit from the services provided to our families. We welcome your suggestions about this site. Use the handy email links to give us your feedback or call  770-916-7088 and follow the prompts.

Your counselor for this school year will be:

Jennifer Frederick, MS: First Grade and Special Education classes. Ms. Frederick is available Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday by appointment. Her office is located at the end of the second grade hall, room # 2.019.

Sara Jane Lombardi, MA: Kindergarten (Ms. Gunning, Ms. Hinz, Ms. Howard, and Ms. Pfleger), Second and Fourth grades. Ms. Lombardi is available Monday through Friday by appointment. Her office is located on the fifth grade hall, room # 2.043.

Claire Murphy, Ed.S: KIndergarten (Ms. Johnston, Ms. Lowrie, Ms. Cooperman, and Ms. Gordon), Third, and Fifth grades.  Ms. Murphy is available Monday through Friday by appointment. Her office is located in the third grade annex, room #3.003.

DSC00539 
 Pictured from left: Jennifer Frederick, Sara Jane Lombardi, Claire Murphy
 
 

 

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                                                        Our Mission

In alignment with the missions of the Cobb County School District, the Cobb County Professional School Counseling Department, and Sope Creek Elementary School, we will provide a comprehensive, developmental counseling program addressing the academic, career and personal/social development of all students. School counselors are professional school advocates who provide support to maximize student potential and academic achievement, and provide directed assistance to those students experiencing barriers to academic success. Our mission is to ensure that all students have access to and are prepared with the knowledge and skills to contribute at the highest levels as productive members of a diverse society.

Your counselors are committed to supporting the Sope Creek Student and School Performance Goals. The Student Performance Goal is: all students will meet or exceed standards in Math, Reading, and English Language Arts and the number of students who exceed standards will increase, as a result of writing across the curriculum. The School Performance Goal is: develop, through the implementation of the Highly Effective Teaching model, a professional learning community where all stakeholders foster collaboration and build trust to achieve common goals.

                                                     Our Philosophy                               

The professional school counselors of Sope Creek Elementary School believe: 

  • All students have dignity and worth
  • All students can learn
  • All students can be productive members of society
  • All students have the right to participate in a comprehensive and developmentally appropriate school counseling program
  • All students’ ethnic, cultural, racial, sexual, and developmental differences and special needs are valued and considered in planning and implementing the school counseling program
  • All students benefit from a strong home/school partnership
  • All students benefit from primary prevention
  • All students benefit from a risk-free learning environment

 The comprehensive professional school counseling program has as its foundation the American School Counselor Association National Model and:

  • Is based on specified goals and developmental standards, competencies, and indicators for all students in grades K-5 in academic, career, and personal/social development domains
  • Is aligned with the Cobb County School District and Sope Creek Elementary School strategic plans
  • Is planned and coordinated by the counselors in collaboration with other Sope Creek faculty, parent, and community representatives
  • Utilizes a variety of resources
  • Uses data to drive program development, evaluation, and improvement, and to drive intentional guidance and closing the achievement gap activities
  • Is evaluated by a building administrator and the Counselor Advisory Council on specific goals, performance standards and competencies
  • Actively involves counselors to monitor student achievement outcomes

All counselors at Sope Creek will:

  • Advocate for all students
  • Abide by the professional school counseling ethics as defined by the American School Counselor Association and the Georgia Professional Standards Commission
  • Participate in professional development activities essential to maintaining a comprehensive professional school counseling program

Career Day May 16, 2012

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Be sure to mark your calendars for Sope Creek's annual Career Day on Tuesday, May 16, 2012. We are busy recruiting parent and community speakers. If you would like to join the fun, please email one of the counselors or complete a registration form which will be located in the Sope Creek Elementary School PTA February Chronicle. Career Day is for students in grades 1-5, and involves over 50 classrooms and 1000 students! It's a huge undertaking but so important in supporting the state wide initiative to prepare children for their future world of work!

 

 

 

Holiday Helper Bear Program a Great Success!

Holiday bearThe Sope Creek Elementary School counselors wish to thank every family that participated in the Holiday Helper Bear program this year! Because of their incredible generosity, the holidays were happier for 25 of our families in need. We are indeed blessed to work in such a caring community.

Classroom Guidance Update

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Your Sope Creek Counselors visit every classroom to teach standards driven developmental guidance lessons on a regular basis.  These lessons fall under the domains of academic, career, and personal/social development.  We have been very busy in classroom guidance this year, so we thought we’d share a few things that we’ve covered with your children.

In Kindergarten, Ms. Lombardi and Ms. Murphy have been teaching the I Care Rules using the I Care Kitty puppet.  The children have sung songs, played games, read books, and pantomimed “body talk” (nonverbal communication) while discussing listening and helping hands.

First grade students have practiced how to make a new friend and have begun to learn the I Care Rules with Ms. Frederick.  Please ask your children to share 4 steps for being active listeners wherever they are, have them demonstrate ways to use their hands for helping out at home, and brainstorm as a family acceptable ways for handling anger.

If you have a second grader, talk to him or her about the life skills of effort and pride.  Second graders should be able to tell you what the words mean and what they look like in practice. Ms. Lombardi can't wait for each classroom lesson to roll around!

Fourth grade students have reviewed the STAR problem solving model with an emphasis on the importance of evaluating ideas in the “THINK” step. Ms. Lombardi introduced this model last year and is continuing to expand the topic during the current school year.

Third and Fifth grade students have had lessons with Ms. Murphy on goal setting, conflict resolution, appreciating differences and different points of view, as well as the benefits of being positive with ourselves and others.

Our classroom guidance action plan involves reducing serious behavior infractions by teaching peacemaking skills, so please ask your children to share what they have learned about solving problems peacefully.

 

Making Classroom Guidance "Work" in Grades K-5: Lesson Plans

Woman_fireman_carrying_hose_lg_clrWelcome to the lesson plans presented at the GSCA state conference on November 9, 2011. To access the individual lessons and resources, just click on the link provided. Enjoy!

 

GSCA Presentation Agenda Download Making Career Classroom Guidance Agenda

Kindergarten Resources

  • Lesson Plan     Download Kindergarten Classroom Guidance Lesson Plan 
  • Power Point     Download Kindergarten Lesson Power Point

First Grade Resources

  • Lesson Plan     Download First Grade Classroom Guidance Lesson Plan
  • Power Point     Download First Grade Power Point

Second Grade Resources

  • Lesson Plan   Download GSCA 2nd grade lesson 
  • Puzzle Page   Download Puzzle
  • Power Point   Download Second Grade Power Point

Third Grade Resources

  • Lesson Plan   Download Third Grade Classroom Guidance Lesson 
  • Power Point   Download Third Grade Power Point

Fourth Grade Resources

  • Lesson Plan       Download 4th grade classroom guidance lesson  
  • Pre Test            Download 4th Grade Pre-test
  • Job Fact Sheet   Download 4th Grade Job Fact Sheet
  • Power Point       Download 4th Grade Lesson Powerpoint

Fifth Grade Resources

  • Lesson Plan            Download Fifth Grade Classroom Guidance Lesson
  • Interest Inventory  Download Fifth Grade Lesson Interest Inventory
  • Power Point           Download Fifth Grade Power Point

 Career Day Tips  Download Career Day Tips

 

Peach Care for Kids

 If you are a Georgia State employee, your children may qualify for Peach Care for Kids. Check out the information on this document:

Download PeachCare for Kids

 

Parenting Toolbox Workshops

Chest_open_hg_clrDoes your parenting "toolbox" need to be refreshed? Tanya Kuschnitzky, MA.Ed is offering a series of parenting workshops at the Art It Out Therapy Center on Powers Ferry Road. She will be focusing on a variety of topic including: effective communication, corrective discipline, responsibility, encouragement, eating habits, creating self-esteem, building emotional intelligence, sibling rivalry, and creating boundaries. For further information or to make a reservation, contact Tanya at tanyakusch@sbcglobal.net or 404-702-8474.

 

Sope Creek Is Recognized by the Cobb County School Board

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On September 29, 2011 Sope Creek was recognized by the Cobb County School Board for its recent designation as an American School Counselor Association Recognized ASCA Model Program (RAMP). Pictured from left: Claire Murphy, Counselor; Alice Stouder (Assistant Superintendent); Sara Jane Lombardi (Counselor); Martha Whalen (Principal); Jennifer Frederick (Counselor).

Camp Stars Bereavement Camp for Children

 Star_hg_clrThe Junior League of Atlanta is offering a bereavement camp for children November 4-11, 2011 at Camp Twin Lakes in Rutledge, Georgia. Registration is limited and the deadline to enroll is October 17, 2011. Click on the link below for more information.

Download Combined documents Camp Fall 2011

Angel Tree Program

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The Cobb County Salvation Army is offering holiday help again this year in the form of its Angel Tree Program. Angel Tree is open to needy children ages 12 and under only. To schedule an appointment, Cobb County residents can call 770-723-3447 until October 7th.

New Student Snack & Yak

Pretzel_rotating_hg_clr On Wednesday, September 14, 2011 Sope Creek officially welcomed our newest 120 "Soaring Eagles" at a New Student Snack and Yak assembly. Students received greetings and pencils from our administrative team, and had an opportunity to make new friends. We feel so fortunate to have children from all over the United States and the world!

http://www.photosnack.com/slideshows/a6079258e3a7fa051be15a72a1559258

Coffee With the Counselor

Steel_mug_coffee_pot_pouring_hg_clr Sope Creek parents are invited to join Sara Jane Lombardi for "Coffee With the Counelor" on Thursday, October 20th at 7:30 a.m. in the Teachers' Lounge. She will be discussing the Response to Intervention (RTI) system for supporting students.

Career Education Web Sites

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To support classroom guidance career education, students may access the following previewed websites. These sites offer career information and videos for hundreds of occupations!

Internet Career Sites for Students

http://www.kids.gov/k_5/k_5_careers.shtml 

This is a safe government site where kids can explore careers.

http://www.bls.gov/k12/

This is the Bureau of Labor Statistics site.

http://www.khake.com/page64.html

This site offers career exploration guides to hundreds of careers.

http://paws.bridges.com/cfnc1.htm

This site has an interest inventory and information about hundreds of careers. It would be very appropriate for young elementary students.

http://www.acinet.org/acinet/videos/COS_videos_by_cluster.asp?id=27,&nodeid=28

This site offers numerous informational videos about careers.

http://www.thefutureschannel.com/

This site offers numerous informational videos about careers. It is necessary to subscribe for some of the videos. Make sure your parent gives you permission to subscribe.

 

 

 

 

 

Comprehensive School Counseling Plan 2011-12

Please click on the following link to access the Comprehensive School Counseling Plan for 2010-11.

Download Comprehensive-guidance-plan-school-year-2011-12 

  

 

Court Mandated Reporters of Child Abuse

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All individuals who work with children are mandated by Georgia law to report suspected child abuse or neglect. We are providing a link to the mandated reporter handbook for Sope Creek personnel. Child abuse is preventable, and a key aspect of prevention is to provide support and assistance to families experiencing stress. The handbook includes danger signs of abuse and neglect, what to do if a child discloses, and factors that may lead to abuse or neglect.

Download mandated_reporter_handbook_0708_81307.doc

Home Alone?

Burglar_searching_lg_clrSchool is back in full-swing, and you may be tempted to leave older children at home while you run a quick errand. You may even be tempted to leave an older child in charge of younger siblings. The Cobb County Department of Family and Children's Services quotes the Georgia State policy on child supervision as the following:  "State policy states that children ages 13 and above can act as baby sitters for other children. Children the ages of 9-12 can occasionally be left unsupervised for brief periods of time. Children 8 years old and younger should never be left alone. Of course, a specific child's immaturity and behavior may necessitate adult supervision."  Should you choose to leave an older child at home, please remember that the home is the number one site of accidents to children. Other dangers include break-ins, fires, and chemicals! Additionally, if you have not taught your older child what to do when a phone call or knock on the door occurs in your absence, now is the time! Home is a place where children need to feel protected and secure.

Next »

Contact a Counselor

  • Email Ms. Lombardi
  • Email Ms. Frederick
  • Email Ms. Murphy

Counselors' Online Resources

  • Official Site of Positive Discipline
  • PTA
  • Prevention Intervention

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