Counselors

Home Alone?

Summer is quickly approaching 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.

The Wonderful World of Work!

On Tuesday, March 4, 2008 Sope Creek students had the wonderful opportunity to hear over 65 speakers as they shared the details of their varied careers. The day marked the culmination of weeks of classroom guidance instruction which answered the essential question, "What do I need to learn at Sope Creek to help me be successful?" We are so grateful to our parent volunteers who braved rain and high winds and a power outage, to share this fun and informative morning with our students. As a result of this day, many of our students are beginning to make the important connection between academics and career success.

School Keys: Unlocking Excellence Through The Georgia School Standards

The Georgia Department of Education recently scripted a set of rigorous schools performance standards which serve as the framework for a comprehensive and data-driven system of school improvement and support. Not only are students expected to demonstrate proficiency in numerous academic areas, but schools are also expected to demonstrate high impact practices which improve student achievement. Professional school counselors are one of the "keys" to school improvement. Using data from a variety of sources, school counselors help identify patterns of achievement and participate in planning academic interventions to address underachievement. School counselors also involve parents and other community members as active participants in the school mission. Finally, professional school counselors assess the learning climate of the school and promote practices which enhance the learning of all students.

Children and Grief

The recent death of our beloved principal, Karen Looft, reminds us that children live, love and lose important people and things in their lives. It is important that the adults who care for them provide support, information and consistency depending upon the age of the child. Our youngest children sometimes believe they may have said or done something to cause the loss. This corresponds with the normal egocentrism of young school-aged children. After grade one, children express great curiosity about death but may also withdraw when feelings of sadness or confusion overwhelm them. Older students may become very anxious, angry, over active, and experience sleep and eating changes. An important thing to remember about children is that loss for them, as with adults, is a cumulative experience. A recent death of someone close may remind them of other losses and intensify their reactions. The counselors at Sope Creek have received specialized training in grief counseling. While we believe our students' best support remains at home, please let us know if you have continuing concerns for your child over the next several weeks. The beginning of this particular school school may be especially challenging for some of our students.

Internet Safety Link

                                             

The Cobb County Prevention Intervention is an excellent source for tips on internet safety. Just click the link on the right to access this important information.

Welcome!

Welcome to the 2007-2008 Sope Creek Elementary 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 listen to the prompts.