Also serving the communities of De Luz, Rainbow, Camp Pendleton, Pala and Pauma
FALLBROOK – The Fallbrook Union Elementary School District (FUESD) is celebrating National School Counseling Week, Feb. 1-5. on a larger scale this year. In August of 2014, the district was awarded $1.1 million for the three-year Elementary and Secondary School Counseling Program (ESSCP) Grant, expanding school counseling services throughout the district.
Only 41 out of 566 districts received funding nationwide. FUESD’s grant proposal provides full time credentialed school counselors at both schools on Camp Pendleton – Mary Fay Pendleton and San Onofre Schools – and at Fallbrook Street School. The other Fallbrook elementary schools receive part-time school counseling support, which has increased since hiring the additional counselors. The elementary schools have seen improvements in student behavior, decreases in truancy, and increases in students’ positive feelings about school involvement and participation.
Potter Junior High School also has two school counselors to
support the needs of students at the middle school level. Recently Potter received the Recognized ASCA Model Program (RAMP) designation, awarded to schools that align with the criteria set in the ASCA National Model of developing a comprehensive, data-driven school counseling program. While more than 600 schools have been designated as RAMP since the program’s inception there are currently only five in California.
Potter’s School Counseling Department implements the Safe School Ambassador Program, hosts an annual College and Career Day, and coordinates college trips and anti-bullying assemblies. Additionally, school counselors support struggling students through small group and individual counseling.
“We are so grateful to work with such a supportive school
staff and district which has allowed us to implement a comprehensive school counseling program and receive RAMP recognition,” said Megan Woodward, school counselor at Potter Junior High School. “Tracking data such as increases in students feeling safe at school and more students academically eligible to participate in the 8th grade promotion ceremony validates our work and the positive impact we are making to support student success.”
Through creating a comprehensive school counseling program, based on the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) National Model, the FEUSD school counselors are positively contributing to an educational system where students can realize their potential and set healthy, realistic and optimistic aspirations for themselves.
During National School Counseling Week the current and new support services provided through the comprehensive school counseling programs are being recognized and celebrated within Fallbrook.
“School counselors work with all students to remove barriers to learning by addressing students’ academic concerns, career awareness in post-secondary options and personal/social skills,” said Kwok-Sze Wong, Ed.D., ASCA executive director. “Comprehensive school counseling programs help to increase student achievement and provide a much-needed resource for students, parents, teachers, and administrators. School counselors are integral to student success.”
More than 32,000 school counselors nationwide are participating in National School Counseling Week events. Parents or community members with specific questions about school counseling programs should contact the school counselors at their school, and general information can be found at www.schoolcounselor.org.
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