- Christa McAuliffe Middle
- School Counseling
School Counseling
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Our mission as counselors is to provide services for students to meet their academic, career, and social/emotional needs. We also aim to create a nurturing and safe environment by creating inclusive spaces and advocating for diversity. This is accomplished through collaboration with parents/guardians, staff, and community members to ensure the success and achievement of all our students. The mission of the Christa McAuliffe Middle School Counseling Department is to provide all students the opportunity to acquire educational, occupational, and social/personal competencies necessary for constructive participation in society.
School Counselors
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6th Grade: Aurora Miller 561-374-6692
7th Grade: Jennifer Kupferberg 561-374-6687
8th Grade: Stacy Fill 561-374-6605
Quick Links
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- 211 Information and Crisis Hotline
- iPad Apps for Learners with Dyslexia
- American School Counselor Association
- Ask Dr. Dave: 8 Ways to Reduce Digital Distractions
- Ask Dr. Dave: How to Build Your Child's Self-Regulation at the Dining Rm Table
- Ask Dr. Dave: How to Negotiate With Your Teen
- Boys Town Parenting Website
- Boys Town Student Website
- CHOICES Career Planner for Parents
- FACTS.org High School, College, Career and Beyond
- Stopbullying.gov
Small Groups Available
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Small Group Counseling offered at CMMS
Anger Management Group – This group assists students who struggle with anger. They are taught coping skills and healthy ways to deal with these feelings.
Changing Families - This group focuses on creating supportive peer relationships and enables students to discuss their feelings regarding divorce and change, as well as learn strategies for managing the struggles that go along with this transition.
Feelings Group – this is a general group that touches on a variety of areas such as identifying feelings, self-esteem, and social anxiety.
If you have any questions or would like to enroll your child in these groups, please contact your designated school counselor.
'Challenger' Parent Tips
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Available Resources for Students
- TUTORING ON CAMPUS THROUGH THE AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM
Tutoring is available on Mondays & Wednesdays through the Afterschool Program from 4:00-5:15. The cost is $4.00 a session or it is free for students who are eligible for Free & reduced lunch. - SIS System (Student Information System)
Parents can access real time grades, conduct & attendance. You can email the teacher through the portal as well find out about homework and assignments. - The Florida Standards Assessment (FSA) information
The website has been updated and contains the 2018-19 assessment schedule and access to general information about the FSA and other resources and practice assessments (www.fsassessments.org) - ONLINE RESOURCES
We recommend www.khanacademy.com, myhomework.com & Algebra Nation and Study Island. The School District website under the Students tab has many resources and Learning tools to help students. - INDIVIDUAL TEACHER ASSISTANCE
Have your child ask their teacher for extra help either before school or after school. Many teachers make themselves available to assist students before and/or after school on a regular schedule. - WEBSITE HOMEWORK ASSISTANCE
A new website “LIVE HOMEWORK HELP” is a website staffed six days a week by educators ready to help K through 12th graders with MATH, ENGLISH, SOCIAL STUDIES, and SCIENCE. To access the site, you will need a Palm Beach County library card. The website is www.pbclibrary.org. Bilingual tutors for Spanish speaking students are available on this website. Monitoring your child is imperative. Check each day to see that they have completed their assignments and check EDLINE weekly to monitor your child’s progress. - NATIONAL JUNIOR HONOR SOCIETY MENTORING PROGRAM
This mentoring program is open to 6th grade students only. Sign-ups will begin in October. 6thgrade students will be paired with a member of the NJHS to receive weekly assistance in study skills, organization, time management and academic support.
- TUTORING ON CAMPUS THROUGH THE AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM
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Eight Steps to Improve Your Grades
- GET ORGANIZED. Utilize “assignment sheets” an agenda book, binders. Etc. daily to write down assignments for each class. Share this with your parents each night.
- DO YOUR HOMEWORK. Set a specific designated time each day that you dedicate solely to homework and studying. Be consistent; make this a routine. After you complete your daily work, show it to your parent so that they can check it.
- STUDY FOR A SET AMOUNT OF TIME AND AT THE SAME TIME EACH DAY REGARDLESS IF YOU HAVE HOMEWORK OR NOT. Even if you have “no homework”, which should be very rare, you should still study for upcoming test, work on future projects, review class notes, vocabulary, reread textbook chapters, etc. Studying needs to become habitual, like brushing your teeth.
- CHECK YOUR GRADES REGULARLY ON SIS. Students and parents should check SIS frequently. SIS is in real time and updates automatically. Check for missing assignments and upcoming tests, quizzes, or projects. If you see something that you have a question about, contact the teacher.
- GET EXTRA HELP WHEN YOU NEED IT. Go to your teachers when you are having trouble with a class and ask them for the extra help that you need.
- SET GOALS FOR YOURSELF. Set short and long term goals for yourself.
Short term goals
Use your agenda daily, complete homework, study.
Frequently check your grades on SIS and work on areas that need improvement
Long term goals
Quarterly; pass all classes successfully
Yearly; earn the quality points to be promoted to the next grade. - DEVELOP A CONTRACT WITH YOUR PARENTS. Sit down with your parents and develop a contract incorporating your short and long term goals. Set up rewards and consequences based on achieving your short and long term goals. It is important for you and your parent(s) to stick to the contract for this to work.
I AGREE TO……. _______________REWARD ________________ CONSEQUENCE
Use my agenda
Complete my daily & weekly assignments
Study for tests and complete projects
Check my grades on SIS - DECIDE THAT EDUCATION IS IMPORTANT. Decide that education is important. Make it a priority and embrace it a as a core value. Understand that there is a pay-off at the end for you, and consequently you will take it more seriously and perform better.
- GET ORGANIZED. Utilize “assignment sheets” an agenda book, binders. Etc. daily to write down assignments for each class. Share this with your parents each night.
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Parent Concerns
Academic/Classroom Concerns
1. The first course of action is to contact your child’s teacher.
2. If there are problems in more than one class, and you have already spoken to the teachers and attempted to correct the problem with your child, the Team Leader for your child’s group of teachers can schedule a conference.
3.The Guidance Department does have some tools available that might assist you in monitoring your child’s responsibilities. These include Daily and Weekly reports, which your child is responsible for presenting to his/her teachers. We encourage all parents to monitor their child’s planner, which is provided within the first month of school.
Scheduling Concerns
1.If your child does not have Language Arts, Reading, Math, Social Studies, or Science on their schedule, contact us immediately – these are required classes.
2. If your child has changed his/her mind about an elective and is asking for a change, we are unable to help. We can correct scheduling errors but are not able to assist with preferences.
Oher Concerns
1. Crisis can occur unexpectedly. If we know of significant problems occurring in your child’s life, we can determine if we are able to offer special assistance/support. We are also able to recommend other agencies that can offer help. Some agencies will provide a counselor to visit your child at school at little or no cost.
2. Serious problems/potential problems at school are of concern to both Guidance and Administration at CMMS. Sometimes it is unclear whether to call Guidance or an Administrator. If a harmful problem has already occurred, Administration will deal with the necessary discipline and follow-up. If a situation can be prevented, please contact either Guidance or Administration.
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Small Group Counseling Services
Anger Management Group - This group promotes healthy ways to deal with anger by increasing appropriate coping skills
Changing Families - This group focuses on creating supportive peer relationships and enables students to discuss their feelings regarding divorce and change, as well as learn strategies for managing the struggles that go along with this transition.
Bereavement Group - This group is designed to meet the needs of students who have experienced the death of a close family member or friend.
* Social Media Group - This group is to bring about Social Media etiquette and safety.
* Social Skills Group - This group promotes Social Skills and promotes problem solving and decision-making.
All groups are during school hours and will begin in October. Please contact your designated school counselor with students who would benefit with one or more of these beneficial, free and supportive groups.
Contact your School Counselor for more information.
Robert Grossman (A-Ga)
Stacy Fill (Ge-N)
Aurora Miller (O-Z)* Please contact Ms. Delsa Joseph (rm. 111) for the Social Media and Skills Group.