Guidance

Our Guidance staff is concerned with the students’ intellectual and social development. Their goal is to help students reach their highest potential, participate fully in the school community and begin to plan for their future roles in society.

Guidance counselors will help students identify their abilities and interests and set goals for the future. They will work closely with students and parents, advising on academic requirements, explaining the various options offered and arriving at a schedule best suited to each student’s needs.

On behalf of students, guidance counselors work closely with teachers, parents, administrators, school psychologists, coaches, advisors or other members of the SOMS community.

Response to Intervention (RTI)

Students sometimes have difficulty achieving success in courses, finals, etc. at the middle school level. We have a program called Response to Intervention (RTI). The team of teachers, the student, the parent and the guidance counselor will create a plan to address the needs of the student. Each plan will be customized based on the individual student’s needs and will be coordinated by a RTI teacher. Parents will meet with counselors to review the plan. Our goal is to increase student success. There is a direct correlation between student success in middle school and their future success in high school; therefore, the time for change is now. Additional information will be distributed to the family if any student who needs this type of help. Please contact your child’s guidance counselor for additional information. Examples of the services include but are not limited to ELA Enhancement, Math Enhancement and Learning Centers.

School Psychologists

The role of school psychologists is to help and to support all students (including gifted students, underachievers, and those with disabilities), and make the most of their school experiences. They identify problems related to students’ emotional health and/or academic performance, as well as in the way the school meets students’ needs. They help to solve problems through direct contact with parents, teachers and students, and may recommend special programs or teaching methods. School psychologists support both school and families by helping to create classroom environments that are best suited to meet the needs of students.

Consulting Services
A school psychologist may talk with parents, teachers, and school personnel about how to best help students learn and develop, how to improve teaching methods or the learning environment of the classroom or at home, and ways to improve working relationships among teachers, parents, and administrators.

Assessment
The role of school psychologists may also be to assess students’ academic performance and potential. They may observe the student in the classroom. They may interview the student. They may test the student to assess academic achievement, learning aptitudes, social skills, self-help skills, physical and motor development, personality and emotional development.

Direct Intervention
When appropriate, the school psychologist may work directly with a student and/or family to help solve problems. Counseling, behavior management, or other approaches may be used. They formulate Social/Emotional Improvement Plans for students when needed.

Education and Training Programs
School psychologists may also provide education programs to help parents, school personnel, and others to be more effective in their roles. Some examples have included programs for parents on self-esteem and parenting skills, and presenting to school personnel on ADD/ADHD and learning disabilities.

Research
The school psychologists may also conduct research to learn more about students, parents, teachers and the learning process.