The mission of the Vale Middle School Counseling program is to meet the unique needs of our students and the community. By teaching the four skill goals, assisting in planning for the future, and developing problem solving skills in students, we promote a healthy growth academically, socially, and emotionally. We are committed to providing guidance and support to promote student success and a safe environment where students thrive. We offer group counseling to students on a variety of different topics such as divorce, transition, coping skills, etc. As a part of our guidance program, we also teach guidance lessons in the classroom to help students learn life skills.
In partnership with parents, school staff, and the community, counselors will work with students to help them achieve personal, social, and academic goals in an environment where everyone can learn and respect one another. We encourage, support, and maintain powerful, engaged, life-long learning through innovative techniques and strive to cultivate active responsible citizens.
The Vale Counselors are here to serve and advocate for students by providing a comprehensive program that focuses on the needs of our Vale community.
Vale Counselors want to bring out the personal, academic, and social strengths of all Stingray students.
COUNSELING FRAMEWORK
Vale Middle School follows a guidance and counseling program framework that is delivered through four components. These four components include responsive service, individual planning, guidance curriculum and system support.
RESPONSIVE SERVICE
The purpose of the responsive services component is to intervene with or on behalf of those students whose personal circumstances, concerns, or problems threatening to interfere with or are interfering with their healthy personal, social, career and/or educational development. Responsive services at Vale Middle School include individual and group counseling sessions.
***In order to build a relationship and trust with students, what is discussed in individual counseling remains confidential. ***
Information that needs to be told to parents, other helping-professionals and/or school officials include situations involving:
- Harm to self
- Harm to others
- Pregnancy
- Threats to school safety
- Information requested by a valid subpoena (Court System)
GUIDANCE CURRICULUM
The Guidance Curriculum component includes skill-based lessons and units designed to help all students in kindergarten through 12th grade develop competence in essential life skills. There are a variety of skills addressed under the four main skill goals of:
- Intrapersonal Effectiveness
- Interpersonal Effectiveness
- Post-Secondary College/Career Planning and Readiness
- Personal Health, Safety, and Wellness
INDIVIDUAL PLANNING
The Individual Planning component is where students are guided in planning, monitoring, and managing their own educational, career, personal and social development. Each student is provided with necessary steps toward his/her established goals.
Individual Planning can be seen at Vale Middle School through student/parent conferences, individual meetings with the counselor, small group meetings with the counselor, and parent/staff consultation that focus on the student's personal education, career, and personal-social goals.
SYSTEM SUPPORT
The System Support component describes management activities which assure the delivery of a high-quality guidance program and services which indirectly benefit students by supporting other programs.
System Support at Vale Middle School can be seen through parent meetings, consultation with teachers, participation in campus-based school goals, and counselor professional development.