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My name is Debra Lawson, and this is my tenth year as the PCES counselor!

I am one of our StuCo Advisors!

We will begin our "Pennies for Patients" at the end of January with a coin war between the grades...always a lot of fun and a tiny bit of competition!

February 11 and 12 will have StuCo selling Valentine Grams. StudCo will set up their booth in the foyer selling the grams and distributing them daily until Valentine's Day students leave for early dismissal on February 13.

March brings us straight into March Madness (always fun) and spring break, both of which we participate in lots of various activities...a favorite is helping Mr. Hogan set up and organize "the teachers vs students" basketball game to kick off March Madness!

May is our month to plan for our lemonade stand we have during our field day. It has been a success each year with StuCo being able to donate a generous amount to Alex's Lemonade Stand Charity and to Children's Mercy Hospital (in honor of our PC students).

As always, Prairie Mart is each pod monthly!!

Lessons each month continue to center around the book The Leader in Me incorporating the Zones of Regulation and our monthly character key! The students are generating and asking higher-level thinking questions as we learn the 7 Habits in The Leader in Me...keeps me on my toes answering their questions and I am loving it!

Don't hesitate to reach out to me via email at lawsond@usd230.org, or (913) 592-7122.

Counselor’s Goals
1. To provide assistance to all students with their social, emotional, and intellectual growth.
  To provide individual, small group, and classroom developmentally appropriate lessons for students regarding social, emotional, personal, family, behavioral, or peer difficulties, which are interfering with their educational or personal growth.
2. To provide support for teachers with students receiving special educational services.
3. To provide teachers, parents, and students with referral resources in various areas such as: child development, academic abilities, parenting challenges, outside counseling services, grief and loss, family change and dynamics, suicide awareness, and various other mental health issues.
4. Assist with the formulation of the Individual Educational Plan (IEP) and coordinate counseling services recommended.
5. Maintain confidentiality at all times, unless a “need to know” situation arises. During that time, the counselor will collaboratively work with the principal, teachers, parents, and students regarding the well-being of the student.
What types of services are provided?
1. Individual Counseling – Speaking with students on a short-term, confidential basis about an issue that has been brought to my attention or something that the student feels they need to discuss.
2. Response Services – Assisting students with coping when a crisis has occurred, and responding to immediate issues that have occurred during school hours that prevent the student(s) from actively participating in class.
3. Guidance Lessons – At PCES, character education lessons are provided that are developmentally appropriate and preventative in nature. Character Education covers topics such as (friendship, bullying, respect, responsibility, and much more).
4. Systems Support – A counselor is available for consultation with parents/guardians, teachers/staff, and other professionals as needed. This intervention can take place in individual or group conferences, or through staff development. In addition, referrals are made to outside agencies when needed.
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Counselor’s Goals

What types of services are provided?

Related Websites