Counseling Office

Welcome!!!

 

The Counseling Department at Dutchtown Middle School has, for many years, taken pride in being the "heart" of Dutchtown. We believe that the warmth and inviting atmosphere we create provides us with the opportunity to offer the personal assistance needed to our students, parents, staff, and all our community stakeholders.

 

The Counseling Department is located adjacent to the main office and is open during normal school hours. Additional student service support is available from our School Social Worker, Mental Health and Wellness Facilitator, and our Graduation Coach. View the "Meet Our Team" section to learn how you can reach out to us.

 

For up-to-date events, follow us on Twitter at  @DMSCounselDept .We look forward to meeting with you and hope that as you explore this site, the information provided will help you learn more about our department.   

Dutchtown Middle School Counseling Department

Mission Statement

The mission of Dutchtown Middle School’s Counseling Department is to provide all students with a comprehensive school counseling program, according to the ASCA model, centered on equipping our students with essential skills needed to be life-long learners, respect for self and others (appreciating diversity), with efficient interpersonal skills. As counselors, we will serve as a supportive liaison to enhance students’ academic achievement, social/emotional development, and career & college readiness. In partnership with parents, teachers, administrators, and community stakeholders, we will help to ensure the overall success of each student. 

 Vision Statement

The vision of Dutchtown Middle School's Counseling Department is to provide data-driven counseling services that support the continuous improvement efforts of our school so that our students are well prepared to meet the challenges and high expectations, thus creating 21st century leaders. 

DMS Guidance and Counseling Services

Middle school students face several changes (both physically and emotionally) and become more aware of problems that they have to deal with. As students continue to develop into adolescents/teenagers, they may experience concerns that include:

• friendship, 
• conflict resolution, 
• self-esteem, 
• self-control, 
• grief and loss, 
• family changes, 
• academic success, 
• career awareness,  
• peer relations, and 
• crisis 

At Dutchtown Middle School, we strive to meet our students' needs through:

• Individual Counseling,
• Small Group Counseling,
• Classroom Guidance,
• Parent/Teacher Consultations,
• Crisis Interventions, and 
• Several school-wide programs were implemented throughout the school year

We are also able to provide adequate referrals if it is determined that another resource is more appropriate for your child's needs. Please feel free to ask us about additional resources when necessary. 

When either registering your child at our school or withdrawing, our department will assist in making a smooth transition. Registration can occur at any time during regular school hours, but we do recommend that students begin their day with us as early as possible to help them adjust and get acclimated to Dutchtown. Please notify us within 24 hours if your child will be withdrawing from our school. 

 

Why Middle School Counselors?

Middle School Students' Developmental Needs

Middle school is an exciting, yet challenging time for students, their parents and teachers. During this passage from childhood to adolescence, middle school students are characterized by a need to explore a variety of interests, connecting their learning in the classroom to its practical application in life and work; high levels of activity coupled with frequent fatigue due to rapid growth; a search for their own unique identity as they begin turning more frequently to peers rather than parents for ideas and affirmation; extreme sensitivity to the comments from others; and heavy reliance on friends to provide comfort, understanding and approval.

Meeting the Challenge

Middle school counselors are professional educators with a mental health perspective who understand and respond to the challenges presented by today’s diverse student population. Middle school counselors do not work in isolation; rather, they are integral to the total educational program. They provide proactive leadership that engages all stakeholders in the delivery of programs and services to help students achieve success in school. Professional school counselors align with the school’s mission to support the academic achievement of all students as they prepare for the ever-changing world of the 21st century. This mission is accomplished through the design, development, implementation, and evaluation of a comprehensive, developmental, and systematic school counseling program. The ASCA National Standards in the academic, National Model: A Framework For School Counseling Programs, with its data-driven and results-based focus, serves as a guide for today’s school counselor who is uniquely trained to implement this program.

Middle School Counselors Implement the Counseling Program by Providing:

School Guidance Curriculum

• Academic skills support
• Organizational, study, and test-taking skills
• Education in understanding self and others
• Coping strategies
• Peer relationships and effective social skills
• Communication, problem-solving, decision-making and conflict resolution
• Career awareness, exploration and planning
• Substance abuse education
• Multicultural/diversity awareness

Individual Student Planning

• Goal-setting/decision-making
• Academic planning
• Career planning
• Education in understanding of self, including strengths and weaknesses
• Transition planning

Responsive Services

• Individual and small group counseling
• Individual/family/school crisis intervention
• Peer facilitation
• Consultation/collaboration
• Referrals

System Support

• Professional development
• Consultation, collaboration and teaming
• Program management and operation

Middle School Counselors Collaborate With:

Parents

• Parent information night 
• Communication/networking 
• Academic planning programs 
• Parent and family education 
• One-on-one parent conferencing 
• Assessment results interpretation 
• Resource referrals 
• College/career exploration

Teachers

• Career portfolio development 
• Assistance with students’ academic plans 
• Classroom guidance activities on study skills, career development, etc. 
• Academic support, learning style assessment and education to help students succeed academically 
• Classroom career speakers 
• At-risk student identification and implementation of interventions to enhance success 
• Parent communication/education

 

Administrators

• School climate 
• Behavioral management plans 
• School-wide needs assessment 
• Student data and results 
• Student assistance team building 
• Leadership

Students

• Peer education 
• Peer support 
• Academic support 
• School climate 
• Leadership development

Community

• Job shadowing, service learning 
• Crisis interventions 
• Referrals 
• Parenting classes 
• Support groups 
• Career education

 

Why Middle School Counselors?

Middle school students are characterized by rapid physical growth, curiosity about their world and an emerging self-identity. Through a comprehensive developmental school counseling program, counselors work as a team member with school staff, parents, and the community to create a caring, supportive climate and atmosphere whereby young adolescents can achieve academic success. Middle school counselors enhance the learning process and promote academic achievement. School counseling programs are essential for students to achieve optimal personal growth, acquire positive social skills and values, set appropriate career goals, and realize full academic potential to become productive, contributing members of the world community. The professional middle school counselor holds a master’s degree and required state certification in school counseling. Maintaining certification includes on-going professional development to stay current with education reform and challenges facing today’s students. Professional association membership is encouraged as it enhances the school counselor’s knowledge and effectiveness.

 

All students enrolled at Dutchtown Middle School may receive services from our department. Depending on the service provided, students may participate one time (e.g., individual counseling) or throughout the school year (e.g., advisement).

Students may see their grade-level counselor, social worker, or graduation coach in any of the following ways:

• Self-referral

• Parent referral

• Administrative, teacher, or staff referral

• Counselor, Social Worker, or Graduation Coach request

For self-referrals, students must receive permission from their teacher before seeking assistance. An appointment is not necessary; however, we do encourage students to be patient if the grade-level counselor, social worker, or graduation coach is meeting with another student, parent, or teacher. Because we value our students' instructional time, students may be encouraged to complete a referral form, so that the grade-level counselor, social worker, or graduation coach can call for them at a time when she is available. An immediate response is given to those in crisis. 

Parents may make referrals via email, telephone, and/or face-to-face contact at any time. Although it is not necessary to have an appointment, we do suggest that one is made to ensure that the time devoted to meeting with us is prioritized. 

 

I am thrilled to be your child's 6th-grade counselor at Dutchtown Middle School!!! 

I'm a native Georgia girl, graduating from Frederick Douglass High School in Atlanta! I received a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, a Master of Education degree in Guidance and Counseling, and an Education Specialist degree in School Counseling. I am also a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Georgia. My background in counseling began at Laurel Heights Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia. I have worked in the Henry County School District as a school counselor for 20-plus years, serving at Dutchtown Middle School since 2006.  

My passion for what I do stems from my appreciation for the support I received throughout my life. As I work with all stakeholders, my hope is to provide the same encouragement, motivating our scholars to be their personal best! Addressing your scholar's needs while supporting their academic, social/emotional, and career development is my primary focus.  

Please do not hesitate to contact me. I look forward to being a part of your scholar's successful middle school journey!!!

 

mailto:angela.davis@henry.k12.ga.us

 

 

mailto:tara.broadnax@henry.k12.ga.us

mailto:sarah.nething@henry.k12.ga.us

 

Ingrid Kelly serves as the School Social Worker at Dutchtown Middle School, where she is dedicated to supporting students’ social, emotional, and academic well-being. She works collaboratively with families, teachers, and community partners to help remove barriers to student success and to promote a safe, supportive learning environment.

Ms. Kelly provides individual and group counseling, crisis intervention, and community resource referrals. Her mission is to ensure that every student at Dutchtown Middle School feels seen, supported, and empowered to reach their fullest potential.

Families and students are encouraged to reach out to Ms. Kelly for support—she is committed to helping every child thrive.

Graduation Coach Mission:

To ensure the successful transition of all students from elementary to middle school, middle to high school, and high school to post-secondary education or work.

Role of the Graduation Coach:

To identify and provide early intervention services to students at risk of dropping out or otherwise not graduating by:

• analyzing data to identify students at-risk of dropping out.

• implementing schoolwide support interventions.

• motivating students to focus on a graduation plan.

• negotiating extra help services.

• offering academic advisement.

• providing direct student support and case management.

• developing effective transition programs.

• connecting parents and students with appropriate school and community resources.

• encouraging parent/community involvement.

mailto:sapna.patel@henry.k12.ga.us