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 to Guidance 
Eric Butler Debbie DeBettencourt
508-627-3316 ext.246 508-627-3316 ext.209
ebutler at mvyps.org ddebettencourt at mvyps.org
GUIDANCE COUNSELORS’ LETTER
August 12, 2008
Dear Parents,
This school year will be somewhat different in the Guidance Department as Barbara Bernstein will no longer be a part of the team after seven years at the Edgartown School. Barbara has moved on to the West Tisbury School and Debbie DeBettencourt will now be working full time in Edgartown.
The following is a brief description of the Guidance Department Services offered at The Edgartown School. On the reverse side of this letter is an outline of these services to help show and explain how we work throughout the school. Students are divided into two grade categories (K-4, 5-8). Please take a look at this outline to see what service you and your child have available to you now and in the coming years.
In the Edgartown School, students at every level have the opportunity to participate in classroom guidance addressing issues such as conflict resolution, relationships (peer, teacher, family), stress, discrimination, and decision making. Health issues are also discussed in this format, age-appropriately addressing safety, disease and illness, smoking, hygiene, puberty and nutrition. These lessons are taught either weekly in a co-teaching format with our health teacher or by us separately in the classroom.
Our counseling program is supplemented in the fall of sixth grade, when we go with the students on a four day / three night trip to Alton Jones Environmental Education Center for outdoor education and team building. During the 6th Grade the students are also able to participate in the D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) Program taught by Bob Ogden of the Dukes County Sheriff’s Department.
Individual and group counseling is available to all students. Some groups meet to help process classroom and playground issues. Others are specific topic groups created to help work on the feelings following separation, divorce and remarriage, being new to the school, social deficits and grieving. Referrals are made by parent, teacher and/ or student requests. Students are met with on an as need basis, which may mean a one-time meeting or an ongoing weekly/bi-weekly schedule. Sometimes students invite a friend(s) to come to the counseling office with them either for support or to help resolve an issue. We will be in contact with you if concerns about your child have been raised.
Parents are encouraged to schedule conferences with the guidance staff throughout the year to discuss concerns related to student learning styles, behaviors in and out of school, stages of development (ranging from separation issues in kindergarten to adolescence) and personal issues that are getting in the way of student achievement. As members of your child’s educational team we can help make recommendations which may include: behavior modification programs; in school counseling; referrals to outside counseling; parent meetings, groups and classes; educational testing; emotional testing; and/or psychological testing.
Consultation with classroom teachers is important for us as teachers see the daily successes and frustrations that students encounter. Classroom and student observations help us to get a fuller picture of students in order to help them achieve their potential.
Hopefully this gives you a good picture of the guidance services offered at The Edgartown School and explains how we function as part of your child’s educational team. Please feel free to contact us with any questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Eric E. Butler Deborah DeBettencourt
Guidance Counselor Guidance Counselor
EEB:DD/pjm
GUIDANCE SERVICES
--- Getting along w/parents/teachers
*** Group Counseling --- Separation/Divorce/Remarriage --- Friendship/Social Issues
--- New Students
*** Individual Counseling --- Death and Loss
--- Safety
STUDENTS K-4 *** Health and Guidance --- Smoking
--- Disaeses
*** Classroom Guidance --- Conflict Resolution
--- Decision Making
--- Friendship
*** Kindergarten Adjustment --- Separation Issues
--- Smoking
--- Making/Keeping Friends
*** Fifth Grade Life Skills --- Peer Pressure
--- Growth and Development
--- Bullying
--- Discrimination
*** Sixth Grade Counseling --- D.A.R.E.
--- Conflict Resolution
--- Social Skills
--- Communication
STUDENTS 5-8 *** Seventh Grade Counseling --- Decision Making/Peer Pressure
--- Marijuana/Alcohol
--- Advertising
--- Eating Disorders
*** Eighth Grade Counseling --- High School/Career Planning
--- Relationships/Dating
--- Ropes Course
--- AIDS/STD’s
--- Sexual Harassment
--- Discrimination
--- Dating Violence
--- CPR
--- Parenting Information/Books
*** Referral Resource --- Parenting Workshops
--- Out of School Counseling
*** Parent Teacher Conferences
PARENTS *** Behavior Modification Programs/Token Economy
*** High School/Career Planning
*** Special Education Team Members
*** Participate in Grade/Core Meetings
TEACHERS *** Class/Student Observation/Consultation
*** Facilitate Problem Solving Teams
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