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Eric Butler Debbie DeBettencourt
508-627-3316 ext.246 508-627-3316 ext.209
ebutler at mvyps.org deborah_debettencourt at mvyps.org
Announcing the start of monthly Support Group meetings for families/significant others of those suffering from the effects of a mental illness.
When: the first Sunday of each month at 6:00pm
Where: Daybreak Clubhouse, 457B State Road, Tisbury
Who: two NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) family members
How: will lead a support group based on a NAMI national model with an established agenda, principles, guidelines and emotional responses
Why: to provide support to the participants and allow everyone to have a chance to be heard
No advance notice is needed to attend.
Joy
Joyce Ganapol, LICSW
Senior Clinical Advisor
Martha's Vineyard Community Services
111 Edgartown Road
Vineyard Haven, MA 02568
508 693 7900 x 242
GUIDANCE COUNSELORS’ LETTER
August 20, 2010
Dear Parents,
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, Sue Costello, 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. In eighth grade, Bob returns to lead students through team building exercises ending with the ropes course.
Individual and group counseling is available to all students. Some students meet to help process classroom, playground and friendship issues. Topic groups can be 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 an appointment(s) 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.
We consult with classroom teachers when concerns are raised about a students learning or emotional success. 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.
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