Counselor

Counseling Services

 

• Guidance Lessons

Every three weeks, the counselor will visit your child’s classroom and teach a guidance lesson to the group. Guidance lessons are designed to help your child become successful at school and in life. These lessons are taught through books, games, group discussions, and role playing.

 

• Small groups

 Small counseling groups are offered in the fall and the spring. They bring together students who are working toward the same goal or share similar circumstances. (friendship concerns, divorce, behavior issues, bereavement, etc).

Students are chosen because a teacher or parent thinks they may benefit from and enjoy the group. Small group members meet once a week over the course of eight weeks. Students are required to obtain parental permission before attending any small counseling group.

 

• Individual Counseling

Individual counseling is available for students that are having a difficult time at home or at school.  Referrals for individual counseling may be made by staff, parents or students themselves. The counselor meets with the student to understand their needs, give support and offer constructive suggestions.

In some cases a community referral may be the best option to meet a student’s needs.

 

• Consultation

Conferences are held with parents, teachers and administrators to facilitate development of appropriate services for students.

 

• Assessment

The counselor coordinates the Credit By Exam and the identification process for Advanced Academics  (G/T) program, which includes assessing the student’s skills and organizing the components of the student’s profile. The screening procedures and guidelines for PISD Advanced Academics program can be found on the PISD website.

Resources for Parents

Wonders & Worries- An agency that offers free services to help children cope when a parent or loved-one is diagnosed with a chronic or life-threatening illness.

Wondersandworries.org (512)329-5757

STARRY, Inc.-a free counseling service available to the community which offers individual, family, and group counseling.

(512) 388-8290 (800)440-9789

Camp Brave Heart/Hospice of Austin

A summer camp for kids ages 6 to 17 who have experienced the loss of a loved one due to death. Camp Brave Heart is a three-day, two-night camp that offers recreation, creative activities, and grief support.

Hospiceaustin.org (512)342-4700 (800)445-3261

Safe Place Austin

An agency that offers free support and services to victims of domestic violence and their families. SafePlace offers a variety of services including legal help and information, emergency shelter, and counseling.

www.austin-safeplace.org (512) 267-safe/(512)267-7233/(512)927-9616 TTY 24 hours a day/24 horas al día

Enterprising Girl Scouts Beyond Bars

This is a special Girl Scout program for girls whose mother is incarcerated in Austin area detention centers, including Gatesville. Girls and their mothers participate together in traditional Girl Scout activities once a month on Saturdays, and girls participate in Girl Scouts every other Wednesday.

For more information- (512)490-2332www.gsctx.org

Other resources-

www.girlshealth.gov Giving girls the tools they need to live healthier lives. Free books and brochures for parents of girls available in counselor’s office.

www.mhatexas.org A parent’s guide to recognizing mental health disorders in young school-aged children. Free brochures are available in the counselor’s office. 

2-1-1 Texas - Call 211 for resources, information and services. www.unitedwaycapitalarea.org/gethelp

Backpack Pfriends is a partnership between our school district and the Backpack Pfriends program. Our partnership allows students to take home nutrious snacks/quick meals for the weekend. Backpack Pfriends provides the backpacks of food and we distribute to students. This program is a great resource for families that might need additional support. If you are interested in this program please reach out to Jennifer Cunningham at 512-594-5226 or jennifer.cunningham@pfisd.net. We hope to reach as many students as we can but unfortunately, space is limited.

 

For more Information visit the Backpack Friends website or feel free to reach out to the school counselor.

www.backpackfriends.com 

Important Child Safety Information:

• Until age 12, children should always ride in the backseat of the car.
• Never place a forward-faving or rear-facing infant seat in front of a passenger airbag.  If the airbag were to deploy, the impact could kill the child.
• Always follow the instructions on child safety seats, and choose apporpriate seat for your child's age, weight, and height.
• Properly installed safety seats do not move more than an inch to the front or to the sides.
• Safety harnesses should fit snugly against your child's body.  Loose safety straps should be adjusted.

Types of Child Safety Seats:

• Infant Only or Rear-Facing Convertible: 0 - 1 year old, up to 35 lbs.
• Convertible/Forward-Facing:  1 - 4 years old, 20-40 lbs
• Booster Seats:  4 - 8 years old. over 40 lbs.

 

		2020 National Child Passenger Safety Best Practice Recommendations
Phase 1	Rear-Facing Seats	Children under age 1 should always ride in a rear-facing car seat. Use a rear-facing infant or rear-facing convertible safety seat as long as possible, up to the rear-facing height or weight limit of the seat. Properly install according to instructions in owner's manual, rear-facing in the back seat.
Phase 2	Forward-facing Seats	When children outgrow the rear-facing safety seat, they should ride in a forward-facing safety seat as long as possible, up to the upper height or weight limit of the harnesses. Properly installed forward-facing in the back seat using the top tether if available. NEVER turn forward-facing before child meets all: AGE/HEIGHT/WEIGHT requirements set by safety seat manufacturer for forward-facing.
Phase 3	Booster Seats	Once the child outgrows the forward-facing car seat with a harness and depending upon maturity*, it's time to travel in a booster seat, but still in the back seat. Children can ride in a booster seat with the adult lap and shoulder belt until the adult safety belt will fit them properly. MUST have a lap/shoulder belt to use a booster seat. *Behavior maturity required according to booster seat owner's manual
Phase 4	Adult Safety Belt	Once children outgrow their booster seat they can use the adult lap/shoulder safety belt if it fits them properly according to the vehicle manufacturer's instructions. For a seat belt to fit properly the lap belt must lie snugly across the upper thighs, not the stomach. The shoulder belt should lie snug across the shoulder and chest and not cross the neck or face. Remember: your child should still ride in the back seat because it's safer there.
		Children are better protected the longer they can stay in each phase. Keep children in each seat up to the maximum age/weight/height limits before moving to the next phase. ALL children younger than age 13 years should ride properly restrained in the back seat.