Polk County School Counselors took advantage of attending the Florida School Counseling Association Conference in November. Kicking off the morning, FLDOE deputy chancellor Paul Burns spoke and stressed the importance of counselors working with all students to provide mental health wellness. This conference provided them with multiple professional development sessions and the chance to network with fellow professionals in counseling. Counselors left revitalized and ready to use their new counseling techniques to Build Better Humans!

Take a look below at all the ways counselors are impacting students!

2019 Florida School Counseling Conference in Orlando Florida

(left to right) Candace Shim-Scott Lake Elementary, Laurncille Anderson-Ben Hill Griffin Elementary, Deidre Skaggs-Senior Coordinator Elementary School Counseling, Veronica Kirby-TRST Elementary Schol Counseling, Lavieria Nottage-Dos Santos-Chain of Lakes Elementary

During their Sanford Harmony Meet-Up 4th graders at Medulla Eementary class did a friendship web and told something they liked about a classmate. The kids loved it so much they asked their teacher to take pictures!

56 kids at Polk City Elementary had a great Christmas thanks to the generosity of Polk City. Spearheaded by school counselor Karen Borg, families in need were adopted by staff and community partners to provide toys and essential items for the holiday. "Our community really rallies and pulls together for the kids and I am so thankful and grateful to have been a small part in making some kids' Christmas a little brighter!!" -Mrs Borg

At Sandhill Elementary we celebrated Kindness Week early to get into the spirit of the Holidays and giving. Each day represented a different kindness theme that was written on teacher's boards for the students, the staff board for staff, and announced each day over the intercom. During Kindness Week we also had our monthly Crane assembly where we discussed kindness and that day's theme. The students wrote letters, made cards, and placemats for multiple senior citizen homes in the surrounding area. These were then delivered by some of our teachers. Ms. Lewis created a newsletter for families to let them know each day's theme and what their child would be learning. The newsletter also included December and year-long kindness challenges for students and families to complete. As a school, we had so much fun, and we are going to continue a kindness theme once a week for the rest of the school year!

Dr. Lorine Smith, Eastside Elementary school counselor, started a mentoring group called Girl’s Empowerment for 3rd-5th grade girls. Dr. Smith matched 27 selected students with Eastside staff that have volunteered their time to be a mentor. Bi-monthly meetings are held with different focus topics. November 21, 2019 was Career Day for the Group. In attendance was a Mental Health Professional, Registered Nurse and an Assitant Branch manager from Citizens Bank and Trust. These community partners spoke to the girls about their professions and the education and skills necessary for these careers. Presenters stressed the importance of doing your best now in elementary. They discussed how reading and mathematics play a part in all professions as well as the social skills needed for obtaining and retaining a job. Girls also learned about saving money for their future. Students were able to ask questions about each profession and were very excited to talk to the presenters and learn more about life after high school and college.

Purcell Elementary celebrated Red Ribbon week in style! The week started out with all students signing a pledge to be drug-free. Throughout the week students dressed up showcasing their successful future careers. Purcell also took this week as an opportunity to give back to those less fortunate by hosting a canned food drive.

School Counselor Trena Mewborn has been using the book Breathe with Me by Mariam Gates to help her students self-regulate by teaching them different types of breathing techniques. Ms. Mewborn recently found a companion video that guides you through each technique.

Check it out in the video below!

Elementary School Counseling Services

Email: deidre.skaggs@polk-fl.net
Website: https://polkschoolsfl.com/schoolcounseling/
Location: 1925 South Floral Avenue, Bartow, FL, USA
Phone: (863)534-0018
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/polkcountypublicschools
Twitter: @polkschoolsnews