Counselor Connections
August 2024
FAMILY RESOURCE EVENT - Thursday, August 22nd from 8:30-10:30 AM or 5:30-6:30 PM
OPEN HOUSE - Thursday, August 29th from 4:00-5:00 PM
During this time you can sign your student up for different programs to help the beginning of their school year be succesful:
- Exchange Club (Winter Coats/Winter Boots)
- Running Shoes
- Weekend Food Packs
- Backpacks
- School Supplies
- Angel Fund forms will be available in October
You can also use this time to check in with me and ask any questions you have concerning the counseling department at Smith Elementary.
Meet the Counselor
My name is Starsha Frederickson (Mrs. Fred) and I am the school counselor at Smith Elementary. I have been working in the school setting for 13 years in grades preschool through 9th grade. This is my third year at Smith and I LOVE my job! As a counselor, I am passionate about the social and emotional health of children and the success of all our students.
As the school counselor, I help out in many ways. Please contact me if there is something I can do to assist your child in being successful at school.
COUNSELOR SUPPORT
Counselors DO:
- Problem-Solve with students
- Find resources when a student has a need at school or home
- Teach coping skills
- Help students stay safe
- Listen and Care
Counselors DON'T:
- Judge
- Punish
- Provide long-term individual counseling
Reasons to See the Counselor
Here are a few reasons for seeing the school counselor.
o Worried about something (school, family, work)
o Want help making choices or solving a problem
o Having trouble with another kid or adult
o Need help focusing in class
o Confused about something
o Big changes in their life
o Concerned about something overheard at school or home
o Saw somebody getting hurt
o Somebody is hurting student
o Feel like hurting themselves
o Want to help others
Confidentiality
Everything a student says in the counseling office is confidential UNLESS:
- Someone is hurting the student
- The student wants to hurt someone else
- The student wants to hurt themselves
"Under Montana law, if any school staff member has reasonable cause to suspect that a child is being abused or neglected, it remains that individual's obligation to see that the situation is reported to the Child Abuse Hotline." - dphhs.mt.gov
Support for Students
For all programs below, please contact the office or school counselor.
The Helena Food Share partners with schools across Helena to provide food packs each weekend for students in need. This service begins a few weeks after school starts and runs throughout the entire school year. The office and school counselor have the application for receiving food packs.
Stuff the Bus provides school supplies for those students in financial need.
The Helena Police Department provides running shoes for those students in financial hardship. This program runs throughout the school year. The office and school counselor have the application for running shoes.
Angel Fund provides vouchers for students to shop for school clothes. Applications will be available in October with 4 weeks for families to shop.
The Exchange Club provides snow boots and winter coats to students in financial need.