Elaine Anderson:
Elaine Anderson is Creekside’s 7th and 8th grade counselor. She has been a counselor for 15 years and was part of the original Creekside staff. Ms. Anderson was chosen as Creekside’s nomination for the California League of Middle School Educator of the Year award for Region VI in 2008.
Carina Fuentes: Carina Fuentes has been the 6th grade counselor at Creekside for three years. She is bilingual in both Spanish and English. Ms. Fuentes will be heading the Creekside Mentoring Program this year.
The purpose of the guidance and counseling program at Creekside Middle School is to help each unique individual achieve self-direction, insight, andmaximum development of his/her abilities. Guidance and counseling services are made available to students in need. The program is designed to foster the students’ personal, social, physical, and emotional development.
The guidance curriculum consists of structured experiences presented systematically through classroom and group activities. The purpose of the guidance curriculum is to provide students with knowledge of normal growth and development, to promote positive mental and physical health, and to assist students to acquire and use life skills. Some of the programs that counselors offer are:
- Academic Support
Counselors provide academic support that includes study skills groups, after school homework club and tutoring referrals. - Group Counseling
Groups are organized around a variety of topics including ethnic understanding, conflict management, self-esteem, communication improvement, and study skills. - Parenting Classes
Referrals for parenting classes are offered in the evening to enhance the skills of parents while promoting self-esteem in the students. - Study Skills Classes
Workshops are conducted to help students learn organizational skills and good study habits. Counselors conduct individual planning activities that help students plan, monitor, and manage their own learning and their personal, educational, and career development. - Classroom Presentations
Counselors make classroom presentations on pertinent topics such as bullying and sexual harassment.
Counselors provide activities that meet immediate needs and concerns of students. Some of the concerns counselors are available to discuss include:
- Academic failure
Counselors review the student's progress with both the student and the parent(s). Using input from teachers, an individual plan is developed for each student such as a study plan, tutoring, special education testing, or other possible interventions. - Divorce/single parent
Divorce is difficult and many teens need to talk through some of their frustrations. Counselors provide a support for families in transition. - Grief/loss
Counselors serve as a support and a referral resource to students and families in grief/pain. - Puberty issues
Adolescence is one of the most confusing times of life. Counselors provide support and encouragement during this time, working with both students and parents. - Attendance
Some students have difficulty attending school every day. Others are frequently tardy. Sometimes attendance can signal other problems such as family illness or economic hardship. Counselors work to help get students back to school on a regular basis. - Behavior problems
Behavior problems can come from many sources. As a skilled professional, the counselor assesses what the possible cause(s) of the behavior might be and suggests possible interventions to parents, teachers, students and administrators. - Mediation
Students sometimes get into disagreements which may negatively impact education. Counselors serve as mediators as young people try to work out their differences.