Stein Hospice is offering Holiday Grief Relief 2009 on Wednesday, December 11, from 6-8 p.m. This free workshop offers tips on how grieving children can survive the holiday season. Children who attend can bake cookies, sing carols and create ornaments. There will also be a Commemoration Service at 7:30 that evening. If you are interested, please contact Hope Seavers at 625-5269.
UPDATE: Additional support and prevention of bullying…
Margaretta Elementary has approximately 650 students receiving services from the school counseling program throughout the year. The program provides necessary social-emotional guidance and educational support. During the current year, some students have reported that they fear coming to school, that they have low self-esteem, and that they are being bullied. Such reporting has occurred on a consistent basis. An additional, proactive approach is necessary in order to provide intervention for these students.
We are fortunate to have received, through a grant provided by the Sandusky-Erie County Community Foundation, funding to provide additional support services to our students, in the hope that such support will help prevent or reduce the amount of bullying at school. Mrs. Diana Webb of Bayshore Counseling, has been visiting Margaretta Elementary 4th and 5th grade students each week. Her presentations have been engaging for students and have focused on student self-esteem and cooperation with others.
During Mrs. Webb’s first visit, she asked the 4th and 5th grade students to answer questions on their feelings about the school climate and their fellow students. The student answers were overwhelmingly positive! We are looking forward to continued good things from this program.
Please contact Mrs. Wiley at school, or Mrs. Webb at Bayshore Counseling 419-626-9156 for more information.
Mrs. Heather Wiley, M.Ed.
Margaretta Elementary School Counselor
hwiley@margaretta.k12.oh.us
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What should I do if I would like my child to visit with the school counselor?
Call Mrs. Wiley at school or via email hwiley@margaretta.k12.oh.us. Please note: For academic concerns, please consult with your child’s teacher first. If further assistance is needed, contact Mrs. Wiley.
Q: What would school counseling services be like for my child?
Depending on his/her need, your child would first visit with me 1-2 times in my office. I would get to know your child, we would talk about why he/she is there and would also use games and other activities as appropriate to your child’s emotional need. Goals are set with your child to improve upon and these goals would be communicated with you.
Should your child need further assistance than 1-2 visits, then a regular appointment time would be set up weekly, or bi-weekly, for your child to visit my office. These visits do happen during classes, but this is generally not a problem. Students can make up any work missed during a visit with Mrs. Wiley.
Q: My child is concerned others will make fun of him/her for visiting a counselor. What should I do?
The students know who I am because I visit their classrooms on a regular basis. This helps them to become familiar to me and to what I do. Many students visit me with concerns, so your child should not feel alone.
Q: What if I would like my child to receive private counseling outside of school?
Mrs. Wiley has information on local agencies if this is what you prefer.
Q: I am concerned about bullying at school. What is being done to address the problem of bullying?
Mrs. Wiley visits classrooms twice a month to address many topics, including bullying. This year, through a grant from the Community Foundation, we will have additional support services in grades 4, 5, and 6. This will address the prevention of bullying. Please see also the Elementary Student Handbook for information on our Zero Tolerance Policy. More information is available by contacting Mrs. Wiley.
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