School Counselor Connection

Message from the Grant School Guidance Counselor

Here, you can find information about our school guidance counseling program, upcoming counseling-related activities and events, and counseling topics and resources. I have over 25 years of experience being a school guidance counselor. I’m also a licensed marriage and family therapist. I have supervised school counseling graduate volunteers who have assisted me in running the lunchtime support groups and facilitating college/career lessons in the classrooms. I am honored to be your child’s guidance counselor and I look forward to building a partnership with you in helping your child be successful at Grant Elementary School!

Colleen Thompson
PPS School Counselor
LMFT # 86224

Hours:  Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, & Thursday,  8 a.m.–3 p.m.
Office: Main hallway
Email: cmthompson@grantschoolcougars.com
Phone (530)243-0561 Ext. 153

Goals and Beliefs of the School Guidance Counselor:

• Promote positive development in the academic, career, and personal/social domains of ALL students at Grant Elementary School.
• Foster a school environment of safety, support, and positive learning.
• Enable teachers, parents, and administrators to work together for the best interest of the students.
• Create caring individuals who leave the school with the desire to help others and make a difference in the world.
• Support the value that every student has the right to be respected and to benefit from the guidance counseling program.

As a school guidance counselor, I perform the following roles in order to promote positive development in academic, career, and personal/social domains:

1. Individual counseling.
2. Small group support—Lunch Bunch/Friendship/DC4Kids.
3. Classroom guidance—Second Step and college/career guidance.
4. Attend and participate in academic intervention meetings.
5. Observe students in various school environments.
6. Consult and collaborate with parents, teachers, administrators, social workers, and students.
7. Respond to school crises or emergency situations.
8. Provide information and resources to parents on a variety of issues.

Please take a moment to read the information on this page to learn more about what your school guidance counselor is doing at Grant Elementary School.

Reasons PARENTS might want to talk to a school guidance counselor:

1. “Isabella is so disorganized.”
2. “Bobby does not want to go to school.”
3. ‘There are changes I see in Juan. Is this normal?”
4. “Lee said she is being picked on at recess.”
5. “Sue says she has no friends.”
6. “Sonya is having a difficult time sleeping at night.”
7. “Can you talk to Anna about college and career planning?”
8. “I’m worried about Trevor because…”

Reasons TEACHERS or ADMINISTRATORS might want to talk to a school guidance counselor: 

1. “I need help teaching my students to work cooperatively in groups.”
2. “Kevin is absent a lot.”
3. “Sara has a hard time paying attention and is disorganized.”
4. “Rumor-spreading is interfering with class time.”
5. “Sammy cannot sit still.”
6. “Something has changed with Gina. Can you talk with her?”

Reasons a STUDENT might want to talk to a school guidance counselor:

1. “I’m being teased a lot.”
2. “No one will play with me at recess.”
3. “There is a club at recess and they won’t let me in it.”
4. “My parents might be getting a divorce and I can’t stop thinking about  it.”
5. “My dog died and I miss him.”
6. “My best friend is playing with someone else.”
7. “He/she just ignores me and is mean to me.”
8. “The bus is so noisy; I don’t want to ride on it.”
9. “I don’t like to eat in the cafeteria.”

Great Website Resources for Parents:

Child Development:
http://www.sandbox-learning.com/default.asp?page=105

Parenting:
http://www.empoweringparents.com
http://csefel.vanderbilt.edu/resources/parent/mod6/family_routine_guide.pdf
http://www.printablechecklists.com/checklist119.shtml
http://screamfree.com/about-us/

Internet Safety:
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/privacy-and-internet-safety
http://www.connectsafely.org

Character Education:
http://www.secondstep.org
http://www.bucketfillers101.com
https://www.kidpower.org/library/article/prevent-bullying/

College/Career:
https://www.californiacolleges.edu
http://www.cacareerzone.org

Special Needs:
http://www.chadd.org
http://do2learn.com/activities/SocialSkills/index.html

Study Skills:
http://www.how-to-study.com

Transitioning to Middle School
http://pbskids.org/itsmylife/school/middleschool

Grant Guidance Counseling Forms:

• Grant Guidance Counseling Brochure
• Counseling Permission Slip
• Lunchtime Groups Permission Slip
• Second Step Parent Information

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