Counseling Staff
The Role of Our School Counselor
A school counselor works effectively with students, parents, staff, and community members in order to ensure academic, career, and personal/ social success for every student.
- Available to ALL students
- Meets individually with students who are in need of social, emotional, and academic support.
- Facilitates various small groups throughout the year, in which common topics are explored in a confidential setting (When possible).
- Visits classrooms in order to discuss important student issues to ensure academic, career, and personal success.
- Collaborates with community members in order to develop programs to support the needs of students and families.
- Offers support to students, parents, and staff
School Case Manager
Rootstown Elementary School Case Management (SCM) is offered through Children’s Advantage. Our School Case Manager is Rachel Bishop.
Delivery
Mrs. Shepherd meets the needs of the school and students through a variety of methods. Some of the main ways she interacts with and meets the needs of students and families is through classroom guidance lessons, individual counseling, small group counseling, and parent meetings.
Classroom Guidance Lessons
Throughout the year, Mrs. Shepherd visits every class during a classroom session to teach a lesson that corresponds with with the overall topic for the year. In addition, a letter is sent home after each lesson to describe what was discussed and the activities that were completed.
Rovers ‘R’: Respectful, Responsible, Role Models (PBIS); The basis for the PBIS framework is allowing students to know what behaviors and actions are expected of them in every area of the school day. When students display these behaviors and expectations, they are positively rewarded through earning an R-Card and any other rewards his or her teacher may supply.
Parent Meetings
You can schedule a time to meet Mrs. Shepherd by calling
330.325.2011 or emailing her at shepherd@roversk12.org.
Mrs. Shepherd is also available during regularly scheduled parent-teacher conferences and you may request her presence at the meeting also.
**Trust is an essential component in any counseling relationship, and confidentiality creates that trust**
Individual Counseling
Mrs. Shepherd meets with students on a variety of issues throughout the day and the year. If I child wishes to see Mrs. Shepherd they must inform their teacher who will submit a counselor referral form. Students must wait for Mrs. Shepherd to come ask for them from class.
Parents may call, e-mail, or write a note to the counselor if they wish for their child to meet with her.
*Please note that these sessions with Mrs. Shepherd (or any school counselor) do not replace therapy with a mental health professional.
Group Counseling
Various small group counseling topics are covered throughout the school year. The group sessions are held in the privacy of the counseling office and usually meet for approximately 6-7 sessions during your child’s lunch. Group Experiences that are offered throughout the year include:
- Friendship Club* (social skills building)
- Banana Splits* (Divorce/separated/changing families)
- Good Cope* (identifying emotions, triggers, and coping skills, Zones of Regulation)
- Worry Busters* (Stress and anxiety management)
*as participation allows/is requested
Red Flags
Our district has adopted and implemented the “Red Flags” program. This program provides a framework of knowledge for students, staff, and parents on what positive mental health is and how to work towards achieving it. This program has been successful in reducing the consequences of long term undiagnosed mental illness in children through early recognition and treatment. In the elementary building, students in the 5th grade participate in a series of lessons that focus on what it means to be mentally well. These lessons also focus on the signs and symptoms of depression, which is known to be a significant factor in suicide attempts and completions.
Depression Signs
Most children feel sad and low every once in a while, but these feelings usually pass in a few days. Untreated depression, however, lasts for a long time and interferes with day-to-day activity.
What to Watch For:
- Anger, irritability & agitation are typical
- Deep feelings of sadness and hopelessness
- Anxiety and fearfulness
- Physical complaints: headaches, stomachaches
- Withdrawal from family & friends
- Loss of interest/pleasure in activities
- Extreme sensitivity to rejection & failure
- Low self-esteem, guilt, feel worthless
- Trouble concentrating & making decisions
- Loss of energy/increased fatigue
- Insomnia or oversleeping
- Changes in appetite & weight (up or down)
When to Worry:
All parents might see any of these symptoms in their children on occasion. It is time to seek professional help when:
- Multiple symptoms appear
- Over a long period of time
- Symptoms are interfering with the child’s ability to function: refusal to go to school, personal hygiene, grades, lack of friends, troubled relationships, running away, self injury, substance abuse
- Child talks about wanting to die and has thoughts of suicide
If you are concerned about your child, contact your family physician, child’s teacher and/or school counselor, and call one of the following agencies (or any counseling agency of your choice):
Children’s Advantage: 330.296.5552
Coleman Professional Services: 330.296.3555