Role of the Counselor

Mrs. Zimmon provides students with the necessary tools to reach their fullest potential in the areas of academic, career, and personal/social development.

Confidentiality Notice:

Mrs. Zimmon’s counseling services are strictly confidential. My office is a safe place for students/guardians/teachers to express concerns. However, if a student is in danger, I will report it to the necessary personnel.

Counseling Services

Individual Counseling: I am here to listen to student concerns. Meeting with students one-on-one is based upon teacher, parent/guardian, or self-referrals. I am available for short-term counseling and on-going monitoring of students. If students are in need of long-term counseling, I can help provide parents/guardians with information about local resources.

Small Group Counseling: Small groups are for several students within the same grade level. A needs assessment is distributed at the beginning of the year to identify topics that students are interested in talking about. Students are invited to be a part of the group depending on the topic of interest and parent/guardian permission is required. Groups are usually for 6-10 weeks and are held during lunch. Some of the topics for groups include anger management, healthy body image, friendships, study skills, etc.

Classroom Guidance Lessons: I work with classroom teachers in providing lessons to students on certain topics. Some of the lessons include an introduction to school counseling, career exploration, bully prevention, etc.

Crisis Counseling: I work with students who are self-harming, threatening suicide, talking about an abusive home-life, threatening to hurt someone else, etc. If faculty and staff are aware of students who are experiencing any of these challenges, they are instructed to let me or an administrator know right away. I am also on-call for any instances that occur beyond the school day with NFMS students and families.

Mediation: Mediation is held when two or more students are having conflicts that are interfering with their school day. This service is offered to help these students come up with solutions to the situation so that they can move forward in a positive way.

Consultation/Collaboration: I am here to provide support not only to the students, but also to those who are taking care of the students. I consult will many individuals in order to better assist a child. These individuals include: parents/guardians, teachers, administrators, school staff, other professional counselors, community resources, etc.

Plan and Implement School-Wide Events:
Including Red Ribbon Week, Anti-Bullying Campaigns, Kick Butts Week, and other awareness weeks.

Meetings: I attend a variety of meetings in order to stay well informed about things that are happening around the school. These include: grade levels, related arts ILT, office meetings, child study, special education meetings, faculty meetings, etc.

New Students: When new students are enrolled at NFMS, I make their schedule and communicate this to teachers. I also greet the student on their first day of school, give them a tour, and introduce them to a friend. In addition, I check on them throughout the day and during the first week to make sure the transition is as smooth as possible.

Scheduling: In the spring, I schedule grade-wide presentations regarding course registration. I also give a presentation to 5th graders at the elementary school regarding middle school transition and course selection. I assist with 6th grade orientation and organize the tour component of the visit. I work with administration in developing and updating the master schedule, help assess placement of students in classes, and use PowerSchool to electronically schedule students. In addition, I address schedule change requests.

GATE Interviewer: The Gifted and Talented Education teacher will give me names of students to interview when they are going through the qualification process. I meet with students on an individual basis and conduct the interview. I also am a member of the GATE selection committee.

Holiday Assistance: I organize Thanksgiving Assistance (food items) and Holiday Assistance (gifts and hygiene products) throughout the months of November and December.

Other Duties: Assist with afternoon pick-up, process paperwork from community agencies, maintain the clothes closet and lost n' found, assist with Luke's Backpacks program, assist with Valley Scholars program, organize and implement Triplett Tech Field Trip for 8th grade and Worlds of Work (WOW) Field Trip for 7th grade, inform 8th graders about Employment Certificates, handle transfer grades for incoming students, award the President's Education Award to 8th graders at graduation, "school board" member for the Family Youth Initiative, etc!