Counseling and Guidance in the Lower School
Kacey Farrell
Contact: farrellk@thewalkerschool.org
The Lower School counselor works closely with the students, teachers and parents to form a team to support all students as they grow through the stages of development appropriate to the six to eleven year old child. The counselor provides individual supportive counseling for students and assistance to parents and teachers as they interact with the students.
In addition the counselor provides programs for small interest groups such as those on loss and friendships and for classroom lessons that explore issues of concern for the grade level and enhance the character virtues emphasized by the school (respect, integrity, etiquette, compassion, commitment, honesty, equality, responsibility, and gratitude). As the chairman of the TOPS (Teachers Offering Professional Support) Committee, the counselor and a small group of teachers work together to brainstorm techniques for assisting students who are experiencing great challenges of some kind. Students new to Walker are a primary focus of the counselor during the first quarter of the year. The counselor meets with the new students by grade level and individually as requested. The request for a student to talk with the counselor can be originated by the student, the parent, or one of the teachers.
Confidentiality
Confidentiality is an important aspect of the work of a counselor. Communication (verbal and/or written) between a student and the counselor is confidential unless first waived by the student. Exceptions include information regarding danger to self or others or abuse of a child. Legally and ethically, confidentiality must be broken in such instances and all relevant parties notified with, whenever possible, the knowledge of the student. When confidentiality must be breeched and when appropriate, students are given the choice to disclose information directly (with the counselor present) or to have the counselor make the disclosure.
The counselor maintains a strong relationship with the other members of the Lower School faculty, as well as the school’s Counseling Department and cultivates the same within the community in order to be aware of resources that could be of value to the Walker community, particularly the students. The Counseling Department’s Lunch and Learn series of brown bag lunches is researched and organized by the counselor of the Lower School. These lunches, which are held several times during the school year, feature a guest speaker who focuses on a specific topic of interest and concern to parents.
It is the goal of the counseling department to support the mission of the school by enabling the students to reach their highest potential academically, socially, and emotionally. The goal can be accomplished best when the parents, faculty, and counselor work in a cooperative manner as the support team for the students.
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