Counselors' Corner

Introduction

The counseling program at Big Shanty Intermediate School has been founded on the belief that the school counseling program should be an integral part of students’ daily educational environment and that school counselors are partners in student achievement.  The purpose of the counseling program is to impart specific skills and learning opportunities in a proactive and preventative manner.  To ensure the success of the program, we have adopted the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) National Model.  This model supports the school’s overall mission by promoting academic achievement, career planning and personal/social development. 

The Big Shanty Intermediate counseling program is designed to assist all students in achieving to their fullest potential.  It is a developmental program that is directly and indirectly involved with students, parents, staff, administration, and community resources. 

The counseling program at Big Shanty Intermediate School has been founded on the belief that the school counseling program should be an integral part of students’ daily educational environment and that school counselors are partners in student achievement.  The purpose of the counseling program is to impart specific skills and learning opportunities in a proactive and preventative manner.  To ensure the success of the program, we have adopted the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) National Model.  This model supports the school’s overall mission by promoting academic achievement, career planning and personal/social development. 

The Big Shanty Intermediate counseling program is designed to assist all students in achieving to their fullest potential.  It is a developmental program that is directly and indirectly involved with students, parents, staff, administration, and community resources. 

End of Year!

We are so excited for summer vacation to begin.  We wish you all a wonderful and safe summer!

Student Council's Used Book Sale raised $337.19.  We now have a total of $693.59 towards our basketball goal for the school.  We hope to raise $350 next year to purchase the post and basketball goal.  Thanks to all the students, teachers, and parents who supported this project!

We have had a great school year and look forward to seeing you back for 2009-2010!

Transition Updates

Our 5th graders are getting all ready for middle school!  Registration forms went home this week and the updated immunization forms are coming in.  Palmer MS visited with their rising students in March and Awtrey will be here May 6th.  Please remember that Awtrey Parent Night is May 11th and Palmer's Parent Night is May 5th.  Keep those immunization forms coming in!

Our 3rd grade teachers are looking forward to welcoming our upcoming 3rd graders for next school year.  Second grade parents night will be Thursday, May 7th, in Big Shanty's cafeteria from 6:00 until 6:45.  Please join us for a tour of the school as well as a question and answer session with our powerpoint.  We look forward to meeting our new students and parents.

April Update

 Happy Spring!  Along with all of the pollen and allergies, the CRCT has arrived!  It has come upon us quickly this year.  As usual, please keep in mind the following when helping your child prepare for the CRCT:

1)  Students need to get plenty of sleep during testing week.
2)  Please make sure students have a healthy breakfast.
3)  Students need to be here every day and on time (testing will begin promptly at 8:15!)
4)  Help your child to cope with any test anxiety that may be appearing.  Students need to think positive thoughts and have take deep breaths!

December Update

We want to extend a Big Shanty "thank you" to many people who have worked diligently with us to help 18 families have a brighter holiday!

Kennesaw First Baptist Church contributed $400 in Publix gift cards for our Thanksgiving and Winter Holiday baskets for the families.  The ladies Sunday School class also made stockings for the children we helped this year.

North Star Church adopted families from our school to help during the holidays.  They also prepared lunch for the Shop with a Warrior program at North Cobb High School which some of our students attended.  Many Kennesaw businesses made contributions to this project so that each child received $100 to shop for family members.

Our Student Council did a fabulous job with our canned food drive.  Students collected 2,838 cans!  Ms. Phillips/Ms. Milton's classroom won a pizza party for collecting 272 cans!!  In fact, we were able to donate our extra cans to Summit Baptist Church's food pantry.

Mike Chester, manager of Publix, also gave us a 10% discount on fresh groceries we needed for our food baskets.

Of course, we cannot thank our wonderful PTA community outreach committee enough.  Shawn Morrill had Publix shoppers as well as Target and Wal-mart shoppers to make our Angel Tree gifts were complete.  Thank you, Shawn!

We hope all our Angles and Elves have time to slow down and enjoy the holidays!

September Update

We would like to say a special thank you to Mr. Joe Raymond from Office Max for donating some supplies to our teachers.  Our teachers always get excited for those little extras! 

Throughout this month we will be conducting hearing and vision screenings for all 4th grade students as well as any students new to Cobb County.  We do not notify parents if the student passes both screenings, only if they do not pass.  Please make sure your child brings their glasses to school every day. 

August Update

We are already nearing the end of the 3rd week of school and we just can't believe it.  We have had a great beginning! 

We want to say a very special thank you to Kennesaw First Baptist Church for donating school supplies to Big Shanty again this year.  They provided us with 20 brand new backpacks full of school supplies.  We are so thankful to our community members and their generous donations.

We are looking forward to seeing all of you next week at Open House (September 4th 6:30 - 8 PM).

Welcome Back!!

We are so excited to see some familiar and new faces around the halls of Big Shanty!  We have missed our students over the summer and are looking forward to the 2008-2009 school year. 

Mrs. Webster will continue to work with 3rd grade this year and Mrs. Bogda will remain as the 4th and 5th grade counselor.  Our school has certainly grown as we now have 17 third grade classes, 11 fourth grade classes and 11 fifth grade classes!  We will begin visiting all classes very soon for monthly guidance lessons.

Philosophical Statement

     The counselors of Big Shanty Intermediate School believe:

·                    All students have dignity and worth.

·                    All students have the right to participate in the school counseling program.

·                    All students' ethnic, cultural, and racial differences and special needs are considered in planning and implementing the school counseling program.

·                     All students shall have access to a full-time, state-certified, master's-degree-level school counselor to deliver the counseling program.

And that the Big Shanty Intermediate School counseling program should:

·                    Be based on the Cobb County School District's school counseling curriculum as well as developmental student competencies

·                    Be planned and coordinated with school personnel, parents, and community representatives

·                    Utilize the many combined resources of the community.

And that all school counselors shall:

·                    Abide by the professional ethics of guidance and counseling as advocated by the American School Counselor Association

·                    Participate in professional development activities essential to maintain a quality school counseling program.

     The counselors of Big Shanty Intermediate School believe:

·                    All students have dignity and worth.

·                    All students have the right to participate in the school counseling program.

·                    All students' ethnic, cultural, and racial differences and special needs are considered in planning and implementing the school counseling program.

·                     All students shall have access to a full-time, state-certified, master's-degree-level school counselor to deliver the counseling program.

And that the Big Shanty Intermediate School counseling program should:

·                    Be based on the Cobb County School District's school counseling curriculum as well as developmental student competencies

·                    Be planned and coordinated with school personnel, parents, and community representatives

·                    Utilize the many combined resources of the community.

And that all school counselors shall:

·                    Abide by the professional ethics of guidance and counseling as advocated by the American School Counselor Association

·                    Participate in professional development activities essential to maintain a quality school counseling program.

Mission Statement

Our mission as school counselors is to provide a comprehensive counseling program that will assist all students in acquiring the skills, knowledge, and attitudes needed to become effective students, responsible citizens, and lifelong learners.

Mrs. Tracy Bogda

Mrs. Bogda is the counselor for 4th and 5th Grades.  She graduated from the University of Richmond with a degree in psychology and received her masters in Counseling from the University of North Carolina, Charlotte.  This is her 5th year working as a school counselor.