Idylwild Elementary
School Counseling
Program
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School Counselor: Beverly B. Edwards, Ed.D.
I hope that you find this
web page helpful in learning what I do and how as a school counselor I provide
support to students, staff and parents here at Idylwild. I feel privileged to
work with your children and welcome any questions or comments.
The mission
of our School Counseling program is to empower all students to become
responsible and productive members of society through the delivery of a
proactive and comprehensive program that promotes academic, social-emotional
and career development.
The elementary school grades are the most
formative school years. During these years children build a foundation for
lifelong learning, self-awareness, and interpersonal skills. As children progress through elementary
school, they move from childhood to the pre-teen stage, changing from being
self-focused to developing an awareness of others. They begin learning how to cooperate, solve
problems, develop responsibility, and form friendships. As an elementary school counselor, I am
trained in understanding child development and in offering comprehensive
programs to enhance the success of our students during these formative years.
As An Elementary
Counselor, I help all children to be successful in school by:
Helping children develop
self-confidence.
Helping children develop social skills.
Helping children learn problem solving
skills.
Helping children feel safe in a
friendly, nurturing environment.
Being an accepting, helpful person to
whom children can turn.
Provide individual and small group
counseling.
Conducting guidance class visits
As An Elementary
Counselor, I help school staff by:
Working with the instructional Support
Team.
Providing a longitudinal view of each
child.
Being a resource through the
consultative process.
Providing resource materials.
Being a liaison between home and
school.
Work with the Instructional Support
Team.
As
An Elementary Counselor, I help parents by:
Counseling with parents.
Advising parents of strategies for school
support.
Providing resource materials.
Helping parents understand
developmental growth of children.
Parents Are Important To Student Success
Some actions that parents can take to promote school success
are:
* Communicate with school staff to be aware of homework assignments
* Review
your child’s homework
* Encourage your child to be friends with positive role models
* Try to do something
enjoyable with your child at least once a week
* Set clear expectations for children about homework
* Get
acquainted with your child’s teachers
* Monitor where your child goes / information keeps your child out of trouble
* Communicate
with school staff when there is a concern with the school
* Attend school functions such as conferences, programs and athletic events
* Encourage
children to participate in school-related after-school activities
* Set
aside a time when the whole family reads
* Encourage children to talk about school, social activities and their
interests
* Teach
standards of right and wrong and demonstrate these standards
* Provide a quiet place where your child can study
* Support
school discipline policies
* Talk to your child about tobacco, drugs, alcohol, gangs and violence
* Monitor
your child’s choices of TV programs, video games and music
Community
Resources that may be helpful to parents:
Alachua County Division of social Services, (352)264-6750
http://www.alachua.fl.us
Alachua County Health Department, (352)334-7941
http://www/doh.state.fl.us/chdAlachua/
Alachua County Healthy Kids/Kid Care, (352)955-7671
hughesp@sbac.edu
Big Brother Big Sisters of Mid Florida, (352)375-2525
http://www.bbbsmidflorida.org
Child Advocacy Center, (352)376-9191
http://www.childadvocacycentergainesville.org
Children's Medical Services, (352)334-1400
http://www.doh.,state.flus/cms/index.html
Corner Drug Store, Counseling Services, (352)334-3800
http://www.cornerdrugstore.org
Family Crisis Intervention Team, Counseling Services(352)374-5600
http://www.mbhci.org