MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of Centerville Elementary
School’s Counseling Department is to assist the school in providing support to
inspire teachers and students to achieve their maximum potential. The
counseling program is a part of the total school program and complements
learning by being class-centered, preventative, and developmental.
The Counseling Department will provide a
comprehensive, developmental guidance program aimed at teaching academic,
career-oriented, and personal and social skills that will lead to all students becoming
motivated learners who perform at their personal best.
STATEMENT OF PHILOSOPY
The counselors at Centerville Elementary School believe:
- All students can learn
- All students have worth and should be treated with dignity
- All students should have access to learning experiences that are developmentally appropriate, grounded in theory and best practices, and aimed at optimal academic, emotional, and social development regardless of their differences or special needs
- All students should have access to a comprehensive, developmental school counseling program in which goals for academic, career, and personal and social development are attained.
CENTERVILLE COUNSELORS
The Centerville Elementary School Counseling Department consists of one full-time counselor, Cindy Osborn, and one half-time counselor, Elizabeth Miller. Mrs. Osborn received her Master’s degree in School Counseling and Community Counseling from East Tennessee State University in 2006 and her Specialist in School Counseling from The University of Georgia in 2009. She has been a full-time counselor here at Centerville for the last five years and works with 1st, 3rd, 4th & 5th Grades.
Mrs. Miller received her Master’s degree in Community Counseling from The University of
Georgia in 2005 and her Specialist in School Counseling in 2006. She works with Kindergarten and Second Grade here at Centerville.
Support and resources are always available to parents.
You may contact Mrs. Osborn by calling (678) 639-3722 or emailing at cindy_osborn@gwinnett.k12.ga.us.
You may contact Mrs. Miller by calling (678) 639-3721 or emailing at
elizabeth_b_miller@gwinnett.k12.ga.us.
OUR SCHOOL COUNSELORS AND WHAT THEY DO
School counselors are certified educators who are specifically trained to address the academic, personal/social, and career development needs of their students. School counselors work closely with students, teachers, parents, administrators, and other staff to remove barriers to academic success. They help promote a safe and secure learning environment by providing developmentally appropriate counseling services that are based on best practices. School counseling services include: classroom guidance; individual counseling; small group counseling; parent/teacher consultation; crisis intervention; understanding test scores; conflict resolution and mediation; supporting good attendance; Response to Intervention meetings, and community resources.
Each grade level in Gwinnett County has a list of competencies/objectives for student guidance. The school counselor is responsible for delivering these competencies to each student. The competencies are covered through regular classroom guidance and reinforced through other school-wide activities. The competencies include career, education, and personal knowledge and skills. Classroom guidance topics may include the following: bullying, feelings awareness, friendship, empathy, character education, self-esteem, study skills, setting goals, test taking, problem-solving, conflict resolution, and transition to middle school. Small group counseling can include feelings awareness, grief and loss, family changes, self-esteem, new students, work habits, and self-control/responsibility.
HOW ARE STUDENTS REFERRED TO A COUNSELOR?
Counseling is conducted with students individually and in small groups when requested and determined appropriate. It is voluntary and confidential. Parent permission is obtained prior to any small group counseling.
Students are seen when:
- Parents request and indicate a need and desire that the counselor meet with their children.
- Students request counseling.
- When you child needs extra help adjusting to school.
- When you want to arrange a meeting with several teachers or with both a teacher and a counselor.
- Teachers, administrators, or other school staff members refer the student to the counselor.
HOW DO I CONTACT A COUNSELOR?
You may contact Mrs. Osborn by calling (678) 639-3722 or emailing at
cindy_osborn@gwinnett.k12.ga.us.
You may contact Mrs. Miller by calling (678) 639-3721 or emailing at
elizabeth_b_miller@gwinnett.k12.ga.us.
WHEN SHOULD YOU CALL A COUNSELOR?
- When your student is having difficulty learning.
- When family changes interfere with academic progress.
- When you child needs extra help adjusting to school.
- When you want to arrange a meeting with several teachers or with both a teacher and a counselor.
- When you want to discover available community resources and agencies for your student and family.
COUNSELING SCHOOL-WIDE INITIATIVES
- Goal-setting Strategies: The counselors go on morning announcements weekly to encourage and teach ALL students goal-setting (GCPS Quality-Plus Teaching Strategy). Students in 2nd- 5th are asked to use their agenda to set a weekly goal and students K-1st are asked to set a classroom goal for the week. The ideas and strategies are reinforced weekly in Classroom Guidance.
- Character Education: The counselors go on morning announcements once a month to discuss the Character Word of the Month. The word is displayed around the building and in all classrooms. Students are encouraged to brainstorm and explore the meaning and the behaviors associated with the Character Word of the Month.
COUNSELING PROGRAMS AND EVENTS
- Care Team: coordinated by Mrs. Osborn, this committee is made up of teachers and staff that work together. The Care Team provides resources for Centerville families during a time of crisis/need.
- Peer Leaders: Coordinated by Mrs. Osborn, Peer Leaders are made up of Fifth grade students who have been nominated by their previous Fourth grade teacher and/or recommended by their Fifth grade teacher. Peer Leaders are students who show leadership abilities, compassion for younger students, and a sense of responsibility, dependability, and commitment.
- BASEBALL Attendance Incentive Program: (Be At School Every day Because Absences Lessen Learning): coordinated by Mrs. Osborn, the BASEBALL Program is an incentive program to help support and encourage daily school attendance.
- Red Ribbon Week: coordinated by Mrs. Miller, Red Ribbon Week is held in October. This program includes activities that emphasize the importance of living a healthy, drug-free life.
- Career Day: Coordinated by Mrs. Osborn and Mrs. Miller, Career Day is held in May to encourage children to explore the world of work by listening and interacting with people in our community who work in a variety of different jobs. Career Day builds upon the Gwinnett County Competencies/Objectives for Classroom Guidance and the American School Counseling Association National Model – Career Domain.
- Great Days of Service: coordinated by Mrs. Miller, Great Days of Service gives students and their families the opportunity to help people in their community who are in need. As a school, we collect toiletries (shampoo, toothpaste, toilet paper, etc.) and canned goods/non-perishable food items and then donate these items to shelters, group homes, and food pantries in our community. Great Days of Service is held in the Fall.
HELPFUL BOOKS FOR PARENTS
- Louise Bates Ames, Arnold Gesell, and Frances L. Ilg, The Child from Five to Ten.
- T. Berry Brazelton, Working and Caring.
- Barbara Brooks, The Scared Child: Helping Kids Overcome Traumatic Events
- Lee Canter & Lee Hausner Ph.D., Homework Without Tears.
- Jean Illsley Clarke, Self Esteem: A Family Affair.
- Foster Cline and Jim Fay, Parenting with Love and Logic.
- Barbara Coloroso, Winning at Parenting Without Beating Your Kids.
- Stephen Covey, The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Families.
- Bernice E. Cullinan, Reading to Me:
Raising Kids Who Love to Read.
- Dolores Curran, Traits of a Healthy Family.
- Dr. Don Dinkmeyer & Gary McKay, Raising a Responsible Child.
- Rudolph Dreikurs, Children the Challenge.
- David Elkind, The Hurried Child.
- Adele Faver and Elaine Mazlish, Siblings Without Rivalry | How to Talk So Kids Will Listen | How to Talk So Kids Can Learn
- H. Stephen Glen & Jane Nelson Ed.D,
Raising Self-Reliant Children in a Self Indulgent World | Positive Discipline (Jane Nelson)
- Edward Hallowell & John Ratey,
Driven to Distraction: Recognizing & Coping with Attention Deficit Disorder from Childhood through Adulthood.
- Louise Hart, The Winning Family.
- Karen Renshaw Josline, Positive Parenting from A to Z.
- Florence Karnofsky and Trudy Weiss,
How to Improve Your Child’s Language and Thinking Skills.
- Kevin Leman, Making Children Mind without Losing Yours.
- Amy Lew and Betty Lous Bettner, A Parent’s Guide to Understanding and Motivating Children.
- Linda Madaras, What’s Happening to My Body – Girls | What’s Happening to My Body – Boys
- Robert J. MacKenzie, Setting Limits.
- Carl Metzger, Good Parenting Guide.
- Dr. Ruth Allen Peters, Don’t be Afraid to Discipline.
- Frank Walton, Winning Children Over, (English and Spanish)
PARENT RESOURCES
INTERNET SAFETY
SCHOOL COUNSELING
IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS
- Parents Anonymous of Georgia - 404-870-6565
- St. Vincent de Paul - 404-292-4102
- Gwinnett County DFACS - 678-518-5500
- The Salvation Army - 770-963-8802
- Legal Aid Society - 770-822-8000
- GA Council on Child Abuse - 404-870-6565
- Family Support Services, Inc. - 770-963-9030
- Gwinnett Sexual Assault Center - 770-476-7407
- Partnership Against Domestic Violence - 770-963-9799
- United Way Helpline 211 C.H.A.D.D. Group - 770-381-8687
- Eastside Medical Center - 770-979-0200
- Southeast Gwinnett Cooperative Ministry - 770-985-5229
- Safe Kids of Georgia - 770-321-KIDS
- Gwinnett Rape Crisis Center - 770-921-2940
- Big Brothers/Big Sisters - Gwinnett - 770-921-2940
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