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Elementary Counselors

What does a counselor do?

School counselors perform the following roles in order to promote positive development in academic, career, and personal/social domains:

 

  • Individual counseling
  • Small group counseling
  • Classroom guidance (i.e. Large group counseling)
  • Attend and participate in academic intervention meetings
  • Organize and administer building testing
  • Observe students in various school environments
  • Consult and collaborate with parents, teachers, administrators, social workers, and students
  • Respond to school crises or emergency situations
  • Provide information and resources to parents on a variety of issues
 
How can a student see the counselor?
  • Student self-referral
  • Staff referral
  • Parent referral
 

Confidentiality

The general rules of confidentiality for counselors are very different from those of teachers. Confidentiality is important to maintain a trusting relationship with students.

Students are told that what they tell their counselor will stay in her office unless one of the three things occur:

  1. Someone is hurting you.
  2. You want to hurt someone.
  3. You want to hurt yourself.
Only then will the counselor tell someone to make sure they are safe and healthy. Information is never disclosed to other staff members, parents, or students unless permission is granted. If a student discloses information deemed crucial to a child's safety or well-being, the student is informed that his/her parents must be notified. The exception to the general rules is if the information is court-mandated.  

Reading Elementary School Counselors

Amber Stinson - Grades Pk-4   [email protected]

Emily Sewall - Grades 5-6 [email protected] 

 

Erin's Law


Ohio’s 134th General Assembly enacted Senate Bill 288 which updated the prescribed curriculum for health education, adding requirements related to child sexual abuse prevention, dating violence prevention and sexual violence prevention. The law includes requirements for student instruction, parent and legal guardian notification and training for school personnel. 

  • Beginning in the 2023-2024 school year, schools are required to provide developmentally appropriate instruction
  • Upon written request of the student's parent or guardian, a student shall be excused from taking instruction in child sexual abuse prevention.

Reading Elementary grades K-6  will be using an Ohio Department of Education prescribed curriculum through Public School Works called SPEAK UP. Lessons will be taught by the School Counselors, Amber Stinson and Emily Sewall. Lessons will be given between December and January. If you would like to see the curriculum, you may visit the Reading Elementary office and request to view the lessons that will be taught.

Opting out of Erin's Law

If you do not wish for your child to participate in Erin's Lessons, please complete THIS FORM.

 

House Bill 123 (6th grade only)

Ohio’s 133rd General Assembly enacted House Bill 123, the “Safety and Violence Education Students (SAVE Students) Act,” regarding school security and youth suicide awareness education and training. This Bill includes requirements for suicide prevention and violence prevention education in addition to education surrounding social inclusion. Beginning July 2023 and each subsequent year, each grade level 6-12 must include at least one hour in each of the following topics…

  • Suicide Awareness and Prevention 
  • Safety Training and Violence Prevention 
  • Social Inclusion 
  • Upon written request of the student's parent or guardian, a student shall be excused from taking instruction in suicide and violence prevention. 

Grades 6  will be using approved curriculums through Erika’s Lighthouse and Sandy Hook Promise. Lessons will be taught  in the classroom by the 6th grade counselor, Emily Sewall.

Opting Out of HB 123

 If you do not wish for your child to participate in House Bill 123 Lessons, please complete THIS FORM.