Washington Park Elementary School
Counseling Program

Counselor Pat Willis
  • Mrs. Pat Willis
  • Counselor
Student Council representatives work directly with the counselor to promote school unity and spirit.

The mission of the guidance program at Washington Park is to assist our students in the development of a positive self-concept while acquiring the necessary personal, social, and academic skills needed for making responsible choices in the future. Each student is unique and their needs are met through large group sessions conducted by the counselor focusing on character education and small groups providing specific exploration of barriers to academic success, social adjustment, and personal relationships.

Student Support Services

A team approach is used to identify and resolve issues, which may be barriers to student success. Members of the site team are the counselor, nurse, and social worker. Additional resources are available to the team through the district mental health coordinator. Referrals may come from teachers, parents, and other support staff. The team monitors attendance, discipline referrals, academic performance, and special needs to identify target populations, as well.

Character Education

Each nine weeks the counselor visits each classroom to emphasize a specific character trait. Topics include: Respect, Responsibility, Caring, Trustworthiness, Fairness, and Citizenship.

Individual Counseling

One on one counseling is provided for students who are referred by family, teachers, or administrators. Students may request the services for themselves. Counselor initiated conferences are provided when students display characteristics that are not consistent with age appropriate behavior or emotional distress is observed. Counseling topics include: academics, self-esteem, friendship, anger management, and stress management.

Small Group Counseling

Counseling groups are offered throughout the year. The groups deal with bullet.

  • Grief and loss.
  • Anger management.
  • Family dynamics (relocation, separation, divorce, illness).
  • Socialization Skills (peers, authority figures, siblings).

Testing

The counselor serves as the school testing coordinator. State and local standardized tests are listed:

  • Scotland County Benchmark tests in reading and mathematics are administered at the end of each grading period in grades three, four, and five;
  • The North Carolina EOG Pretest for grade three is administered during the first two weeks of school;
  • The North Carolina Writing Assessment is administered in grade four on the first Tuesday in March;
  • The North Carolina End of Grade test is administered during the last three weeks of the school year in grades three, four, and five;
  • Exceptional Children's Program testing referrals and 504 Plans originate with the counselor. The Scotland County Schools psychologists provide additional testing.
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Student Council

One student from each homeroom in grades three, four, and five is selected to serve on the student council. These representatives work directly with the counselor to promote school unity and spirit. They are given the opportunity to plan school wide activities with staff supervision and support. In addition to their service-oriented participation, they develop leadership skills and provide peer role models for the student body.

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