COUNSELOR'S CORNER

Leigh Caputo, counselor
leigh.caputo@hallco.org

The Hall County counselors belief statement
The Counselors in the Hall County School System believe the following:

• That the counseling program includes all students regardless of their individual differences.
• That all students can learn and become successful contributors to society.
• That all students deserve the opportunity to learn in a mutually respectful environment.
• That family is the primary influence in a student’s life.
• That student success is enhanced when the professional school counseling program is integrated into the school curriculum.

The Hall County comprehensive school counseling program should include the following:

• Counseling, consulting, coordinating, and collaborating.
• The use of data to create developmentally appropriate programs to enhance the academic environment.
• School/family/community partnerships that build effective environments that reduce barriers to learning.

All counselors in the Hall County School system:

• Are state certified in school counseling.
• Participate in professional learning opportunities and abide by the professional school counseling code of ethics.

The De-Bug System
The De-Bug system is taught at elementary schools across Hall County as a way for children to work out minor irritations among themselves. The five steps your children learn are:

Step 1: Ignore them.
Step 2: Walk away.
Step 3: Talk friendly.
Step 4: Talk firmly.
Step 5: Get adult help.

Test-taking Preparation
Parents can help their children succeed on tests! Testing time can be a stressful, scary time for both children and parents. There are many tips and skills you can encourage your child to work on at home in order to prepare for a test. On test day, get up in plenty of time to avoid morning rush and anxiety so your child can get to school on time, stress-free!

You can help teach and reinforce the following test-taking tips and strategies:

1) Start the day right. Make sure your child eats a good breakfast and gets plenty of sleep the night before.
2) Have a positive attitude.
3) Listen carefully and follow directions.
4) Think before you answer.
5) Don’t rush…Work at middle speed. Read EVERY answer before making a decision.
6) Check over your work when finished.
7) Remember: Your first guess is usually the best!
8) Relax! Your children are not expected to know every answer on the test, so encourage them to work hard and do the best they can.