Student Support Services
860-870-6864
Mrs. Janis Bouley – School Counselor, Grade 6 and Team 7 Blue
jbouley@tolland.k12.ct.us
Ms. Alicia Guilmette– School Counselor, Grade 8 and Team 7 Gold
aguilmette@tolland.k12.ct.us
Mrs. Brenda Waterhouse – School Psychologist
bwaterhouse@tolland.k12.ct.us
Mrs. Michelle Bates – Secretary
mbates@tolland.k12.ct.us
- Requests for homework for long-term absences are processed through the guidance office via note or phone call to the guidance secretary. 24 hour notice is necessary to provide such work.
Tolland Middle School Counseling Program
The TMS counseling program is designed to support middle school students and their families as they navigate through the unique and diverse challenges of adolescence. In this effort, we provide all students with strategies for academic achievement, personal and social development, and understanding the relationship between school and the world of work.
Program Components
The four components of the TMS counseling program are as follows:
- Individual Planning – Emphasis is on the individual with regard to academic advising, appraisal, and long-term planning.
- Responsive Services – Emphasis is placed on counseling, consultation, and referral. Students may participate in small group counseling such as stress management, divorce, bereavement, peer issues, organization, girls group, boys group, and anger management. These groups are not intended to be therapeutic, but allow students the opportunity to share common thoughts and experiences, and learn coping skills and strategies.
- Program Support – Support is provided for curriculum, staff and program development, parent newsletters, community speakers, records management, orientation programs, etc.
- Curriculum – Counselors visit classrooms regularly to present lessons promoting academic, personal/social, and career development. Topics generally focus on skill development in the following areas: self-understanding and interpersonal relations; self-direction; decision making and problem solving; teamwork and cooperation; cultural awareness; career/postsecondary investigation, options and planning; organization and time management; communication; peer pressure and conflict resolution.
Roles of the School Counselor
The counseling program provides major assistance in the development of student’s self-respect and involvement in their own learning process. In so doing, counselors function in a number of different capacities including:
- Counselor: The counseling role provides a broad range of opportunities for problem solving and skill development to assist students in setting realistic goals.
- Advocate: The counselor recommends or supports courses of action which enhance student achievement.
- Leader: The counselor facilitates the integration of resources from the school and community to establish a complete network of services for academic, personal/social and career development.
- Consultant and Collaborator: The counselor as consultant provides professional expertise to staff, parents and other community members, as well as collaborates with this group to enhance student achievement.
- Teacher: The counselor as teacher delivers a planned, sequential guidance curriculum addressing the developmental needs of all students in the school community.
Questions and/or Concerns
Please contact your child’s school counselor with any academic, personal/social, or school-to-career related concerns.
2011-2012 Guidance Calendar
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End of August/September
Activities of the Month:
- Student schedules finalized and mailed home (late August)
- Work with principal, reading specialists, and math remediation staff for exit/entry in reading and math support for second semester
- Meeting with teams, case managers regarding students
- Fine tuning schedules
- New student registrations, tours, and scheduling
- New student lunch groups
Classroom Guidance lessons:
- Grade 6- Transition and Study Skills
- Grade 7- Transition and Time Management
On-Going Counselor Activities*
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February
Activities of the Month:
- Career Day 2012- preparation
- Quarter 2 report card review
- Mid-year status reports with students in danger of failing for the year; team meetings, letters to parents sent home
- Career Day 2012- final recruitment information sent to volunteers
- Mid-term progress report review
- Letters sent home to 8th grade regarding high school course challenge levels recommendations
Classroom Guidance lessons:
- Grade 6- Refusal Skills I
On-Going Counselor Activities*
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October
Activities of the Month:
- High School Options program- grade 7
- Interested grade 8 students meet with representatives from alternate high schools
- Mid-term progress report reviews
- Career Day 2012 preparation- publicity and recruitment of volunteers
Classroom Guidance lessons:
- Grade 6- Decision Making with a Group
- Grade 7- Identifying Individual Learning Styles
- Grade 8- Interpersonal Relationships and Communication Skills
On-going Counselor Activities*
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March
Activities of the Month:
- Parent teacher conferences (3/7)
- Career Day 2012 – 8:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Biannual event (3/7)
- CMT administration (3/5-3/16) and make-up testing (3/19-3/23)
- Individual meetings with 8th grade students regarding high school planning
Classroom Guidance lessons:
- Grade 6- Refusal Skills II
On-Going Counselor Activities*
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November
Activities of the Month:
- Report card review
- Meet with 8th grade students applying to alternate high schools regarding admissions and application progress
- Quarter 1 Rite of Passage Experience (ROPE) All Day Challenges (11/2 and 11/3) and Graduation (11/7)
- Career Day 2012 preparation- publicity and recruitment of volunteers
Classroom Guidance lessons:
- Grade 6- Conflict Resolution
- Grade 7- Conflict Resolution
- Grade 8- Diversity/Tolerance
On-going Counselor Activities*
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April
Activities of the Month:
- End of quarter report card review
- Quarter 3 status reports with students in danger of failing for the year; team meetings, letters to parents sent home
- Quarter 3 ROPE All Day Challenges (4/4 and 4/5) and Graduation (4/9)
- Placement process begins (grade 5 to 6, grade 6 to 7, grade 7 to 8)
- Parent questionnaires sent home
- Individual meetings with 8th grade students regarding high school planning
- PPT annual reviews begin
On-Going Counselor Activities*
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December
Activities of the Month:
- 8th grade alternate high school applications processed
- Parent teacher conferences (12/9)
- Mid-term progress reports reviewed
Classroom Guidance lessons:
- Grade 6- Personal Resources
- Grade 8- Career Exploration
On-Going Counselor Activities*
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May
Activities of the Month:
- Mid-term progress report review
- Individual meetings with 8th grade students regarding high school planning
- Annual reviews- PPT’s and 504’s*
*Counselors plan and chair 504 meetings
- 6th grade dance
- Course request forms distributed
Classroom Guidance lessons:
- Grade 6- Orientation to 7th grade
- Grade 7- Orientation to 8th grade
- Grade 5- Orientation to 6th grade at TIS
On-Going Counselor Activities*
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January
Activities of the Month:
- Schedule changes- second semester electives
- Work with principal, reading specialists, and math remediation staff for exit/entry in reading and math support for second semester
- Quarter 2 ROPE All Day Challenges (1/26 and 1/27) and Graduation (1/30)
Classroom Guidance lessons:
- Grade 6- Role of a Student/ Career Awareness
- Grade 7- Career Exploration
- Grade 8- Orientation to THS
On-Going Counselor Activities*
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June
Activities of the Month:
- Grade 5 tours of TMS (5/31-6/5)
- Grade 8 tours of THS
- Parent orientation for grade 5 parents (6/7)
- Quarter 4 ROPE All Day Challenges (6/7 and 6/8) and Graduation (6/11)
- Annual review PPT’s and 504’s finished
- Promotion/retention hearings for students failing 2 or more subjects
- New student visitations
- Individual transition needs
- Incoming 7th and 8th grade math level recommendations mailed home
On-Going Counselor Activities*
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*On-Going Counselor Activities Throughout the Year
Attend team meetings
Parent conferences
PPT’s, 504’s- case coordinator’s, EIP’s- case coordinator’s
Student progress reviews
Small group counseling: Examples- divorce, stress, girls, boys, organization, peer pressure, grief & loss, coping with illness in the family
Student mediations- facilitate problem solving between students
Daily individual counseling, including walk-ins and appointments
Professional development
PBIS coaches- attend training and monthly school team meetings
Consulting and collaborating with Tolland Human Services and other community counselors
Guidance Lessons for Grade 6
Guidance Lessons for grades 7 and 8 |
Something To Aim For | Helpful Information for Parents |
Parenting Books in Guidance Library |VIDEOs.pdf |
Kids Self Help Books/Pamphlets |
High School Options|
To view these documents, you will need to have Adobe Acrobat reader which you can download from the following web site: Adobe Acrobat Reader 
.