Individual Counseling:
Individual counseling services are available to students who need to talk to the counselor one on one. The self referral procedure is explained to the children during the guidance orientation. Students should get their teacher’s permission before they come to the counselor’s office. A self referral mailbox is located in the hallway beside the entrance to the Student Support Services offices. Referral forms and pencil are stored in a pocket attached to the mailbox. Students should complete the short form and place it inside the mailbox. Kindergarten teachers will help their students complete the form.
Small Group Counseling:
Small group counseling is provided when several students experiencing the same concerns can benefit from group interaction. Generally, these groups meet 45 minutes once a week for eight sessions.
Classroom Guidance:
Classroom guidance is provided on a needs basis. Topics vary (e.g. bullying, study skills, test taking skills etc.). The guidance orientation each class received earlier this school year was actually a classroom guidance lesson.
Guidance Orientation:
Every classroom (29) receives a formal classroom guidance lesson during an introduction to the guidance counselor. They explore the IB Attitudes and our school-wide attendance incentive program “I-Bee Comes To School” was explained.
I-Bee Comes To School:
Attendance is an important component to positive academic achievement. If students are to reach their potential as 21st century learners they must come to school. An attendance incentive program, “I-Bee Comes to School” was developed. Each student’s attendance is tracked, pre-k through fifth grade, twice a month. Classrooms compete with other classrooms on their grade level. The classroom with the best attendance for the month receives the grade level banner, a certificate and a popcorn party provided by the PTA. Also, winners are acknowledged over the intercom.
“Hopping Every Day” is an extension of “I-Bee Comes to School.” The attendance of at-risk students is tracked weekly. Students with perfect attendance for the week receive a sticker. When the students earn five stickers they are able to receive a special treat.
I-Bee Attitudes and Learner Profile Club:
Select fifth grade students are trained to facilitate supervised kindergarten classroom guidance lessons through the I-Bee Attitudes and Learner Profile Club. The subject is the International Baccalaureate (IB) Attitudes and Learner Profiles. The classroom guidance lessons supplement the regular classroom teacher’s instruction. The fifth grade team includes a reader and a mascot. The classroom teacher selects “Little Bee”, a kindergarten student who exemplifies the attitude.
Attorney General Tutorial Program:
Smith participates in the Attorney General Tutorial Program. We have been partners with the N.C. Justice Department for many years. Attorney General, Roy Cooper, encourages his staff to volunteer at Smith and tutor students in reading. Presently, staff from the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI), volunteer to tutor our students. They come once a week for thirty minutes. They have been a wonderful role model for our students.
Emergency Operation Plan:
Smith Magnet Elementary has an Emergency Operation Plan in place for use during a major crisis event. Our staff is trained annually. Our EOP is updated yearly. Smith has a school-based Crisis Team. We have two Code Red Lockdown Drills a year, one each semester. Students are informed prior to the drill.
