School Counseling
Welcome to the Seaford Elementary School Counseling Page
Meet Your School Counselor
Mrs. Downs
Hello! My name is Mrs. Downs, and I love working with the wonderful students and families at Seaford Elementary School. I received my Master's in School Counseling at Old Dominion University in 2009 and have 12 years of experience as a School Counselor. I strive to support students' academic, social and emotional needs. Please feel free to contact me at sdowns@ycsd.york.va.us.
Services Offered:
- Individual Counseling: Students can be referred by self, parents or teachers
- Small Group Counseling: Social Skills, Deployment, Family Changes, Anxiety/Worries, Etc.
- Classroom Lessons: Feelings, Bullying Prevention, Diversity, Career Exploration, Mindfulness, Goal Setting
- Consultation: with teachers or parents
- Peer Mediation
- Gifted Contact
- Family Life Education Lessons
The counselor helps parents to ...
- * promote positive home/school relationships
- *understand the school program
- * recognize the stages of child growth and development
- * understand their child's progress in school
- * accept students' abilities and limitations
- * identify learning problems, concerns and possible solutions
- * obtain information about results of tests
- * plan for referrals to outside agencies/outside professional help
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The counselor helps teachers and other school personnel to ...
- * provide a positive learning environment
- * understand and meet students' individual needs
- * determine/coordinate if special student assistance is needed
- * plan and present classroom lessons as an integral part of the school system curriculum
- * share ideas at workshops/in-service programs
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The counselor helps students to ...
- * achieve more in school
- * understand the programs, staff, services and activities in the school
- * understand their abilities, interests and limitations
- * apply problem solving decision making skills to resolve problems that get in the way of learning
- * learn and apply effective study habits
- * understand and accept themselves
- * become more independent and responsible for their behavior
- * improve skills for interacting and communicating with others
- * adjust to a new school
- * recognize the relationship of education to the world or work
Ask a Counselor .....
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When you need to discuss:
- * attitudes toward school
- * academic growth
- * personal and emotional development
- * relationships with teachers
- * relationships with other students
- * relationships with siblings
- * changes in family circumstances
- * available community resources
Coping with Stress during Pandemic
Coronavirus Handout
Explaining Coronavirus to kids
Helpful Tools for Increased Anxiety
Service Providers
A list of Mental Health service providers in the area
Parent Handout COVID
Parent tips for talking to kids about COVID
Change 5 Point Scale
This is a great tool to help your children process the changes they are experiencing with the extended school closure and stay at home order.
Emotional Health
This resource has 30 things children can do to help their emotional health.