1. Ferguson Elementary School
Advisory
Council
Meeting
Counseling Department

2. Sherry Ferguson Third, fourth, & Fifth grades
Originally from Duluth, Ga. Attended Gwinnett County Public Schools K-12th Grade. Graduated from Duluth High School.
Bachelor’s Degree- In Business Administration from The University of Georgia.
Master’s Degree- In Guidance and Counseling from The University of West Georgia.
Specialist’s Degree- In Professional School Counseling from The University of Georgia.
Elementary School Counselor- 6 years. This is my 7th year at Ferguson Elementary and my 8th year in Education.

3. Lauren Danish KK, first, & second grades
Grew up in Roswell, GA
B.S. in Psychology from Georgia Tech
M.Ed. in Professional School Counseling from UGA
This is my second year as a School Counselor and my first year at Ferguson Elementary.

4. Fes counseling mission statement
The mission of the Ferguson Elementary School Counseling Department is to provide all students with equal access to comprehensive and developmentally appropriate counseling services which promote equity in achievement. Students will be taught to treat others with fairness, justice and respect in order to be successful world–class citizen and future leaders. Students will focus on their academic, career, and personal/social growth which promotes the well-being of the whole child. Ferguson Elementary students will acquire the academic knowledge and skills through differentiate instruction to be successful lifelong learners. Through a partnership with students, educators, parents, and community members our students will be college and career ready and able to complete in a global economy.

5. FES Counseling Vision Statement
Through participation in the Ferguson Elementary comprehensive counseling program students are ready and equipped to face college and career opportunities. They are life-long learners, problem solvers, critical thinkers, trailblazers, and advocates. In addition, they maintain cultural awareness of their self and others, contribute to society in meaningful ways, and strive toward a better world. Our students are world class citizens.

6. FES Counseling Philosophy
All students can learn, achieve and be successful.
All students have worth and should be treated with dignity and respect.
All students should have access to core curriculum lessons and counseling services.
Professional school counselors work as advocates to remove barriers to learning.
All students have the right to participate in a developmentally appropriate comprehensive school counseling program.
The professional school counselors will advocate for all students.
The school counseling program should be designed and delivered by a certified professional school counselor.
The counseling program will be planned, evaluated and refined according to school wide data and a result based evaluation system.
Ferguson school counselors abide by the American School Counseling Association.
Ferguson Elementary Professional school counselors develop student leaders who have a passion for lifelong learning and are college and career ready.
Ferguson school counselors participate in meaningful staff development at the local, district, state, and/or national levels in order to maintain their skills
Parents play an integral role in their child’s education and should be included in all educational decisions.
Professional school counselors collaborate with all members of faculty, staff to ensure student success.

7. Asca Model Overview
The American School Counselor Association (ASCA) has collaborated to create a National Model for School Counseling Programs to connect school counseling with current educational reform movements that emphasize student achievement and success.

8. ASCA National Model

9. Core curriculum domains
GCPS Standards and Competencies aligned with the American School Counseling Association’s Standards and Competencies
Three Domains
Academic
Personal/Social (Life Skills)
Career

10. Core Curriculum Units Ferguson
Month
Core Curriculum Unit Topic
August
Counselor Introduction/Listening and Following Directions (Academic Domain)
September
Attendance (Personal/Social Domain)
October
Conflict Resolution (Personal/Social Domain)
November
Personal Safety (Personal/Social Domain )
December
Gratitude (Personal/Social Domain)
January
Careers (Careers Domain)
February
March
Study Skills/Test Taking Strategies(Academic Domain)
April
Friendship and Diversity (Personal/Social Domain)
May
Transition (Academic Domain, Personal/Social)

11. Core Curriculum Units Danish
Rotation
Core Curriculum Unit Topic 1
Counselor Introduction/Feelings (Personal/Social Domain) 2
Listening/Following Directions (Academic Domain) 3
Tattling (Personal/Social Domain) 4
Attendance (Academic & Personal/Social Domains) 5
Friendship (Personal/Social Domain) 6
Conflict Resolution (Personal/Social Domain) 7
Career: Overview (Career Domain) 8
Self-Esteem & Diversity (Personal/Social Domain) 9
Personal Safety (Personal/Social Domain) 10
Careers (Career Domain)
11&12
Gratitude (Personal/Social Domain)
Lessons completed in Fall Semester Specials Rotation

12. Counseling responsibilities
Short Term Individual Counseling
Teaching Core Curriculum Lessons
Small Group Counseling
Parent Consultation
Teacher Consultation
SST (Student Support Team)
RTI (Response to Intervention)
Family Assistance
Leadership Team Members
Crisis Intervention
SARC Attendance Meetings with Social Worker
After School Events and Title 1 Evening Events
School Wide Attendance
Car Rider and Bus Duty

13. Individual counselor responsibilities
Sherry Ferguson
President of Dartha B. Ferguson Foundation
PBIS Coach
PBIS Kids Club Sponsor
Care Team Sponsor
BASE Attendance Program and Behavior Morning Check-ins
Holiday Help Coordinator
No Place for Hate Coordinator
Food Bags Local School Coordinator
Principal’s Elite Club Sponsor
Lauren Danish
Dream Makers (Mentoring) Coordinator
PBIS Committee Member
Care Team Sponsor
School Wide Attendance Coordinator
BASE Attendance Program and Behavior Morning Check-ins
ES Peer Leadership Conference Committee

14. School Counseling Program Goals (2016-2017)
Program Goal #1: Attendance
By May 24, 2017, the number of Hispanic students (32) who accrued 15 or more absences will decrease by 10%.
Program Goal #2: Behavior
By May 24, 2017, the number of African American students (34) with discipline referrals will decrease by 10%.
Program Goal #3: Academics
By May 24, 2017, the number of 4th and 5th grade students who made a D or U semester average in Math will improve their math grade by at least one letter grade.

15. Standards & Competencies
Goal: Academic Development: Academic Achievement, Educational Attainment and Lifelong Learning
Standard 1.A.
Acquire the attitudes, knowledge, and skills that contribute to school success and learning across the life span.
Standard 1.B.
Complete school with the academic preparation essential to choose from a wide range of post-secondary education and career options.
Standard 1.C.
Make plans for successful transition and attainment of educational and career goals.
Goal: Career Development: Awareness, Exploration, and Planning
Standard 2.A.
Acquire skills to investigate the world of work in relation to knowledge of self and to make informed career decisions.
Standard 2.B.
Employ strategies to achieve future career goals with success and satisfaction.
Standard 2.C.
Understand the relationship between personal qualities, education, training, and the world of work.
Goal: Life Skills: Personal and Social Development
Standard 3.A.
Acquire the knowledge, attitudes, and interpersonal skills to understand and respect self and others.
Standard 3.B.
Make decisions, set goals, and take necessary action to achieve goals.
Standard 3.C.
Develop safety and survival skills.
Competencies for each grade level tie back to one or more of the standards

16. Counseling Department Data
&

17. School Wide Data 2016-2017 Ethnicity or Group Number (Percentage)
Hispanic
518 (57.7%)
Black
286 (31.8%)
Asian/Pacific Islander
45 (5.0%)
White
27 (3.0%)
Multiracial
22 (2.4%)
American Indian/Alaskan Native
0 (0%)
Total
898
Free/Reduced Lunch
783 (85%)
ESOL
442 (48%)
Special Education
86 (9%)
School Based Gifted
57 (6%)

18. Counseling Department Data 2015-2016
Students Served in Small Group
120
SARC Meetings Held 8
Referrals within GCPS Systems 30
DFACS Referrals 21

19. Counseling Department data 2014-2015 vs 2015-2016

20. Counseling Department data 2014-2015 vs 2015-2016

21. Counseling department time 2015-2016
Time Breakdown

22. Counselors’ indirect time 2015-2016

23. Counselors’ Direct Time 2015-2016

24. Individual Counseling By topic 2015-2016

25. Groups by Topic

26. Core Curriculum Lesson By Topic

27. Counselor Department Time 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, & 2016

28. Attendance Data

29. Total Absences 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, & 2016

30. Department Programs

31. PBIS Positive Behavior Intervention and Support
Operational PBIS for , , and school years.
Daily announcements on morning news show
Encouraging positive behavior choices
PBIS Kids Club
Daily lesson which include video and literature lessons.
Weekly recognition including VIP breakfast, guest reader, gym party, extra recess, just dance party, art party, freeze pops, popcorn, and holiday store)
Presenting at state PBIS Conference in November.
Presented at county counselor meeting March 2016

32. Care Team Provides: Groceries Clothes Shoes
Referrals to Outside Agencies
Funded by:
Donations from Dartha B. Ferguson Foundation

33. PBIS Pep Rally

34. Great Days of Service
Canned Food Drive sponsored by Principal’s Elite Club
Decorated Boxes
Created Signs
Counted Cans
Collected 418 cans this year
Donated items to the Duluth Co-Op

35. Dartha B. Ferguson Foundation
Foundation is covered by an executive board of 9 members including the Ferguson Elementary Principal and a Ferguson Elementary Parent.
Donated to Ferguson Elementary Care Team.
Purchased 118 books for Ferguson Elementary Library during for a total of 714 books over six year period.
Sponsored Trick or Treat Night(over 700 people attended)
Purchased School Supplies for students.
Donated to Teacher Appreciation Luncheon.
Donated to Fifth Grade Celebration and Fun Day.
Donated to PBIS
Sponsored Daddy Daughter Dance (over 200 girls attended)
Awarded $ worth of teacher grants to fifth grade celebration and purchased table for inspired area.

36. Counseling Website Counselor Profiles Program Information
Upcoming Events
ASCA Competencies
GCPS Crosswalk Tool
Contact Information

37. Dream Makers Mentoring Program Referrals Mentors Program Teachers
Counselors
SST Process
Mentors
Community Members
Staff Members
Program
Mentors meet with students on a weekly basis for minutes

38. No Place for hate Program
Officially recognized as a No Place for Hate school in , , , and
Student Council helping to develop NPFH projects.
Aligns with PBIS as we create a bully-free environment
Held a No Place For Hate Week in February.
School Wide banner signed by all students and staff.
School Wide Art Lesson on bullying lessons taught during Art Special.
Project ideas for ?

39. No Place for Hate Project

40. Food Bags and Giving Tree
“Nothing But the Truth” organization delivers 20food bags each week.
McKinney-Vento Act list students receive first priority
7 families will receive holiday gift help through a partnership with Dartha B. Ferguson Foundation and Mt. Carmel United Methodist Church.
Families will receive Thanksgiving food help through a partnership with local church.

41. Attendance
SARC meetings are held with the Social Worker for all students with attendance concerns.
Counselors meet twice a month with Social Worker to review attendance concerns.
BASE Group: Be At School Every Day-Students who missed 15 more days of school during school year check in with Ms. Ferguson and Ms. Danish each morning.
Individual attendance rewards handed out at quarterly awards days.

42. Principal’s Elite Club
20 fifth graders meet with Ms. Ferguson and Mrs. Mitchell twice a month to study leadership and participate in school and community service projects.
Sponsored Great Days of Service Can Food Drive.
Field Trip to the Georgia Capital in January
Field Trip to Georgia Gwinnett College in March.

43. Questions & Suggestions

44. Next Meeting May 10, 2017

45. Thank you
Thank you for all your help and input as we improve and implement a comprehensive counseling program for the students of Ferguson Elementary.