Student Support Services & Guidance

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The primary goals of the counseling program target three major developmental areas:

Academic Development: counselors help students develop skills related to educational achievement, school adjustment, study skills, critical thinking, time management, technological literacy, motivation, and school success. Students will complete school with the academic preparation essential to choose from a wide range of substantial post-secondary options. Students will also understand the relationship of an education to the world of work and to life at home. Activities that support this realm of student development include, but are not limited to:

a) Individual counseling

b) Data collection, interpretation and organization

c) College planning

d) Class discussions

e) Group counseling

f) Course selection

g) Organize college and post-secondary educational materials in office

h) Test administration (PARCC, PSAT, SAT, ACT, AP exams; Portfolio Assessment) and score interpretation

i) Develop articulation agreements with local colleges

j) Peer tutoring

k) Parent programs, including newsletters

l) Curriculum development

m) Program development and intervention activities

Personal/Social Development: Students will acquire the attitudes, knowledge and interpersonal skills to help them understand and respect self and others. They will learn to make appropriate decisions, set realistic goals, and take necessary action to achieve those goals. The counseling activities that support personal/social development include, but are not limited to:

a) Individual and group counseling

b) Planning assemblies

c) Demonstrating respect

d) Interventions, such as mediation, goal setting, meetings with parents, students, teachers

e) Sharing knowledge, effectively communicating

f) Promote cultural diversity

g) Assist with conflict resolution

h) Monitor discipline, helping students understand consequences of decisions and choices

i) Link counseling with appropriate referral sources, such as I&RS, CST, SAC, outside therapeutic services, etc.

Career Development: Realizing the significance of an education and training necessary to lead a fulfilling, successful adult life, the students will acquire skills to investigate, and apply the strategies needed, to achieve career satisfaction. Students need to understand the relationship between their personal qualities, education and training, and career opportunities. Counseling activities that enhance career development include, but are not limited to:

a) Individual and group counseling

b) Classroom presentations

c) Assemblies

d) Course selection

e) Assist with interest inventories, as well as career, college and financial aid research on Naviance

f) Review academic records to create a personalized student learning plan, highlighting strengths and career interests

g) Maintain career information resources in office

Guidance Counselors

Pennsauken High School

Phifer Middle School

Pennsauken Intermediate School

Elementary Schools

Mental Health Counselors

Office Contact Info

Michael McGovern
Director of Student Support Services
(856) 662-8500 ext. 5246
mmcgovern@pennsauken.net

Kerri Lilley
Office Manager
(856) 662-8500 ext. 5246
kerri.lilley@pennsauken.net

Amy Collins
Supervisor of Special Services 6-12
(856) 662-8500 ext. 5263
amy.collins@pennsauken.net

Tamara Schmitt
Supervisor of Special Services PK-5
(856) 662-8511 ext. 4512
tschmitt@pennsauken.net

Jessica Mossop
Administrative Assistant for CST
(856) 662-8500 ext. 5248
jessica.mossop@pennsauken.net

Yuliia Bence
Administrative Assistant for Guidance
(856) 662-8500 ext. 5232
yuliia.bence@pennsauken.net

Camden County College

Camden County College

-All CCC courses are either 3 or 4 credits and cost $150. There is no discounted rate for free and reduced students.

-CCC requires students to attain a C or B (pending the department) and some courses have additional requirements that must be met to obtain college credit. This will be included on the paperwork students receive from CCC about dual credit.

-CCC registration is paper-based. I have not received any information or forms from CCC (and do not anticipate receiving anything from them until late Sept./Oct). Once I receive the forms, I will share e-copies with you and I will distribute them to students.

-All CCC registration forms will be returned to the Guidance Office to Mrs. Lilley. Students must pay via check or money order. NO CASH!

-The exact deadline for CCC has not been set but I anticipate late October/early November. They have been flexible with the deadline in the past.

-CCC refers to their dual credit program as High School Plus or HSP.

Rowan College of Burlington County

Rowan College at Burlington County

-Cost for RCBC courses vary by the number of credits awarded and they offer a free and reduced lunch rate to students (information is included in the Approved Courses sheet).

-RCBC registration is done online through the Dual Enroll platform. This is the same process as last year. Your account from last year is still active. Your username is your e-mail address. Your password is whatever you set it to (I do not have access to this). You can e-mail Danielle Epps (depps@rcbc.edu) if you need help accessing your account.

-Attached are the directions for how to utilize the Dual Enroll platform. Students will be given the directions the first week of school. You must go in and approve any course selection a student makes to complete their registration. Students must pay via debit or credit card.

-The deadline for RCBC registration is September 30. This is a hard deadline and RCBC will NOT extend it for any reason or make any exceptions.

-RCBC refers to their dual credit program as College Accelerated Program or CAP.

College Application Process

Common Application

SAT Registration

ACT Registration

FAFSA & Financial Aid

Click Here to Access the FAFSA

The FAFSA is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. This form is required by most US colleges and universities.

This FAFSA Step-by-Step Guide that walks students and families through each question of the FAFSA, including screenshots and explanations and a FAQ page for students with special circumstances.
The presentation linked below offers details about the financial aid process.

Naviance

Click Here to Access Naviance

Letters of Recommendation

Log onto Naviance, go to “COLLEGES”
Click on “Apply to College”
Click on “Letter of Rec”
Click Add a Request

Scholarship Opportunities

Scholarship opportunities are listed in Naviance for all students in the Pennsauken High School District. To locate scholarships as a guest, please follow the appropriate steps below:

Visit the School District website and click on the appropriate school for your student
Find the COUNSELING tab and click on "Naviance"
Click the link that says "Click here to access Naviance!"
Look to your right and click the "I'm a guest" link
Click on the "Enter as guest box"
Click the "colleges" tab to the left
Scroll down to click on the "scholarship list" link

Naviance Instructions

Scholarship Resources

Intervention & Referral Services (I&RS)

The Board of Education directs the establishment and implementation of a coordinated system for planning and delivering intervention and referral services. This program is designed to assist students who are experiencing learning, behavior, or health difficulties and to assist staff in addressing students’ learning, behavior, or health needs.

Support is offered in each school building in which general education students are served. Contact your child's building principal or review Policy 2417

The I&RS team consists of:

Principal or designee
Guidance Counselor
Learning Consultant
Teacher
Nurse (if applicable)
Parent/Guardian
The student

NJ DDD & DVRS

New Jersey Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD)

The Division of Developmental Disabilities assures the opportunity for individuals with developmental disabilities to receive quality services and supports, participate meaningfully in their communities and exercise their right to make choices.

New Jersey Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services (DVRS)

Any individual with a physical, mental, cognitive, or other form of disability who has a substantial impediment to employment may qualify for the following services through the New Jersey Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services (DVRS).

The mission of the New Jersey Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services is to enable eligible individuals with disabilities to achieve an employment outcome consistent with their strengths, priorities, needs, abilities, and capabilities.

Structured Learning Experience (18-21 Program)

The mission of the Structured Learning Experience (SLE) is:

The Vocational Program at Pennsauken High School aims to develop job skills in the special education population. The program plans to develop student communication, teamwork, and problem-solving skills in an effort to help students obtain year-round employment. Students will become productive and contributing members of the community.

Employment allows special education students greater engagement in their community, positive emotional outcomes, and the opportunity to meet personal challenges. Transition activities are built around each student’s interests, enjoyment, sense of being challenged, and career preferences (student centered planning). The special education staff provides vocational services, job training/placement, and general counseling to students.

This is an outcome oriented process that promotes employment for the high school level student. Year one/two is “in-house” training, then we reach into the community as job-training improves, lastly, the long term goal is to provide graduates (18 to 21 year-olds) with gainful employment.

Vocational Objectives

For students to identify and demonstrate positive work behaviors and personal qualities needed to succeed in the workplace and to be employable.
Act as a responsible and contributing citizen and employee.
To develop meaningful and realistic post secondary goals and to develop self determination in students with special needs.

Vocational Scope

Students will receive class credit for “Career Readiness” from Pennsauken High School.
Students (with the help of teachers) will be expected to develop their Career Readiness Skills.
Students will participate in school based training rotations
Students will work at task driven jobs within the community.
Students will be supervised by the Structured Learning Experience (SLE) teacher.
18 to 21 year-old students will report to an offsite location.
Students will obtain full time employment.

Contact
William Guthrie
Special Education
Structured Learning Experiences (SLE)
Pennsauken High School
william.guthrie@pennsauken.net

Homebound Instruction

The Board of Education shall provide instructional services to an enrolled student, whether a general education student in Kindergarten through grade twelve or special education student age three to twenty-one, when the student is confined to the home or another out-of-school setting due to a temporary or chronic health condition or a need for treatment that precludes participation in his or her usual education setting, whether general or special education.

A parent’s request for home instruction shall include a written determination from the student’s physician documenting the projected need for confinement at the student’s residence or other treatment setting for more than ten consecutive school days or twenty cumulative school days during the school year. The written determination from the student’s physician shall be forwarded to the school physician, who shall either verify the need for home instruction or provide reasons for denial. The parent shall be notified concerning the school physician’s verification or reasons for denial within five school days after receipt of the written determination by the student’s physician.

Homebound Instruction Forms

Crisis Intervention Contacts

Mental Health Resources

State of NJ Mental Health Resources
Other Resources

State of NJ Mental Health Resources

Other Resources

Parent/Elementary Resources

How to Talk to Your Kids About Coronavirus - from PBS with links to relevant videos from Daniel Tiger, Sesame Street, etc.
Talking to Kids About the Coronavirus - from Child Mind Institute
- Cómo hablar con los niños sobre el coronavirus (Spanish)
Helping Children Cope with Emergencies - from the CDC
- Cómo ayudar a los niños a sobrellevar las emergencias (Spanish)
How to Talk with Kids About COVID-19 - from Stanford Children’s Health
BrainPop -- Coronavirus - age-appropriate video explaining the virus for elementary students
Camden County Prosecutor's Office Special Needs Registry

General Resources for HS Students/Parents

Talking to Children About COVID-19 (Coronavirus): A Parent Resource - from the National Association of School Psychologists and National Association of School Nurses
Managing Anxiety and Stress - from the CDC
Helping Children and Teens Cope with Anxiety About COVID-19 - from Seattle Children’s Hospital.
Care for Your Coronavirus Anxiety - from Shine and Mental Health America (interactive tools)
How to help children and teens manage their stress - from the American Psychological Association.
Taking Care of Your Mental Health in the Face of Uncertainty - from the American Foundation of Suicide Prevention.
2nd Floor Youth Helpline or 888-222-2228 - for youth between the ages of 10-24 in NJ in need to talk about an issue or problem that they are facing

Mindfulness and Reducing Stress/Anxiety

Calm - relaxation app.
GoZen - online social and emotional learning programs for students experiencing anxiety.
Down Dog app - yoga app with temporary free access
13 Minutes Body Scan Meditation For Teens and Adults/ Mindfulness For Children - YouTube video
5 Minutes Mountain Meditation - Mindfulness for Teens & Adults YouTube video
1 Minute Mindfulness Activities - From Psych Central

Guidance Counselor	Last Names Served
Jennifer Stopek	A - CO
Dennis Sherwood	CP - HO
Jill Nixon	HP - MI
John Doherty	MJ - RI
Jordan Chery	RJ - VA
Myrtelina Martinez Perez	VB - Z & ML Students

Guidance Counselor	Grade Served
Terrence McStravick	8th Grade
Jessica Kirner	7th Grade
Stephanie Dangerfield	6th Grade

Guidance Counselor	Grade Served
Florentina Crawford	5th Grade
Margaret Gaffney	4th Grade

Guidance Counselor	Building Served
Michelle Bradley	Baldwin & Roosevelt
Tashanique Jefferson	Carson
David Duncan	Delair
Melisa Solivan	Fine
Marla Banks	Franklin

Case Manager	Building Served
Tajuddin Abdullah	Pennsauken High School (Mental Health)
Mary Hanley	Park Avenue Campus (Mental Health)
Thomas Cox	All Elementary Schools (Mental Health)

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