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    Dear Timber Creek Family:

     Greetings and welcome to the start of another exciting school year.  I would personally like to welcome the class of 2028 and wish all of you the very best over the next four years.  Throughout high school, you will find the counseling office to be an integral part of your education.  The Timber Creek Counseling team is comprised of six school counselors, one  Student Assistance Coordinator (SAC), one Mental Health Assistance Counselor (MHAC), one student mentor, one transitional coach, one administrative assistant and one Director of School Counseling.  Collectively, our professional staff will work diligently alongside our students and parents to engage students, foster achievement, and inspire excellence throughout their high school years.  Please know that we look forward to assisting with your academic, personal/social, and career decisions.

     Your Timber Creek School Counselors:

    •         Child advocates who work cooperatively with the educational staff, parents, and community.

    •         Educational specialists who assist students with their social, emotional, and educational development.

    •         Human resource specialists who assist students, parents, and educational staff through counseling, consultation, and coordination.

     
    The Goals of the Timber Creek Counseling Department:

    •         To assist students with educational, personal, career, and goal planning.

    •         To develop personalized programs based on each student’s strengths and needs.

    •         To help students understand themselves and others.

    •         To assist students in identifying and dealing with problems.

    •         To facilitate the identification of students with special needs.

    •         To provide crisis intervention when necessary.

    •         To coordinate referrals to school and community support services.

    •         To serve as a resource to students, parents, teachers, and administrators.
     

    Some Reasons to Contact Your Child’s School Counselor:

    •         Academic concerns

    •         Divorce, separation, and family changes

    •         Drug and alcohol concerns

    •         Educational and career planning

    •         Experiencing loss, death, and grief

    •         Peer relationship issues

    •         Problem solving skills

    •         School adjustment issues

    •         Stress reduction and coping skills

    •         Study skills

     
    Please visit the TC counseling website for additional information or contact the counseling office at

    856-232-9703 x6052 or x6053 to speak with your child’s school counselor.

     
    Sincerely,

    Michele Hengel, M.Ed.

    Director of School Counseling

     


     

                                      The Professional School Counselor as defined by the American School Counselor Association

     
    Professional school counselors recognize that each student possesses unique interests, abilities and goals that that will lead to many future opportunities. Collaborating with students, families, educational staff and the community, the professional school counselor works to ensure all students develop an academic and career plan reflecting their interests, abilities and goals and including rigorous, relevant coursework and experiences appropriate for the student.

    Rationale:

    Academic and college/career planning provides all students with the opportunity to identify strengths, areas in need of improvement and areas of interest early on so students and their families can set post-secondary goals and make informed choices to support students in reaching the desired outcome. The focus of academic and career planning is threefold: to help students acquire the skills to achieve academic success, to make connections between school and life experiences and to acquire knowledge and skills to be college- and career-ready upon high school graduation.

    The Professional School Counselor’s Role:

    Professional school counselors understand national, state and local requirements and programs that may affect future opportunities for college and career readiness and therefore play a critical role in academic and career planning. The professional school counselor takes a proactive role in assisting students, families and staff as they assess student strengths and interests and encourage the selection of a rigorous and relevant educational program supporting all students’ college and career goals. Professional school counselors provide all students the opportunity to:

    • Demonstrate skills needed for school success

    • Demonstrate the connection between coursework and life experiences

    • Make course selections that allow them the opportunity to choose from a wide range of post-secondary options

    • Explore interests and abilities in relation to knowledge of self and the world of work

    • Identify and apply strategies to achieve future academic and career success

    • Demonstrate the skills for successful goal setting and attainment.

    • Develop an electronic portfolio to highlight strengths and interests

    Summary:

    Professional school counselors collaborate with administrators, teachers, staff, families and the community to ensure all students have the opportunity to design a rigorous and relevant academic and career program. Professional school counselors design and implement a comprehensive school counseling program that includes educational and career planning activities for all students designed to assist students in reaching academic, career and personal/social goals.