Counselors

We all share a common goal for our children to be safe and protected from all things harmful.  Related to that goal, Senate Bill 401 includes annual age-appropriate sexual abuse and assault awareness and prevention in kindergarten through grade 9. Teen Lures Prevention program is a research-based program that Gwinnett County Public Schools uses to teach the importance of healthy relationships and its connection to personal safety by way of class discussions, student handouts, video clips and corresponding activities.  Teen Lures Prevention enables students to take an active and necessary role in making healthy choices and protecting themselves from unhealthy relationships. A committee of professional school counselors reviewed the program and selected components that were developmentally appropriate for middle school.

Each year, during January - March, our school counselors will offer the Teen Lures Prevention lessons to all students in grades 6-8. You can learn more about the program at www.teenluresprevention.com. Please be aware that more information is provided on the website than is actually used in Gwinnett County. Below is a list of lures that are discussed at each grade level. Each grade reviews what was learned in the previous grade(s) and then learns additional lures.  

6th	Game Lure	e-lure	Name Lure	Emergency Lure
7th	Authority Lure	Assistance Lure	Ego/Fame Lure
8th	Affection Lure	Trafficking Lure	Pet Lure

 

If you prefer that your child not participate in the teen lures prevention lessons, please write and sign a note indicating your preferences and send it to your child’s teacher or school counselor. As always, counselors are available to discuss any concerns you might have.  Unless written documentation is received, your child will participate in the teen lures prevention and safety lessons.

Attendance at school is an important part of student success and achievement. A pattern of absences may put a student at risk of not achieving the Academic Knowledge and Skills (AKS) for their grade level and courses. Certain absences are excused according to state guidelines.

Excused Absences Include:

• Personal illness or attendance in school endangering a student’s health or the health of others

• A serious illness or death in a student’s immediate family requiring absence from school

• A court order or an order by a governmental agency, including pre-induction physical examination for service in the armed forces, mandating absence from school

• Observing religious holidays, necessitating absence from school

• Conditions making attendance impossible or hazardous to student health or safety

• Serving as a page in the Georgia General Assembly

• A student, whose parent or legal guardian is in military service of the United States or the National Guard, and such parent or legal guardian has been called to duty for or is on leave from overseas deployment to a combat zone or combat support posting, shall be granted excused absences, up to a maximum of five school days per year, for the day or days missed from school to visit with  his or her parent or legal guardian prior to deployment or while on leave


Excusing Absences

• If your student is absent from school, parents or guardians need to send a note to the school stating the reason for his/her absence. Should the reason be one noted above, your child’s absence will be marked excused. 
• After 10 absences without a medical note being submitted, a medical note may be requested to excuse an absence.
• All attendance excuses must be turned in within five days of the absence. The school will not accept late attendance excuses.

Attendance Letter

An attendance letter will be sent home when their child accumulates 5, 7 and 10 unexcused absences.  When a student reaches 10 unexcused absences the parents or guardians will be invited to attend a Student Attendance Review Committee (SARC meeting).  When a student accumulates an excessive number of unexcused absences the family may be referred to a community agency for additional support.

 

Gwinnett County Public Schools’ Student/Parent Handbook outlines attendance expectations

Sincerely,
Summerour Professional School Counselors

Individual Counseling

These sessions are provided to assist students with a variety of educational and personal concerns. The primary purpose of these sessions is to help students explore their concerns, make appropriate plans of action, and be successful in following through with their plans.

Small Counseling Groups

Small groups are offered as part of the school's developmental program. All groups emphasize building a positive self-concept and guiding students to reach their potential. Students may participate with parent permission only.

Classroom

Classroom topics are developmental and designed to support students academically and are aligned with the AKS, GMAS, Quality Core Curriculum, and the state Board of educational Core Values.

Consultations

The counselor consults with parents, teachers and administrators to discuss the educational, social and emotional needs of our students, enhance individual development and academic success, and promote an optimal learning environment for all students.

According to the Department of Family and Children Services, these are the guidelines for leaving a child at home alone.

• Age 8 or under
  • Should never be home alone
• Age 9-12
  • Can stay alone up to 2 hours
• Age 13 and over
  • Can stay alone up to 12 hours and can perform the role of babysitter