School Counseling
The School Counseling Department works to meet the diverse and unique needs of students. The needs of adolescents during the middle school years can affect every area of development, spanning from academics and physical changes to social and emotional arenas.
As students grow and seek to develop their own identities, counselors work to help students in balancing these needs within the school setting.
The School Counseling Department addresses four major areas of development:
1. Academic achievement
2. Self-advocacy
3. Conflict resolution/problem solving
4. Social and personal development
Counselors offer a variety of services, including: meeting with students on an individual basis, developmental guidance classroom instruction, group counseling for students, consulting and collaborating with parents, school staff, and professionals in the community, sharing in the peer mediation.
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6th Grade Discover Class
The Discover Class is specifically designed and developmentally appropriate for 6th grade students. The class is a trimester in length meeting every other day in rotation with physical education classes.
The curriculum is structured around the following units:
Transition to Middle SchoolBullying
Differences/Tolerances
Friendships
Communication
Anger/Stress management
Study Skills
Goals
Time Management
Career Exploration
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7th & 8th Grade Curriculum
7th and 8th grade will participate in the following guidance workshops
The topics covered include:
Mental Health Awareness
Conflict Resolution
Choices/Decision Making
Effective Communication -------------------------------------------------
CRISIS NUMBERS
Child Abuse Hotline
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1-800-842-2288
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Crisis Intervention Center
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203-797-7899
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Infoline
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Dial 211
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Women's Center of Danbury:
Helpline
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203-731-5200
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Sexual Assault Hotline
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203-731-5204
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Domestic Violence Hotline
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203-731-5206
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DRUG AND ALCOHOL ABUSE
New Fairfield's Student Assistance Program
Sharon Shea, LCSW, LADC, Student Assistance Counselor
Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 312-5852
THINK PREVENTION!!
Stop It Before It Starts, Before It Gets Worse, Before It's Too Late
(Students involved in the program may not be using substances, but may be at high risk for substance use.)
What Services Are Available?
Drug Prevention Information and Education
The program provides factual information about alcohol and drugs, side effects of drugs, dangers of combining different drugs, and how to stop and/or avoid alcohol/drug use.
Assistance With Developing Coping Skills
Stress/anger management skills and peer relation skills are vital to prevention.
Smoking Cessation Program
Information to Help Others
Assistance with information regarding how to cope with friends or family members using alcohol or drugs.
Provides Resources and/or Referrals to Community Services
Student & Parent Presentations about Drug Prevention and Coping Skills
THE STUDENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM IS CONFIDENTIAL
Suggested Websites:
www.drugabuse.org A website that has treatment programs available for children and adults.
www.ct-al-anon.org The Local Alanon Website: helps family members of alcoholics solve their common problems. Emphasis is on anonymity. Local meetings available.
www.alateen.org Alateen: A division of Alanon for younger family members of alcoholics to gain support from one another.
www.nacoa.org The National Association for Children of Alcoholics website.
Connecticut Clearinghouse is the state's resource center for information about alcohol, tobacco, other drugs, and related issues affecting mental health and wellness. Contact them for free information on drugs, alcohol, tobacco, and related topics such as violence prevention, AIDS, eating disorders, suicide prevention, and child abuse.
Organizations:
Narcotics Anonymous A support group for those dealing with substance abuse. Local meetings available. 1-800-627-3542
Midwestern Connecticut Council on Alcoholism (MCCA) 203-792-4515
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COUNSELING SERVICE PROVIDERS
Center for Child and Adolescent Treatment Services (CCATS)
Telephone (203)830-6082
CARD (Center for Attention Related Disorders) Telephone (203)740-7296
New England Counseling, Ridgefield Telephone (203)431-4957
Northwest Center for Family Services and Mental Health www.nwcct.org
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HEALTH ISSUES
Suggested Websites:
www.hopeline.com Offers support for those dealing with suicide, teenage pregnancy and depression.
www.suicidehotlines.com Provides immediate links to active crisis lines for each state, sponsored by the National Hopeline Network.
HIV/AIDS Programs:
Youth Reacting to AIDS (YRTA)
Interfaith AIDS Ministry of Greater Danbury
46 Main Street
Danbury, CT 06810
203-748-4077
Eating Disorders Programs:
Silver Hill Hospital
208 Valley Road
New Canaan, CT
1-800-899-4455
The Institute of Living
Hartford Hospital
200 Retreat Avenue
Hartford, CT 06106
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MENTOR PROGRAMS
Good Friend is a professionally run social service program which provides adult mentors to children, ages 7-14, from one-parent families.
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GRIEF AND LOSS
Regional Hospice of Western Connnecticut
405 Main Street, Danbury, CT
203-797-1685
www.dougy.org A website for children and adults dealing with the loss
of a loved one.
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STUDY SKILLS
Website: www.mydiscoverzone.com A website developed to go along with the Premier Agenda that all students use at NFMS.
Book: Covey, Sean. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens. New York: Fireside. 1998.
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JUST FOR KIDS
Suggested Websites for Kids:
Topic:
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Website
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Girls' Issues
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Study Skills
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Health
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Grief and Loss
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Suicide
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Teen support groups for dealing with someone else's drinking
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INTERNET SAFETY WEBSITES
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PARENTING/FAMILY ISSUES
Suggested Websites:
www.familyeducation.com A website that offers newsletters, online support groups for ADD/ADHD, expert advice from physicians and teachers, etc.
www.parentsoup.com A website for parents with information on child health, behavior, learning, siblings, childcare, working moms, step-parenting.
www.activeparenting.com A website that offers books and other programs for parents that teach active parenting skills. Free catalogs, newsletters, and online parenting groups can be accessed through this website.
Organizations:
Parents Anonymous
1-800-842-2288
Confidential, anonymous, self-help group with guidance for parents who are in danger of abusing their children. Call for meeting times.
UCONN Cooperative Extension System
203-797-4176
Offers programs for money management, parenting, budgeting, and 4H programs.
Suggested Books on Parenting:
Faye, Jim. Parenting With Love & Logic.
Cohen-Sandler, Dr. Roni and Silver, Michelle. I'm Not Mad At You, I Just Hate You. The Penguin Group/Penguin Putnam Inc., New York, NY.
Csiksezentimihalyi, Mihaly and Larson, Reed. Being Adolescent: Conflict and Growth in the Teenage Years. New York: Basic Books. 1994
Elkind, David, Ph.D. Parenting Your Teenager. New York: Ballantine Books. 1993.
Favaro, Peter, Ph.D. The Parent's Answer Book: Over 101 Solutions to Everyday Parenting Problems. Illinois: Contemporary Books. 1994.
Gardner, James E., Ph. D. The Turbulent Teenss: Understanding, Helping, Surviving. Los Angeles: Sorrento Press, Inc. 1983.
Nelson, Jane, Ed. D. Positive Discipline. New York: Ballantine Books.
Pipher, Mary. Reviving Ophelia: Saving the Selves of Adolescent Girls. New York: Ballantine Books. 1995.
Tracy, Louise Felton, M.S. Grounded for Life?! Washington: Parenting Press, Inc. 1994.
Wolf, Anthony E., Ph. D. Get Out of My Life, But First Could You Drive Me and Cheryl to the Mall? New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux. 1991.