Counselors are boon to elementary schools
By Stephanie Bertholdo bertholdo@theacorn.com

MAKING A DIFFERENCE- New elementary school counselors in Las Virgenes Unified School District help children improve their grades, cope with family problems and deal more constructively with emotional issues. From left, Ann Eklund, former director of elementary education, and counselors Royce Daniels, Erin Howard, Holly Pike, Kelly Lowry and Chris Zacha.

Counseling for students at the elementary school level can bring major benefits, according to a report presented to the Las Virgenes Unified School District Board of Education.

Several new counselors were hired for elementary schools as part of Measure E, the $98peryear parcel tax approved by voters in 2004.

Five elementary counselors- Kelly Lowry, Royce Daniels, Erin Howard, Holly Pike and Chris Zacha- serve eight elementary schools, said Ann Eklund, director of elementary education at the time (former Round Meadow principal Rose Dunn now fills the post). Prior to Measure E funding, two full-time counselors were charged with helping students at all elementary schools.

Daniels said that people ask her why elementary students need counseling sessions. Children as young as six are referred to counseling when behavior issues interfere with classroom instruction, she said.

"Success stories" were presented to board members.

Daniels recalled a young boy who suffered from stomachaches for three weeks. When doctors couldn't find a reason for the malady, he was referred to counseling.

"The stomachache was very real," Daniels said.

After encouraging the child to talk, the counselor found out his pain actually stemmed from the emotional distress of his parents' divorce. Talking out the issues with the child and parents helped the child cope and eased the stomachaches.

Daniels said underachieving students often "self destruct" and give up on school by third grade.

When a youngster "drops out" emotionally grades suffer and the child is at a greater risk for eventually dropping out by high school.

Group sessions prove a successful intervention. Daniels said a fourth-grade student at risk for repeating his fourth-grade year due to poor grades, was invited to participate in group counseling.

Daniels said the children are given "personal power to make changes in their lives." The boy learned how to take responsibility for his homework and study habits and turned his grades around. When Daniels followed up on the student's progress, she learned he'd earned a B on his social studies test and did not need to repeat fourth grade.

Daniels said the same type of counseling programs are provided in middle schools, but reaching students at an earlier age makes the transition into middle school easier.

"We have recognized elementary age students as young as kindergartners having issues holding them back from realizing their potential," Daniels said. "Counseling is empowering."

Eklund told board members counselors continue to have a large caseload. Each counselor receives a minimum of 25 contacts daily, and between 12 and 14 group counseling sessions are conducted weekly. Group sessions include between six to eight students, and sessions run from six to 12 weeks. Some of the issues addressed in the group sessions include anger and conflict management, "changing families," grief and self-esteem. Teachers, staff, yard duty employees, administrators and parents can recommend a child to counseling. A child can also "self-refer."

Even with additional counselors on hand to help youngsters, their workload is complex. Besides individual and group counseling, counselors consult with teachers, parents and administrators.

They also present class lessons for kindergarten through fifth grade and offer crisis intervention as well as intervention for playground squabbles. Parent education is also included in their plethora of duties.

Pajama parties are periodically held for girls and their mothers to encourage better communication. Daniels said between 30 and 40 fourth and fifthgrade students participate in the Friday evening parties.

Moms and daughters "connect" with each other and find better ways of talking problems out.

Apparently the "girls only" approach helped to rectify the "meangirl syndrome" that rears its ugly head in the primary grades. The syndrome is sometimes difficult to detect because girls have subtle ways of bullying.

Rather than push and fight like boys, girls will exclude classmates, gossip or create cliques of friends.

Board member Dave Moorman said the program was helpful in identifying the roots of problems before they could "ruin" a student.

"We can make such an incredible difference in the lives of these children," Daniels said.