Counselor's Corner
Jeanine Lizotte, MA, PPSSchool Counselor
[email protected]
310-842-4338
Extension 248
https://tinyurl.com/
Mission and Vision Statements
The mission of the CCUSD counseling/mental health services team is to provide comprehensive school counseling services with equal access to all students. Our programs are designed to help all students develop and enhance their academic, personal/social, and career strengths in order to build resiliency and advocacy skills with a positive attitude to feel a sense of belonging.
The CCUSD school counseling program’s vision is that all students are equipped to be engaged in ongoing learning and personal growth. CCUSD students actively develop confidence to be productive community members who embody the grit and resilience needed to achieve success and reach their full potential. Our students acquire and apply learning strategies, self-management and social skills to achieve personal and collective goals while contributing to safe, healthy, and inclusive relationships and communities.
Classroom Lessons
Counselor lessons happen once a month in your Sea Dragon's classroom. Topics planned for this year are:
September: Emotional recognition and regulation
October: Problem solving skills
November: Practicing gratitude
December: Working with groups
January: Growth mindset
February: Combating stereotypes
March: Healthy friendships
April: Career exploration
May: Caring for our mental health
Small Group Counseling
Lunch Bunch
Lunch Bunch is offered throughout the year, rotated by grade level, to provide identified students with another adult connection on campus, increase peer connectedness, and establish relationships with students in other classrooms.
New Student Group
A new student lunch will be offered during the first three weeks of school for new students in grades 1 through 5. The group will assist children with the adjustment of attending a new school. This is also a great opportunity for them to meet other new students and become familiar with important staff and areas of Lin Howe.
Permission slips are required for groups exceeding one meeting. Permissions slips will come home via email.
Individual Meetings
I meet with students individually at student, family, or teacher request. These meetings are short, solution focused sessions designed to equip students with practical skills they can translate to their daily lives. School counselors are not licensed to deliver long term, intensive therapy.
Confidentiality
Elementary school students are beginning to understand the value of privacy, for themselves, their families, and others. Respecting this right to privacy, or confidentiality, is important to the counseling relationship.
Information that students share in the context of counseling will typically be kept confidential, except when the student reveals intent to harm self or others, suspected abuse or neglect, or a court order is received.
Confidentiality is very important in my role as a school counselor, but I also recognize that parent and teacher communication and collaboration are essential to helping students. While I respect the student's right to confidentiality, I will usually ask for his or her permission to speak to a parent and/or a teacher about a situation when I feel there is pertinent information to help us work together as a team to support the child.
Parent Notification
I will notify parents about counseling services using my best professional judgement. In most instances, I do not call parents if a meeting with a student was about a simple friendship issue that was quickly resolved. A school counselor sees a large number of students for this reason and navigating friendship ups and downs is developmentally appropriate and an important part of social emotional growth.
For counseling aside from simple and easily resolved issues, I will usually notify the parent/guardian of our meetings.
Parents/guardians are always welcome to contact me if they have questions or concerns about their child.
* Portions of this section adapted from the Sandy Ridge Elementary School Counseling Program
Resources
School Wide Events
Unity Week: October 14- October 18
- Unity Day: October 16
Kindness Week: January 27- January 31
About Me
Welcome, Sea Dragons! It is my 13th year as a school counselor and 2nd year here at Lin Howe. I earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Kansas and a Master of Arts in Counseling from Loyola Marymount University. As an educator I value equity and inclusion for all students and creating a school culture where each student sees themself reflected and valued. I love NCAA basketball, being a Kansas Jayhawk, Taylor Swift and laughing with students. It's another great year to be a Sea Dragon!