Washington Middle School Counseling

Representatives from the Dartington Social Research Unit in Great Britain, plus other high-ranking educational and children’s social service agencies, as well as a member of Pariliament, met with WMS counselors David Bilides and Corey Goldstein, Health teacher Amy Miller, and principal Jon Halfaker as part of a U.S. study tour on prevention and intervention. They were specifically interested in our bullying prevention program.

We discussed not only the Olweus Anti-bullying program, but also our Health Education classes, Peer Mediation Program, Equity Committee, and other prevention efforts.The director thanked us, writing, “Our group has been inspired, informed and challenged in equal measure.” She also posted an interesting article about their visit to WMS on their web site.

I found the visit to be refreshing, to take a few moments during the school day to sit and describe what we’re trying to do and what we’re actually doing to help children. I also enjoyed hearing what was happening in Britain, and answering non-trivial questions about our work. These were intelligent, thoughtful policy makers and researchers, who found something at value at WMS and in Seattle in general.

As difficult as it may be to believe, there are only 6 weeks of school left. The WASL testing went smoothly, thanks to the efficiency, organization, and professionalism of Takiyah Jackson. (Counselors are still directed to organize and administer the WASL process; our department and others across the District are working on moving test administration, a non-counseling task which takes us away from our students for weeks, off our plates so that we can spend our time counseling students and working with their families.) Everyone has breathed a sigh of relief, and the school day has gotten back to our version of “normal.”

Students seem to ramp up with the weather, and there are many educational and social issues “springing” up along with the flowers. Upheavals are also in store for the school as a whole, as the effects of the Legislature’s refusal to prioritize the educational needs of the state’s children work themselves out in layoffs, staffing changes, increased class sizes, and fewer services.  A difficult time got just that much more difficult.

Stay tuned—to your student, stay in touch with your teachers, and monitor the workload assigned. Above all, spend quality time with your student that has nothing to do with school. that’s one of the best preventative measures out there.