Counseling Groups

"Career Awareness Day" is the culminating event of the Career Exploration Unit in the Eighth Grade Advisory Program. Initially, students complete a career inventory, which helps them think about their interests, aptitudes, and values. Upon completion of the inventory, there are group discussions regarding careers that match the students’ profiles. The goal is not to “pick” a career, but rather to have students begin the thought process that will eventually lead them to help make critical life decisions. On Career Awareness Day, parents and other speakers from various fields meet with groups of eighth grade students to discuss their individual careers and answer students’ questions.

"TeenTalk” is a group that is designed to help middle school girls build self-confidence, address real-life situations, and learn the importance of building and maintaining healthy relationships.  The group meets once a week for approximately 6-8 weeks. Members engage in a variety of activities and discussions designed to empower students on learning effective strategies and skills to achieve more positive relationships.  Through the facilitation of counselors, members of the group feel a sense of cohesiveness, unity, and are able to positively reflect on their own growth and development.

"iOrganize" is a group offered to selected sixth grade students to help them develop self-advocacy, organizational skills, and study skills.  Students get assistance with binder organization, test-taking strategies, speaking with teachers, and time management. The group meets once a week for five weeks on a rotating schedule. 

Random Acts of Kindness is a counseling group that will empower boys and girls from grades 6 through 8 to spread kindness throughput Lawton C. Johnson Summit Middle School.  In an effort to create a more positive and welcoming school climate, these students will cultivate ideas that promote kindness amongst their peers.

This group is intended to reach those students who have siblings with special needs.  Our goal is to provide a fun supportive opportunity for kids to connect with peers who have a commonality.  Topics will be geared towards the needs pf the group and appropriate for all middle school ages.

There is a Transition Program in place at Summit High School designed to assist students in gaining a greater understanding of their learning disability and other related issues.  One of the features of this Transition Program is known as the "Speaker’s Bureau". In this program, high school students participate in a workshop where they are trained to learn more about individual learning styles.  In addition, they also learn self-advocacy skills to help enhance their chances of success in school.  During the school year, these specially trained SHS students offer a workshop for our LCJSMS sixth graders to discuss some of these same issues.  The sixth graders participate in a series of activities facilitated by the high school students designed to explore learning styles and teach self-advocacy skills.  This year, the program is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, January 14, 2014. Following this half-day workshop, a small group experience for students is offered to build on these skills and is facilitated by the high school Transition Coordinator and a special education department.

In addition, a field trip to Summit High School is planned for all special education eighth grade students in May.  The purpose of this program is to introduce the eighth graders to high school students and staff and familiarize them with the special services available at the high school.  Students will also have the opportunity to tour the building and ask questions of students and staff.

All middle school Transition programs are planned by Mrs. Pat Walsh, SHS Transition Coordinator, and Mrs. Christine Lijoi, Special Education Middle School Supervisor.

This group will allow students to work on mindfulness techniques and create strategies to help them in a variety of situations.