Waynewood Elementary School
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Contact the Counselors

Marissa Porter (Full Time) 703-704-7124 
Room 100 (Main Building)   
MRPorter@fcps.edu
                    
Christy Partlow (Part Time / Tuesdays, Thursdays and every other Monday) 703-704-7164 Room 311 (Modular)
CMPartlow@fcps.edu

 

Mission Statement

The Waynewood  School Counseling Program promotes the academic, social, and
emotional success of children through a comprehensive counseling program which
includes developmentally appropriate K-6 classroom guidance lessons, individual counseling and group counseling. The Waynewood Professional School Counselor works in the role of a counselor, consultant, and coordinator for students, parents, teachers, specialists, and administrators depending on their unique needs in order to help create a foundation for students’ success in school and community.

 

Waynewood School Counseling

Waynewood Elementary School has two licensed, professional school counselors: Ms. Marissa Porter (full-time) and Ms. Christy Partlow (part-time). The job of the professional school counselor is to plan and implement an elementary school counseling and guidance program based on the standards developed by the Fairfax County Public School system and the American School Counselor Association.
Ms. Porter and Ms. Partlow implement a variety of classroom guidance lessons on topics such as bullying, conflict resolution, anger management, study skills, cooperation, listening, feelings, and the middle school transition. The counselor visits your child’s classroom once a month.

Each school counselor runs approximately 6-10 groups each semester on topics such as friendship, managing stress, family changes, deployment and grief.

 

Commonly Asked Questions:

How does the counselor know my child’s name?

School counselors work with all students, unless a parent has signed the opt-out form. School counselors assist all students about how to navigate through life challenges like disagreements or conflicts with peers, managing strong feelings, family changes, etc.

My child mentioned he/she had lunch with the counselor. Is something wrong?

Students have lunch with the counselor for different reasons. Sometimes, they are invited to have a “fun lunch” with friends. This is a time for the child to interact with peers in a quieter, less restrictive environment. It is usually a one-time event and is quite popular among students. If you have not specifically referred your child for counseling or signed a permission slip, you can assume your child attended a “fun lunch.”

How does the school counselor determine which children to work with?

1) Parents can request and indicate a need and desire that the counselor meet with their children. If you have expressed interest and your child has not been seen, please never hesitate to call or email to reiterate your interest.
2) Students can request counseling and are able to fill out a form to let the counselor know that he/she has something to discuss.
3) Teachers, administrators, or other school staff refers the student.
Counseling is conducted with students individually and in small groups when requested and determined appropriate. It is short-term, voluntary, and confidential. It is not intended to be therapy, nor should it be viewed as a substitute for therapy. Parental permission is obtained prior to any extended individual or group counseling.

 

School Success Tips for Parents in English & Spanish

Parents now have Internet access to daily tips and an online library of more than 100 articles from the School Success Web Content Service. This site is automatically updated every day, and offers:

• Quick Links
• Parent Resources
• Workshop Warehouse
• Lending Library

To access the service, go to the The Parent Resource Center (PRC) of the FCPS web site, http://www.fcps.edu/cco/prc/.
You can also access English and Spanish pages with "Helping Children Learn/Ayudando a los Ninos a Aprender " and " Day by Day/Dia a Dia " publications. All of these resources are very helpful and written in a reader-friendly manner.

 

 

PARENT RESOURCES

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Girls and Boys Town — http://www.parenting.org/ This web site is nicely organized to offer information by specific age group. A free parenting e-book, What Every Parent Should Know, can be printed out from the web site home page. To print a copy, click on the title link above, or on "free e-book" at the web site home page. What Every Parent Should Know — from Girls and Boys Town offers facts on dangers affecting today's youth. Whether you're a mom or dad looking for assurance or struggling to keep your kids free from trouble, this compact guide puts proven solutions at your fingertips. Also available in Spanish. How to Help Children Cope with Disaster — http://www.savethechildren.org/ emergencies/asia_top_ten_tips_kids.asp The Parent Resource Center — http://www.fcps.edu/cco/prc/index.htm A great source for short, well-researched articles for parents on hundreds of topics. Helping Children Learn — available in English and Spanish This monthly publication is available in four versions: early childhood, elementary, middle, and high school — http://www.fcps.edu/cco/fam/helping.htm Here are some resources for parents to help  your children coping with crisis, talking to children about violence, and age related reactions to trauma. If you need any additional support, please contact Ms. Melissa Cochrane, School Counselor (703) 267-2811 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              (703) 267-2811      end_of_the_skype_highlighting. http://www.nctsnet.org/ nctsn_assets/pdfs/age_related_reactions.pdf (PDF Format) After the Shooting: What Parents Can Do Strategies to Help Survive Painful Times (PDF Format) Talking Violence (PDF Format)   SUGGESTED READING   Bullying Jake Drake, Bully Buster by Andrew Clements Dealing with Insults by Marianne Johnston We Can Get Along: A Child's Book of Choices by Lauren Murphy Payne What Do You Know About Bullying by Pete Sanders Sootface by Robert Souci Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters by John Steptoe Dealing with Series (Anger, Bullying, Competitiveness, Fighting, Jealousy) Acceptance Arthur's Tooth by Marc Brown Story of Ruby Bridges by Robert Coles Olivia by Ian Falconer Olivia Joins the Circus by Ian Falconer Corduroy by Don Freeman How My Parents Learn to Eat by Ina Friedman Franny B. Kranny, There's a Bird in Your Hair by Harriet Lerner Big Orange Splot by Daniel Pinkwater Diversity The Ugly Duckling by Hans Christian Anderson Stellaluna by Janell Cannon The Mixed Up Chameleon by Eric Carle Big Al by Andrew Clements Be Good to Eddie Lee by Virginia Fleming Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes Amazing Grace by Mary Hoffman Leo the Late Bloomer by Robert Krauss Hooway for Wodney Wat by Helen Lester Speak Up, Blanche! by Emily Arnold McCully Elmer by David McKee Paper Bag Princess by Robert Munsch Stephanie's Ponytail by Robert Munsch Piggie Pie by Margie Palatini Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister I Can Hear the Sun by Patricia Polacco Imogene's Antlers by David Small (video) Weird Parents by Audrey Wood

CAREER INFORMATION

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According to America's Career Resource Network, parents can also help children identify and pursue interests as the first step in career exploration. Check out the following career-related web sites for further information: Virginia View www.vaview.vt.edu America's Career Resource Network www.acrnetwork.com/parents.aspx Career Parent Magazine by Bridges.com careerparent.bridges.com Essential Skills for the 21st Century Workplace Communication Creative Thinking Problem Solving Responsibility Self-Management Leadership Money Management Computer Literacy Teamwork Mathematics Decision Making Knowing How to Learn Sociability Integrity/Honesty Working with Diversity Time Management Organization Source: Fairfax County Public Schools Career Connection

 

Parenting Tips School counselors work throughout the year on having students express their feelings in appropriate ways, how to deal with their anger, and how to cope with stressful situations. But what happens when school is not in session, especially during the extended summer break? As a parent, you are the most influential person in your child's life. How you work through family issues can have a positive influence on your child's behavior throughout the family and school. Here are some parenting tips from the American School Counselors Association that you can work on throughout the summer months:
Sibling Conflicts
It is a good idea for parents to help their kids learn how to work out their differences peacefully. One way to do this is through using "I messages." The "I messages" include such phrases such as "I feel…because," "I want you to…" For example, "I feel angry because you called me a name and I want you to stop." It is also a good idea to encourage your children to listen to other people's "I messages" and then repeat back to them what they understand they heard. For example, "You said that you do not want me to call you names, and you want me to stop. I will stop calling you names."
Discipline
Children develop security, increased self-esteem and have fewer behavior problems when in an environment that provides consistency, rules, consequences, praise, and positive acclamations. Consistency means as a parent you are predictable. For example, every time your child throws a fit at a store, Mom or Dad will leave the store. Having rules in print is also important. When the child breaks a rule, the parent can point to a printed sheet and ask, "What is the rule?" This takes the heat off the parent and places it on the "rule." The rules need to be at the child's developmental level and sometimes, when they're created with the child and parent, there is more of a buy-in from the child. Choose consequences that fit when rules are broken. For example, coming home late from being at a friend's house might mean that your child cannot see that friend for a few days. Praise is also important. Look for the good in your child and praise it. It helps build their self-esteem.
Parental Conflicts
There are two words that you can use when your child wants to have an unending argument or defy your authority. They are "nevertheless" and "regardless." These words are simple argument deflectors. For example, Parent: John, please pick up your room and then feed the dog. Child: But, Mom, Sarah never has to do any chores. Parent: Nevertheless, I want you to pick up your room and feed the dog.
Family Meetings
Family meetings should occur once a week. It should be a time when there is an open forum, not talking about discipline or punishments, but rather listening to your children's feelings and concerns and asking them to listen to yours. This open communication can foster positive relationship.