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SCHOOL COUNSELING
CONTACT INFORMATION FOR THE 2023-24 SCHOOL YEARCaroline Deininger
Administrative Assistant
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Stephanie Berardelli
Grade 8
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Mark Mueller
Grade 7
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Please note: Counselors stay with the same class of students for two consecutive years.
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Objectives
- To be available to students, parents, and teachers during the school year.
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To meet with students individually or in small groups.
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To support and help strengthen the work of the teachers.
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To work with other school personnel - the administrators, the nurse, the psychologists, the speech and hearing therapists.
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To utilize the services of community agencies.
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Appointments
APPOINTMENTS
Counselors see students based on referrals made by students, parents, teachers, and administrators. Encourage your child to talk with his/ her counselor early. He/she may be more willing to accept help when he/she seeks it for himself/ herself. With the teacher's permission, a student may come to the counseling office at any time. The counseling slip will be given directly to the student or placed in the homeroom teacher's mailbox on the appropriate day. If the scheduled time is not convenient for the student or teacher, the student will be rescheduled.
Our emphasis at Arcola is child-centered approach; therefore the role of the school counselor is even more vital to the school operation. The counselors are in continuous contact with teachers through frequent attendance at team meetings and as a working member of each teaching team.
HOW TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT
- The student can stop in to the Counseling Office any time to make an appointment, or
- Parents or students can call or email the counselor or the office administrative assistant directly.
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Policy for Extended Absence School Work
The counseling office will contact your child's teachers to secure materials and assignments missed during your child's absence from school. PLEASE NOTE that the absence from school must exceed a minimum of three (3) school days before that can be done. This policy, though, does not limit access to your child's textbooks and notebooks. If you know that the absence will be that length, please call the counseling office directly to make those arrangements first thing in the morning. Voice mail makes it possible to make this request during non-school hours. (610) 489-5000 Extension 30202 -
High School Program Planning Guide
This guide provides information and direction to students and parents/guardians as they begin the course selection process for high school.
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Summer School Remediation Information
2023 Arcola Summer School
Remediation courses are designed for students who earned below 60% for their final grade.
Summer School runs from Monday, June 19 to Thursday, July 27Remediation courses are available through Methacton's cyberschool (Methacton Virtual Academy via Brandywine Virtual Academy - BVA) during the summer. Once registered, students will work on their course(s) online at home until they are finished.Click HERE for a document that contains more detailed information.Click here to register for remediation courses:Registration is only open until June 30 -
Small Group Counseling
SMALL GROUP COUNSELING
As part of a comprehensive school counseling program within the Methacton School District, Arcola counselors co-facilitate short-term, educational support groups. The small groups are designed to support students' development of social, emotional and academic skills. Within a smaller, more individualized setting, students are taught interpersonal, coping and study skills for use in the wider school environment. Groups also support resiliency and assist in removing barriers to learning, allowing students to better access the district's academic curriculum.
Opportunities to participate in educational support groups vary with the needs of students. Although participation in educational support groups is voluntary, students may be referred through the Individualized Education Planning (IEP) process or the Methacton Assistance Program for Students (MAPS) process. At other times, students may be recommended for small group participation by the school counselor, a teacher, the principal or the student's parents. The groups offered through the Arcola counseling department are inclusionary.
Below are groups that we have facilitated in the past based on the needs of the student population. Some groups are ongoing, while others run for a marking period or a semester. Please contact your student's school counselor for more information on whether or not a group is active. Written parental consent is required for most groups prior to student participation.Comfort, Hope, and Healing
This group is for students who are looking for a place for a little comfort, hope and healing. Life is a challenge and we can get through it with a little support from those who understand our loss and grief. In this group students will have the opportunity to meet with other students who know how tough it is when a parent, sibling or family member leaves or passes away.
Out to Lunch with the Guys
This group for boys meets one day per cycle during lunch. Boys get a chance to meet with other boys in their grade to discuss school, parents, and friends. Topics will include (but are not limited to) making and keeping friends, communicating with others, getting involved in school and in the community, and making good choices.
Girl Talk
This group for girls meets one day per cycle during lunch. In this group, a wide variety of topics are discussed from friends to school to parents. Join Girls Talk for some good discussions on what is important to you!
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Organized Chaos
This service is for students who need help getting organized before the school day starts. We meet in the Student Commons every day between 8 and 8:15 AM. Students will be given lots of space to organize their binders, look for "lost" papers, and get their "life" in order all before 1st period! Any 7th or 8th Grade student is welcome to attend whenever they need some organization on an as-needed basis after they check in with their homeroom teacher. -
College and Career Readiness - Naviance
Naviance is a software program that the school counseling office uses with students to explore careers as part of Methacton's college and career readiness program. At Arcola, Naviance is used to:
- Help all students discover more about themselves using several different career exploration tools
- Help 7th Grade students learn what career clusters may be a good match for them based on activities that interest them, personal qualities that they have and subjects that they enjoy studying in school.
- Help 8th Grade students continue their exploration using Career Key, which is based on Holland's Theory of Career Choice. It uses six personality types to help match students to career pathways.
To access Naviance, click the following link and enter your student login information: Naviance - Arcola
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Resources
Resources
- Montgomery County Suicide Crisis and Prevention Resource Guide
- Behavioral Health Service Providers
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Addiction
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Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
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Bullying
Career and College Readiness
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Child and Adolescent Anxiety
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College For Every Student
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Digital Citizenship
A tool to help parents empower their children to become smart digital citizens
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Drug and Alcohol Awareness
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Eating Disorders
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Grief and Loss
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Internet Safety/Cyberbullying
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North Montco Technical Career Center
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Parental Guides to Media and Technology
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Pennsylvania Career Information
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Student Tips
Guides on how to study, how to do better on tests, how to become a better reader/writer, and how to do better in math
https://www.parent-institute-online.com/ep/eplibrary.php?7328-L580929
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Study Skills Online
https://www.mathscareers.org.uk/study-skills-in-stem-introduction/
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Teen Health
Advice on hundreds of physical, emotional, and behavioral topics concerning teenagers
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Teen Talk Line
Connect with a fellow teen to discuss whatever’s on your mind with absolutely no judgmentsTest-Taking Strategies (video)
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Volunteering
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Meet Mr. Mueller
MEET THE COUNSELOR - MR. MUELLER
I am very excited to be here at Arcola! My goal is to work with the entire community to help every student be the best they can be!
School Counseling is a second career for me; I spent over 25 years working in the high technology field, primarily in sales. In my last job I ran a national sales organization and traveled extensively. Name a major city in North America and I have probably been there! I needed a change and decided to go back to school for a Masters in School Counseling at Villanova University because it combined two of my passions: teaching and mental health. My undergraduate degree is in Computer Science and many of my friends consider me a computer geek!
I am not a native Philadelphian, but this area has been my home since I moved here in 1984 from Buffalo, New York. My wife Mary and I have two awesome boys, John and Paul. In my spare time I love to run, bike, read, and do volunteer work.
I am looking forward to a great year working with all of our students, parents, teachers, administration and community. If you need to contact me I can be reached by phone at (610) 489-5000 ext 30220 or email at mmueller@methacton.org.
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Meet Mrs. Berardelli
MEET THE COUNSELOR - MRS. BERARDELLILet me introduce myself and give you some background information about me since I will be getting to know you and your children throughout the course of the year...My name is Stephanie Berardelli. I received my Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education K-6 with an emphasis in science from Penn State University at University Park in 1987. ( For the glory of ole State, for her founders strong and great, for the future that we wait, Dear Ole State, Dear Ole State...As you can tell, I remain a HUGE fan!) In 1992, I went back to school for a Master's Degree in Secondary Counseling which I obtained with honors from West Chester University in 1995. I was also married in 1995. My husband is an alumni of MSD. He grew up in Worcester where we now live with our 4 children--Maddie, Matt, Molly, and Mac. I can't forget our 3 dogs..."Yogi and Baloo" (Newfoundlands) and a French Bulldog, Meech.I've been here at Arcola for thirty-five years. 20 of those years were as a 6th grade science teacher when Arcola was a 6, 7, and 8 building! Yes, that's a long time, but the one great thing about both of those positions is that I have the opportunity to work with your children in a capacity in which I strive for a positive experience and outcome for everyone. Speaking of a positive experience, I also started the cheerleading program here in middle school several years ago. I resigned from that position when I began my family.Oh yes, life is busy, but aren't we all? I'm hopeful that we can all find some calm in our hectic lives. If not, do what I do...take a step back, inhale deeply, (remember to exhale!), and imagine yourself in your definition of paradise! Mine is below!!On that thought, get ready for a year of familiar faces, new friendships, and a whole new world to explore out there! You're going to love it here at Arcola!! -
Student Assistance Program (S.A.P.)
