School Counseling
Cunningham Park ES Student Services Team
Our Mission
The mission of the Cunningham Park School Counseling program is to help all children reach their fullest potential in a nurturing environment. I believe that all students can learn and are entitled to be treated with dignity and value. The counseling program is developed to support the school by collaborating with the administration and staff to provide a preventative and proactive program that commits us to a partnership with students, parents and the community.
About Us
School psychologists, a social worker, and two school counselors form the Student Services team at Cunningham Park Elementary. These are highly trained and experienced people. Each discipline has unique skills and training. Together, school social workers, school psychologists, and school counselors provide a stronger team than any single profession could provide on its own. The students, parents, staff, and school benefit from the student services team.
The elementary school counseling program is part of the total school program and complements learning in the classroom. The program encourages social, emotional and personal growth at each stage of development. The purpose of counseling with students, parents and teachers is to help students maximize their potential. As counselors we will conduct guidance lessons, consult with all stakeholders and provide both small group and individual counseling.
School Counselors
FCPS K-12 school counseling programs strive to empower students to become independent and productive individuals through a developmentally age-appropriate program providing academic, social, emotional, and college and career counseling services. The belief that all students can achieve academic success is a touchstone of the program.
As elementary school counselors, their primary objective is to assist students in reaching their potential to become effective learners. Their goal is to complement the learning environment in the classroom by using a child-centered, preventative, and developmental approach.
Counseling will be conducted with students individually and in small groups, when requested by parents and teachers and determined appropriate. This service is short-term, voluntary, and confidential. Parent notification is given to any extended individual or group counseling. There will also be monthly classroom guidance lessons focusing on student success.
When should I contact the school counselor?
· Achievement Concerns · Family Difficulties · Test Scores or Interpretations of results · Family and Student Health Concerns · Addressing the needs of a special child · Crisis Situations · Parenting Tips/ Solutions · Transition Difficulties · Medical Diagnosis that might impact your child at school · Any other concerns that may impact a child’s well being
Our School Counselor
- School Counselor, ES
School Psychology Services
School psychologists are mental health specialists with knowledge of child development, the psychology of learning, behavior management and intervention, monitoring the progress of students, and program evaluation. School psychologists apply this knowledge using a problem-solving approach to help bring about positive changes in the learning environment, attitude, and motivation. Services offered by the school psychologist may be provided directly to the student or indirectly by working with teachers, parents, and other caregivers; however, all services provided by the school psychologist are intended to enhance the academic and social-emotional success of students. Minimum requirements to be a school psychologist include a 60-hour master's degree program and a one-year full-time internship; many FCPS school psychologists hold doctoral degrees.
Our School Psychologist
Social Work and Support Services
School social workers focus on family and community factors that influence learning. They provide intensive services for students facing issues that pose risks to their academic success such as parent divorce and separation, poverty, truancy, chronic illness, mental health problems, conduct problems, child abuse, etc.
All FCPS social workers hold a Master of Social Work (MSW) or Master of Social Science (MSS) degree; many have earned a Doctorate of Social Work (DSW) degree. All school social workers are licensed by the Virginia Department of Education. The majority of the staff is clinically licensed by the Commonwealth of Virginia Board of Social Work (LCSW) or in other jurisdictions and trained to provide mental health services in any setting.