WELCOME BACK TO SCHOOL!

We are off to a great start. We began the year with Meet Your Teacher. Students were able to pick up their schedule and go by their classrooms to meet their teachers.

What's New this Year?

New Additions to Student Support Services at UCMS

This year we welcome two people to our student support staff in Union County. Mrs. Emily Cobb is our Middle School Graduation Coach and Mrs. Dana Stephens-Craig is our School Social Worker. Below are more details about these important positions.

Middle School Graduation Coach: Emily Cobb

Purpose: To ensure successful transition from elementary to middle school and from middle to high school. Identify At-Risk students and provide support to middle school teachers on support measures that work with youth, identified as at-risk of not graduating. Develop a grade recovery program and to differentiate instruction to meet the needs of the identified at-risk students. Conduct an analysis of data for individual students and subgroups. Provide direct services and case management, working with students to develop an educational and career plan (Peach State Pathways). Develop relationships with parents/community organizations and other resources and report progress of individuals and subgroups.

Participate in the following committees: Graduation Coach Committee, SST Chairs, PAC, I-SAFE, CBRRT, Parent Involvement, and Attendance.

School Social Worker: Dana Stephens-Craig

Purpose: To provide services to K-12, AEP, and Woody Gap students and families in order to remove barriers to academic achievement and success. To intervene in the social, emotional, behavioral and adaptive functioning of students -- utilizing a problem-solving approach. Also serve as the Attendance Coordinator, resource for crisis intervention, individual and group counseling, living conditions and needs that effect attendance, achievement and adjustment.  Coordinates hospital homebound, (Family Connections), child abuse reporting, advocate for students, and provides support for SST/IEP process, Provides home visitation as needed, and emotional and social support for students from non-traditional living situations.

Participate in the following committees: Community Based Risk Reduction Team, Attendance Protocol in UC schools and Woody Gap, Sex/Aids Education Committee, Domestic Violence Committee, Multi- Disciplinary Committee, Internet Safety Committee, Child's Fatality Review, Family Connections, Executive Committee and Graduation Coach Committee.

We are excited about having these ladies as part of our Student Support Services!

Some have suggested that you might be interested in similar information on the Guidance Counselor, so here it is...

Middle School Counselor: Mysty Graves

The purpose of the Union County Middle School Guidance Program is to assist all students in developing life skills and acquiring competencies for their life careers.

Generally, the Guidance Program will address the needs of the students by facilitating development of the following domains:

1. Self-knowledge and interpersonal skills,

2. Life roles, settings, and events,

3. Life career planning.

More specifically, the UCMS Guidance Program is designed to:

1. Develop the student's awareness of their aptitudes, abilities, expressing ideas, rights and responsibilities (self care), and goals;

2. Assist students in relating to peers, potential co-workers, community members, family, and school personnel;

3. Facilitate the refinement of coping skills needed in life roles, settings, gathering and processing information and events, decision-making and valuing, achievement motivation and problem solving;

4. Assist students in their personal, social, career, and educational development;

5. Provide students with guidance and counseling services as a resource and liaison in developing and supporting communication between students and all community members.

The program is organized around person-centered goals and various activities designed to meet various needs.  Guidance is an educational program commensurate with other major educational programs in the school, placing emphasis on individual development.

The Guidance Program will address the needs of, and offer opportunities for, the ever-increasing numbers of students from non-traditional living situations that negatively impact emotional, social, and academic growth and development.

Duties: Program design, planning and leadership, counseling, guidance

and collaboration. Share information on test scores and test-taking skills. Provide consultation and coordination with building and countywide staff, as well as various community agencies. Provide classroom guidance activities for 6,7,8, support groups, and lunch bunch activities. Interpret student records and assist the school administrative staff with identifying and resolving student issues, needs and problems. Participate in attendance review boards. Distribute and maintain building keys. Administer placement tests for newly enrolled home school students. Facilitate Red Ribbon Week. Follow additional goals and objectives as they are identified by the local Board of Education.

Participate with the following committees: SST Chairs, PAC, I-SAFE, CBRRT, SPED, Parent Involvement, Attendance, Graduation Coach Committee.

I-SAFE

The mission of the Union County I-SAFE I-Parent Board is to educate and empower youth to make their internet experiences safe and responsible.

ADVISORS

Every student will have an advisor. They will meet daily. The advisor will be easy to contact if you have questions or concerns.

Testing Agenda

Week of September 17, 2007 we will be administering the ITBS test to our 8th grade students. More information will be sent home with 8th grade students.

• MGWA is scheduled to begin: January 16,2008
• CRCT is scheduled to begin: April 22,2008 for 6th,7th and 8th

More information will be sent home in a timely fashion prior to the scheduled test.

Guidance Program

The Counselor will be conducting classroom guidance lessons throughout the year in grades 6, 7, & 8. These lessons will reinforce the concepts being implemented by the Aha Program. We will also begin exploring careers and personal development through our lessons. Our Character Education Program will continue to use Character Critters with my Guidance lessons in the classrooms. The Red Ribbon Week activities will be conducted school wide. This year we will be conducting small group support through our Lunch Bunch program.

If you have concerns about your child please contact us at 745-2483 to schedule a conference. We will be happy to meet with you. We believe it is very important to work as a team to support your child as he or she develops into a young adult.

Food for Thought

Adjusting to Middle School means being prepared to learn. Establishing routines goes a long way in achieving success in school!

Being prepared means having all your supplies and knowing where they are-- having a place for everything such as specific pocket for pencils, calculators, paper, and so forth in the backpack or locker. Develop habits that reduce stress. For example, set a schedule for afternoons, a time and place to get homework done. Make sure you have good lighting and a good location to complete your homework. Another way to reduce stress is to prepare for the next morning the night before. Gather the books and back packs, homework, P.E. clothes, and project supplies and place them in a designated location. Select your clothes for the next day and have them laid out ready to put on in the morning. That way, when your alarm goes off, get ready for school, leave in plenty of time to catch the bus or arrive in time for school. Reducing your stress in the morning by starting the night before is a great idea. It sets you up for success!

Parent FYI

Students at UCMS have just completed the first of four 9-weeks grading periods. In order for students to qualify for Honor Roll or B-Team Honor Roll, they must meet the following criteria:

• Students scoring grades 90 and above for all classes are considered HONOR ROLL.
• Students scoring grades 80 and above for all classes are considered B-TEAM HONOR ROLL.

Check out the Links we have provided to various sites. There's lots of helpful information!

The Counselor's Office has a list of referrals if your needs require a more specialized professional.

This Counselor's Corner will be updated periodically, so check back for updates!

Registration Requirements for Enrolling a New Student

To register new students, present the following information to Mrs. Judith Bryner, Registrar, located in the Guidance Office.

• Student's Updated Georgia Immunization Form
  from the health department or physician
• Student's proof of residency (must live in Union County)
• Student's Social Security Number (if they have one)
• Student's Withdrawal Form from previous school

Each year parents are asked to complete a new "Student Registration Form" for each child in the middle school.

We must update personal information for each student yearly. If a portion of the form is not completed, the Registrar will contact you by phone or send the form home with your child to be completed. It is important that the information forms be returned to school within the first week of the new school year. School personnel need a current phone number and physical and mailing address for parents/guardians at all times. Parents need to come by the Registrar's Office or call the school, 745-2483 ext. 205, to make address, phone number and/or emergency contacts changes as soon as the changes occur.

If a child needs to be withdrawn from school, the parent/guardian who enrolled the child must come by the Registrar's Office and sign a withdrawal form. A copy of the withdrawal form, immunization, and grades will be given to the parent/guardian to present to the child's new school for enrollment.

If you have questions regarding enrollment or withdrawal at UCMS, call 745-2483 ext. 2103 for Mrs. Beth Goddard for 7th & 8th grade or ext. 205 Mrs. Judy Bryner for 6th grade.

Together
Everyone
Achieves
More

We are anticipating a great year at UCMS. We look forward to working together as a TEAM!