School Counseling Program
- School Counseling Department's Mission
- School Counselors' Responsibilities
- Meet Your School Counselors
- Announcements
- Crisis & Information Resources
- PSAT Information (8th Grade Only)
- Individual Graduation Plans (IGPs) - 8th Grade Only
- Duke TIP (7th Grade Only)
- Naviance - College and Career Readiness
- Red Ribbon Week
- Job Shadowing
- Newsletters
- Helpful Links
School Counseling Department's Mission
The mission of Zucker Middle’s School Counseling Program is: Every Student. Every Day. No Exceptions. No Excuses. Our goal is to partner with parents, community, faculty and staff to provide a comprehensive, developmental counseling program addressing the academic, career, and personal/social development of all students thus preparing them with the knowledge and skills to be productive members of society.
Middle school counselors help to meet the needs of all students by:
Helping students understand themselves and others
Helping students develop communication skills
Helping students develop successful behavior patterns
Helping make school a successful experience for all
Helping to prevent problems from developing
Including parents in their children's education
Providing crisis intervention
School Counselors' Responsibilities
MIDDLE SCHOOL COUNSELORS
Primary Function
• to provide a comprehensive developmental guidance and counseling program for all middle-level students
• to consult with teachers, parents/guardians, and staff to enhance their effectiveness in helping students
• to provide support to other middle-level educational programs
Major Responsibilities
1. Implementing the middle-level school guidance curriculum through coordination and/or delivery of classroom units and infusion in content areas
2. Counseling individuals and groups of students toward academic and career development
3. Counseling individuals and groups of students toward personal/social development and emotional growth
4. Consulting with and training teachers, parents/guardians, and staff regarding the needs of middle-level students
5. Referring students and their families to special programs, specialists, and community agencies when appropriate
7. Participating in the intervention-team process and/or working with the school’s student support team
8. Planning and evaluating the counseling program attending district, state and locally sponsored staff-development offerings
9. Pursuing continuous professional growth
Meet Your School Counselors
MS. SZCZYGIEL
Hi there! I am the school counselor for 7th graders and for 8th graders with the last names A-L.
I graduated from The Citadel with my Masters in School Counseling, and from Southern Connecticut State University with my undergrad in Interpersonal Communication and Journalism. I had a career in advertising with CBS New York, but volunteered with Big Brothers Big Sisters NYC and quickly learned that working closely with children is where I am meant to be. I still partake in many creative outlets and encourage each student to explore as much as they can for a well-balanced life.
In addition to this, I work with each student, guardian, and school staff to best support academic needs, socio-emotional growth, and high school/global citizen readiness. I am always here to connect you with any resources that I can.
You can contact me at: patricia_szczygiel@charleston.
I look forward to getting to know you.
MR. SNYDER
Mr. Snyder is the school counselor for 6th graders and for 8th graders with the last names M-Z.
You can contact him at: henry_snyder@charleston.k12.sc.us
Announcements
Crisis & Information Resources
If you’re in crisis or experiencing difficult or suicidal thoughts call the National Suicide Hotline 1-800-273 TALK (8255)
Looking for more information, referrals or support? Call the NAMI HelpLine 800-950-NAMI (6264)
If you or someone you know is in an emergency situation, call The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or call 911 immediately.
PSAT Information (8th Grade Only)
Individual Graduation Plans (IGPs) - 8th Grade Only
If your 8th grade student’s last name begins with A-L, contact Ms. Sczcygiel at patricia_sczcygiel@charleston.
If your 8th grade student’s last name begins with M-Z, contact Mr. Snyder at henry_snyder@charleston.k12.sc.us or by phone at (843) 767-8383 x1026.
Duke TIP (7th Grade Only)
The largest program of its kind, participants in the Duke TIP 7th Grade Talent Search identify academic strengths, develop abilities and interests, and celebrate their achievements at a crucial time when they are forming their identities and looking ahead to the future. TIP assists families in determining how advanced their students’ academic abilities are and what level of educational challenge is appropriate.
As part of the talent search enrollment, Duke TIP registers eligible seventh graders to take either the ACT (no Writing) or SAT (no Essay) as an above-level test. This allows students to have greater insight into their abilities and it gives them the opportunity to preview a college entrance exam.
Whether you are new to TIP or participated in our 4th–6th Grade Talent Search, we hope you’ll take a moment to learn about this talent search, its valuable benefits and resources designed specifically for academically talented youth, and its qualifications for enrollment.
Eligibility Is an Honor
As a seventh grade student with strong intellectual abilities, you are eligible to participate because you achieved a qualifying score at or above the 95th percentile on a recent grade-level test. You have been identified as part of a select group who would benefit from participation in our program for academically talented students.
Do I Qualify?
- You must be in the seventh grade (or a current eighth grader who skipped seventh grade).
- You must meet the test score requirements.
Students must have one of the following (available from your school’s counselor):
- score at or above the 95th percentile on an accepted subtest or total battery/composite of a grade-level standardized achievement test, aptitude test, mental-ability test, approved state criterion-referenced test or
- have a standard score at or above 125 on the full scale or composite score on an IQ test that is no more than two years old.
Scores from either of the two most recent test administrations are accepted. For most seventh grade students this represents scores from either the sixth grade or the fifth grade. Students need to qualify in only one of the accepted composite or subtest areas.
For more information, please go to the Duke TIP website: https://tip.duke.edu/
**Student will be notified if they are eligible by the end of September/early October.
Naviance - College and Career Readiness
Connecting Learning & Life
Naviance is a comprehensive college and career readiness solution for middle and high schools that helps connect academic achievement to post-secondary goals. (http://www.naviance.com/)
JZMS Naviance Page:
https://student.naviance.com/jzmss
Chrome is the preferred browser
Username: first three letters of last name, followed by first three letters of first name, followed by last four digits of student id (i.e. - smitom3211 - like the gmail username)
Password: Entire Student ID (number only, found on bar code on back cover of student agenda - may be 5 or 12 digits)
Red Ribbon Week
Offers excellent overviews of types of drugs, allows you to search for drugs by their slang names, a guide for parents, a section for teens, and information for treatments or interventions.
Partnership for a Drug-Free NC www.drugfreenc.org
Serves to reduce the negative impact of substance abuse and mental illness on NC’s individuals, families, and communities. Offers several links of other web-based resources.
Parents. The Anti-Drug www.theanti-drug.com/
Offers information on drugs, the lingo teens are using, and resources to help parents talk to their children about drugs. There are links for advice, news, and how to take action against drugs in your home and community.