School Counselor
Pine Crest has a variety of support services, including a school counselor, Cami Fitzsimmons, who is at Pine Crest two and one-half days per week. Cami has been a school counselor in the Sebastopol Union School District for over 18 years. Her role is to provide a variety of support services to students, parents, and teachers, and to improve the overall climate of the school.
There is a system in place so students are able to request a visit to see Cami if they need to discuss problems at school, such as friendship issues, bullying, playground and general school concerns. Many students choose to spend time with Cami at recess and lunch in the counseling room, where it is quiet and safe. In addition, Cami provides support groups throughout the year on a variety of topics, such as friendship, grief and divorce. Students, teachers and parents refer children to these groups. Parent permission is required for attendance in any of the counseling groups and for short term weekly counseling sessions with Cami.
Along with the teachers and staff members, Cami has been involved with the development of the B.E.S.T. practices of maintaining a safe and positive school environment. Cami implemented the Toolbox Program, a social/emotional literacy program which helps students "realize and develop a lifetime of meaningul relationships and a sense of well-being." (Mark Collin, Toolbox author) Cami provides classroom guidance lessons in the Toolbox curriculum. Students needing more opportunity to practice social skills are invited to attend small "Toolbox" friendship groups.
Rainbow Connection
Rainbow Connection is a special room on campus “where good things happen”. This room is filled with games, toys and most importantly, a Special Adult Friend, Laurie Olson, who visits with students and provides them with a caring, supportive experience. Students who are enrolled in this Primary Intervention Program receive 12 weeks of 1:1 time with Laurie. Students are referred by the teacher, parents or, at times, themselves. The Rainbow Connection program is designed to help students settle into the school environment and enhance their personal development. The program is in its eighteenth year and has become an integral part of the support system culture at Pine Crest. Parent permission is required.
All students at Pine Crest are invited to attend, along with a friend, one "lunch bunch" visit in the Rainbow Connection room each year.
If you have any questions, or would like more information
regarding
the student support/counseling services listed above, please call Cami
Fitzsimmons at Pine Crest (829-7411).