COMMACK MIDDLE SCHOOL

School counselors are professionally trained and New York State certified. Their role is to identify and address student needs that will ultimately formulate into academic and personal success. Our main goal is to advocate for our students to ensure they have a positive and successful middle school experience. Counselors work with students individually, in small groups, and within the classroom setting to support and assist them in their academic, social, emotional, and personal development. Counselors also are the liaison between students, parents, and administrators. Often times, the counselor will facilitate the needs of the student to identify and minimize barriers that stand in the way of student success. Our counselors are important sources of information for referrals and outside resources.

The counselors offer support in areas including:

• Peer relationships
• Decision making skills
• Communication and conflict resolution
• Fostering self-awareness, acceptance, and diversity
• Teaching time management and organizational skills
• Crisis intervention for students and parents
• Academic Planning
• Individual and Group Counseling

The psychologist’s role in the middle school involves support to school staff, parents and students regarding any academic, emotional, social or behavioral needs that may arise. The psychologist evaluates students who are referred to the CSE to assist in determining if special education services are necessary. The psychologist also provides counseling and crisis intervention services. They are an active participant in the development of functional behavior assessments & behavior plans. The school psychologist consults with teachers, administration, parents, and outside providers as an integral component on ensuring the student’s success.

• Assessment (use a variety of techniques to evaluate cognitive skills and learning aptitudes, personality and emotional development, eligibility for special services)
• Provide teachers and parents with strategies regarding academic and behavioral issues of student
• Referrals for outside counseling 

The social worker in the middle school supports students’ academic and social success by working with the guidance and support staff, providing specialized services that include:

• Individual and group counseling
• Crisis intervention for students and families
• Substance abuse prevention & awareness activities
• Case management for students with multiple needs
• Intervention services for students with attendance & disciplinary issues
• Assistance for students in developing advocacy skills
• Referrals for community resources
• Liaison between school & community agencies

The social worker provides intensive services for students experiencing multiple risk factors to support educational success. Students and families receive assistance in obtaining resources within the school and community. The social worker is part of the comprehensive educational team of the school, working with other disciplines to provide the best educational experience for all students.

Below is our yearly timeline of events.

Fall, Winter, Spring
Team Meetings
Conflict Resolution
Peer Mediation
Parent-Student Resolutions
Fostering Peer Relationships
Substance Abuse awareness
Self-awareness and acceptance
Academic Support
Special Education support for students and staff
Time Management and Organizational Skills
Collaborating with the Dean’s Office for student support
6th, 7th, and 8th grade student meetings
Mandated Counseling
Group Counseling

Fall
Review Summer School reports
ELA Transition Presentation in the classroom
Meet with 6th grade students individually
Begin Weekly ERRS Counseling
Review and place students in need of Academic Intervention Services
Review and correct scheduling conflicts
Review and inform all teachers of 504 Plan students
Prudential Spirit of Community Awards
SEDL Committee Meetings Begin
Career exploration and planning through Naviance
Open School Nights
Begin New Entrant Buddy Program
“Leading the Way” Recognition
Begin to identify Students of Concern through team meetings
Present high school transcript information to our 8th grade Regents Science classes
CSE Meetings

Winter
Review first and second quarter report cards
USDAN Scholarship Program
8th to 9th grade transition and scheduling process begins
Collection of student recommendations for all grades
5th to 6th grade transition and scheduling process begins
Middle school and Intermediate School Annual Reviews begin
CSE Meetings
Level 1 Assessments for our special needs population
Mid-year assessment of students placed in Academic Intervention Services
504 Annual Review meetings begin
Career exploration and planning through Naviance
Character Education Lessons
Review 9th grade course requests with current 8th graders
Review 8th grade enrichment course requests with current 7th graders
Comprehensive mid- year academic report regarding students of concern

Spring
6th grade Maturity Night
Triple “C” Awards
5th grade transition meetings
5th grade school tours
Ambassadors present in the intermediate schools
End of year assessments with students with academic concern
Review final report cards
Summer school recommendations
Comprehensive end of the year academic report regarding students of concern
Finalize course scheduling for students of all grades
National Junior Honor Society Letters are sent out
Transition planning for 8th grade students

Study Tips

1. Time to Study: plan a definite time to study each day and then study at that time. Try to keep this time consistent so it becomes routine.
2. Place to Study: designate a place to study. Make sure there is good lighting, plenty of room, and no distractions (TV, Cell Phone, IPAD).
3. Materials for Studying: make sure you have what you need…pens and pencils, agenda, and the work you need.

Time Management Tips

1. Keep a schedule. Make a weekly schedule that is visible in your child’s place of study. It should give you more detailed information for important commitments and dates when things are due. Plan time for homework and other activities. Be careful to NOT overload your child’s schedule with extra- curricular activities that may interfere with homework and study time.
2. Set priorities. Consider what assignments are most demanding and require the most energy. Do those assignments first.
3. Do not procrastinate. Have a plan for how to handle any long term assignments and/or tests/quizzes. Make sure to do those in addition to the regular homework. Take bigger assignments and break them down into sections.

Things to Remember

1. The agenda should be used for writing and monitoring homework assignments daily.
2. Review notes on a daily basis
3. Check and organize binders and notebooks on a weekly basis

Please contact your child’s teacher or school counselor with any questions.​​​​​​​

Helpful Links
Cool Math
Castle Learning
Quizlet
IXL
​​​​​​​Khan Academy

Throughout the course of your child’s middle school years, they will receive instruction from School Counselors specific to college and career exploration. Middle school students will be knowledgeable about the world of work, explore career options, and relate personal skills, aptitudes, and abilities to future career decisions.

In seventh grade, students are introduced to Naviance Student, and compete the Career Cluster Finder. The Cluster Finder is an online questionnaire that helps students discover career clusters that are most interesting to them. Once a student completes the Career Cluster Finder, top matching career clusters are made available for review. Students have access to this program throughout the remainder of their education at Commack and can access it at home for further exploration or with their parents.

In eighth grade, students continue working on the Naviance platform and complete the Strength Explorer. Students have the opportunity to take a survey to define and reflect upon strengths, and apply them to programs that they are studying. Counselors also do follow up lessons with students to explore Road Trip Nation, which is an interactive program to help students define their own roads in life. Interviews chronicling the diverse personal stories of leaders who have turned their interest into their life’s work are available in Naviance Student. 

Helpful Links
Naviance
Career Zone
Career and College Exploration

Please contact our attendance office at 858-3556.

The best way to collect work is to either email your child’s teachers directly or check the teacher’s website.
 

Students can make an appointment with their School Counselor in the Counseling Center across from the auditorium, before school, after school, or during lunch. Students will receive a pass from their counselor on the morning of their visit. This pass must be shown to the classroom teacher before students come to the appointment.

If there is a problem that needs our immediate attention, we will do our best to meet with your child as soon as possible. 

• Teachers offer extra help weekly either before or after school. Please search the teacher’s website, or email the teacher directly.
• Students are encouraged to come prepared with questions and are able to see more than one teacher during extra help.

Our NJHS students will tutor middle school students one day each week as well as our Peer Leadership students from the high school.

Email:
szweibel@commack.k12.ny.us
dphillips@commack.k12.ny.us 

Please refer to the school calendar for report card postings, which can be located in your Parent Portal account. If you are having difficulty accessing the Parent Portal, email: parentportal@commack.k12.ny.us

• To discuss academic concerns, social/emotional concerns, or behavioral issues
• To discuss a family issue or concern
• To discuss individual student needs
• To set up a parent/team meeting
• To obtain resources or community referrals