The Senior High Counseling program at Jackson Preparatory School was founded on the tenet that each individual has value, dignity, and worth and that guidance services should be available to assist each student in realizing his or her full potential. To that end counselors are trained to listen and assist students in exploring options, finding solutions, and helping them to make decisions that are in line with their values and beliefs.

Counseling Responsibilities
Availability
Scheduling Conferences
Parent Resources

Counseling Responsibilities

--Personal/Social Issues: Counselors realize that from time to time students need support and encouragement from caring adults. Such issues as peer pressure, stress and anxiety, depression, grief and loss, conflict resolution, bullying, alcohol and/or drug abuse and eating disorders can provide challenges that seem overwhelming. Students are always encouraged to seek help and assistance.

**Occasionally students need assistance beyond the scope and expertise of the school counselor. When this occurs counselors will work with the students and parents to find the appropriate resource (including but not limited to Therapists, Psychologists, Physicians, Outpatient/Inpatient/Residential Treatment Facilities etc.)

--Academic Issues:
--Oversee and coordinate spring course selection for the next school year
--Resolve schedule conflicts
--Advise regarding appropriate academic course placement
--Oversee and coordinate reporting of 9Wks, semester, and final grades
--Follow-up on students experiencing academic difficulty as needed
--Oversee the maintenance of student cumulative records and monitor
each student’s progress toward meeting Jackson Prep graduation requirements
--Maintain a list of approved tutors
--Provide test prep information to students and parents
--Provide registration packets for ACT and SAT reasoning and subject tests

--Other:
--Assist students by writing college, national merit, and special program recommendations
--Publicize special programs and events to students and provide information/applications
--Serve as liaison between students, parents, faculty, and administration
--Coordinate and conduct parent/teacher conferences
--Serve on Admissions Committee
--Assist with and serve on the Faculty Awards Committee
--Demonstrate a commitment to Professional Development by attending workshops, and conferences that enhance the counselors’ knowledge, skills, and expertise in the area of School Guidance and Counseling (ACT/SAT Workshops, Mississippi Counseling Association Conferences, JAAIS, and and other state and local conferences and workshops.)

--Programs:
--New Student Orientation
--Welcome to High School Orientation
--PLAN (Pre-ACT administered to all sophomores)
--PSAT (Pre-SAT and National Merit Semifinalist Qualifying Test for juniors—administered to 10th and 11th)
--Class Day
--Senior High Honors Forum
--Senior Brunch
--Graduation

Location

The Senior High Counselor's office is located adjacent to the College Counseling Office.

Availability

The hours of the counseling office are 8:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Lee Ozier, can be reached at:
E-mail: lozier@jacksonprep.net
Phone: 932-8106, extension 276

Becky Walker, can be reached at:
E-mail: bwalker@jacksonprep.net
Phone: 932-8106, Extension 287

Scheduling Conferences

Parents are encouraged to communicate concerns with teachers through email or voice mail as listed in the school directory. If a conference is needed with one or more teachers or if parents need to visit with the counselor for any reason please don’t hesitate to contact the respective counselor above.

Parent Resources

Eating Disorders—books, websites, signs and symptoms

The Parent’s Guide to Eating Disorders—Marcia Hearin, Nancy Matsumoto
Mom, I feel fat!—Sharon Hersh
Breaking Free from Anorexia and Bulimia—Linda Mintle
Understanding Your Loved One’s Eating Disorder and How You Can Help—Johanna McShane, Tony Paulson
The Gurze 2008 Eating Disorders Resource Catalogue

www.bulimia.com
www.somethingfishy.org
www.nationaleatingdisorders.org
www.anad.org
www.anred.com
www.eating-disorder.org

Signs and Symptoms (Courtesy of Susan Landry—Summit Counseling—FBC Jackson)
--Dramatic weight loss in short period of time
--Wearing big or baggy clothes to disguise body shape/weight loss
--Obsession with weight/calories/fat content
--Frequent trips to restroom following meals
--Visible bingeing and/or purging
--Isolation, depression, irritability
--Hiding food in strange places
--Hair loss, dizziness, headaches
--Low self-esteem/Need for acceptance and approval
--Loss of menstrual cycle
--Perfectionist personality

Grief and Loss— books, resources, websites, stages, common behaviors of grieving students

Bereaved Children and Teens: A Support Guide for Parents and Professionals—Earl A. Grollman
Helping Children Cope with Death—The Dougy Center for Grieving Children, Portland, Oregon
Helping Teens Cope with Death—The Dougy Center for Grieving Children, Portland, Oregon
Understanding Grief: Helping Yourself Heal—Alan D. Wolfelt

--The McClean Fletcher Center, a non-profit Children’s Grief Center for ages 5—18
2624 Southerland Street, Jackson, MS 39216 601-982-4405
(counseling and support groups for children and their parents)

--Hospice Ministries, Inc
450 Towne Center Blvd, Ridgeland, MS 39157 601-898-1053

www.hospiceministries.org (click on the McClean Fletcher Center link)

Stages of Grief
--Shock
--Denial
--Suffering (anxiety, hostility, quiet, alienation, physical symptoms
--Recovery
--establishing new identity
--establishing new relationships
--developing positive attitudes

Grieving Students (common behaviors) (courtesy of McClean Fletcher Center)
--Failing or declining grades
--Increased absences or refusal to go to school
--Language errors and word finding problems
--Inattentiveness, Daydreaming
--Noisy outbursts, disruptive behavior
--Noncompliance to requests
--Concern about being treated differently from others
--“I don’t care” attitude
--Changes in relationships with teachers and/or peers
--A need to be physically close to adults
--Somatic complaints

Depression—Signs to look for

--Changes in personal habits, behaviors, appearance (dirty clothes, messy room)
--Loss of interest in activities that once brought pleasure
--Sadness, hopelessness, moodiness (feeling blue), anxiety, unexplained crying spells, irritability, restlessness
--Decline in school achievement
--Difficulty concentrating or remembering
--Avoiding school
--Loss of appetite, energy
--Withdrawal from friends and family
--Changes in sleep patterns—too much or too little—difficulty falling or staying asleep
--Trauma due to death, divorce, separation, or change of residence within the family unit
--Sometimes, but not always, suspicions of drug or alcohol abuse
--Physical complaints—headaches, stomachaches, or other general complaints

Suicide Prevention—websites, help line, warning signs

www.afsp.org (American Foundation for Suicide Prevention)
www.spanusa.org (Suicide Prevention Action Network
www.jasonfoundation.com (Jason Foundation for Teen Suicide Prevention)
www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org
Help Line—1-800-273-TALK (8255) Warning Signs
--Talking about suicide—verbal cues or hints (direct or indirect)
--Feeling helpless, hopeless, worthless
--Diminished problem solving skills
--Deepening depression
--Decline in school achievement
--Setting affairs in order—making amends
--Giving away prized possessions
--Visiting/calling people they care about
--Loss of interest in things that once brought pleasure
--Taking unnecessary risks
--Self-destructive behaviors
--Altered eating and sleeping patterns
--Sudden changes in physical habits, appearance, personality, friends, or behaviors
--Death and suicidal themes appearing in drawings, journals, or class work
--Sudden cheerfulness on the heels of a period of depression

Cyberbullying—books, websites

Logged on and Tuned Out—A Nontechie’s Guide to Parenting a Tech-Savvy Generation—Vicki Courtney
MySpace for Moms and Dads—A Guide to Understanding the Risks and the Rewards—Connie Neal

www.netsmartz.org
www.agjimhood.com (Click on Families/CyberCrime)
--Resources for Kids
--Internet Safety and Facebook Promises
--Resources for Parents
--Common Online Terms and Definitions
--Cyberbullying
www.preteenagerstoday.com (Click on preteens and teen channel for latest hot topics)

Other Recommended Reading, websites

The Art of Talking With Your Teenager—Paul W. Swets
Mom, I Hate My Life!—Becoming Your Daughter’s Ally Through the Emotional Ups and Downs of Adolescence—Sharon Hersh
Stress and Your Child—Know the Signs and Prevent the Harm—Dr. Archibald D. Hart
Driven to Distraction—Edward Hallowell and John Ratey
The Hyperactive Child—Grant Martin
The Inside Story on Teen Girls—Alice Rubenstein and Karen Zager
Odd Girl Out—Rachel Simmons
The Parents’ Book About Bullying: Changing the Course of Your Child’s Life—William Voors www.aspergers.com www.apa.org (American Psychological Association)