Counseling
Who We Are
Professional School Counselors work with all students, school staff, families, and members of the community as an integral part of the education program. School counseling programs promote school success through a focus on academic achievement, prevention and intervention activities, advocacy, and social/emotional and career development. We want to introduce ourselves and give you information about what we do and how to reach us. We look forward to working with you and your students this year!
Our Mission and Vision
The mission of the Richards Middle School Counseling Department is to partner with students, staff, parents, and community to provide a welcoming and superior learning environment that empowers and inspires students from all cultures and backgrounds, to develop the academic, career, and social-emotional development needed for the post-secondary path of their choice.
All students from J.E. Richards Middle School will possess the academic knowledge and skills to achieve a high school diploma. Following high school graduation, all students will pursue a career or post-secondary education option of their choice. Our students possess communication, self-confidence, interpersonal, and problem-solving skills needed to effectively navigate all areas of life. They are resilient, demonstrating an ability to recover from adversity. Our students are culturally competent leaders in their community.
Contact Us
Students can contact their grade level counselor by e-mail or completing a google form request.
Parents can contact their students’ grade level counselor by calling or e-mailing them directly. See the contact information below.
Classroom Lessons
August-October: 6th-8th Grade-Teen Lures (lessons for each grade level about body safety)
October- 8th Grade Career Assessment (8th grade only)
October-December: 6th-8th Grade- Career Lesson (lessons in each grade about career/college/ high school)
January-March: 7th Grade- Lifelines (Lesson about Suicide Prevention- only 7th grade)
GCPS Mandated Reporting Policy
In compliance with HB 1176, ALL school personnel and volunteers are required to report suspected acts of child abuse to the person in charge of the facility. This report cannot be modified by any person(s) and will be reported immediately, or within 24 hours, by the person in charge of the facility to the appropriate agency. Click for more information on mandated reporting.
SCHOOL COUNSELING SERVICES
a. Counseling Core Curriculum - This curriculum consists of structured lessons designed to help students achieve the desired competencies and to provide all students with the knowledge and skills appropriate for their developmental level. The school guidance curriculum is delivered throughout the school's overall curriculum and is systematically presented by school counselors in collaboration with other professional educators in K-12 classroom and group activities. Please see list below of required Gwinnett County Competencies.
b. Responsive Services - Responsive services are prevention and/or intervention activities meeting students’ immediate and future needs. These needs can be necessitated by events and conditions in students’ lives and may require any of the following: individual or group counseling, consultation with parents, teachers and other educators, referrals to other school support services or community resources, peer helping.
c. Individual Student Planning - School counselors coordinate ongoing systemic activities designed to help all students plan, monitor and manage their own academic achievement, as well as establish personal goals and future career plans.
d. System Support - System support consists of management activities, establishing, maintaining, and enhancing the total school counseling program. These activities include professional development, consultation, collaboration, program management and operations. Professional school counselors are committed to continual personal and professional development and are proactively involved in professional organizations promoting school counseling at the local, state and national levels.