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Guidance and Support

 

To empower every child to achieve their full potential, we want to help our students thrive in school and in life.

 

We are fortunate to have a full-time school counselor who understands and promotes success for our students and a full-time school nurse who helps to take care of all of us. Their dedication to our students makes a difference every day.

Full-time School Counselor

 

STM’s Counseling and Support program is led by our school counselor.

 

Our program’s goal is to support, facilitate and provide the student with the necessary tools to achieve his/her full potential and be successful in school. This is possible when parents, school, and students work together as a team towards the achievement of this goal. We are blessed to have Mrs. Kelley, who is a licensed clinical social worker by the state of Georgia, as our full-time counselor. She collaborates with school staff and parents to create an environment for students to thrive. 

 

Listen to STM's response to health and wellness concerns with School Counselor, Ms. Kelley. She answers questions regarding how we support each child's physical, mental, and emotional well-being in our MORE from the Principal's Office podcast in Episode 2 - Emotional, Mental, and Physical Wellness. 

Student Success Team (SST)

 

We promote academic excellence through an integrated curriculum which takes into account different learning styles and abilities.

 

As a school, we focus on each student’s needs. If a student requires additional help to reach his/her potential, he/she is referred to the Student Success Team (SST). Mrs. Kelley leads SST, which is a committee of school faculty and support personnel assigned to identify, plan, and recommend alternative instruction, organizational, or behavioral strategies for a given student as a first step in working to meet the student’s needs.

For example, if a teacher identifies a student needs additional help with their fine motor skills for writing, he/she can bring that need to the SST who would determine a strategy to support the student. Perhaps a Resource Teacher would work with them in a small group outside of class. Or, if a student needs additional academic challenge activities within lessons, the SST can provide guidance on ways to offer additional breadth and depth to stretch the student's learning.

 

Listen to a conversation with STM's Resource Teachers who discuss what services are available for students who could use some extra help. Resource Teachers Elizabeth Knight (Primary), Mary Nicolatos (Intermediate), and Kristin Pettus (Middle School) answer questions about what they offer to our students with challenges in our MORE from the Principal's Office podcast in Episode 3 - STM Resource Teachers Providing Support. 

Counseling Program details

Our Counseling program includes:

  • One on one meetings with students on an as-needed basis. Referrals for support can come from a classroom teacher, administration, or the child’s family.
  • Throughout the year, whole group guidance lessons occur within the classroom covering age-appropriate topics outlined in the standards of the Archdiocese of Atlanta, as well as all VIRTUS (safe environment) lessons for students.   
  • The school counselor conducts small group, student-specific, and needs-based sessions consisting of a small group of students which meet thirty minutes weekly for an eight-week period. The topics include, but are not limited to, Changing Families, Anger Management, and Friends/Social Concerns. A signed parent consent to attend a specific small group session is required prior to the meeting.  While parent requests are welcomed, the counselor reserves the right to prioritize student inclusion based on the needs of all students.    
  • The school counselor leads SST (see above), which meets regularly to discuss students who are struggling academically, behaviorally and/or emotionally. 
  • As needed, the counselor recommends outpatient mental health services or psychological and educational evaluations. 
  • The counselor serves as the liaison between the Archdiocese Office of Catholic Schools, as well as public school district offices, who may provide special services or evaluations for qualifying students. 
  • The school counselor monitors classroom accommodations as per professional, medical, or psychological evaluations.

 

Mrs. Kelley leads STM’s Counseling and Student Support Team (SST) programs. She is a licensed clinical social worker by the state of Georgia. 

Full-time School Nurse

 

Our school nurse provides direct care for our students.

 

The goal of our school nurse is to support student health and academic success. We are blessed to have Mrs. Finley, who is a registered nurse. She provides care for injuries, acute illness, and long-term management of students with special health care needs. She also advises students, their parents or guardians, and staff on health issues, as well as ensures faculty and staff are trained in CPR.

 

Listen as Nurse Finley discusses illness, allergies, medication, when to stay home, attendance, teacher training and preparedness, and peppermints in our MORE from the Principal's Office podcast in Episode 4 - Nurse Finley Takes Care.

Mrs. Finley is a registered nurse.

Request Information

Complete to request information from our Admissions Office.

Brittany Kelley, LCSW

School Counselor

FAQs

Do you have a “gifted” program?

While we do not have a traditional gifted program, our school prioritizes academic rigor for all students. Our teachers differentiate instruction to meet diverse needs, ensuring everyone has opportunities for success. This inclusive approach fosters a sense of community and prepares students for real-world challenges.

What if my child has an IEP?

Please contact Mrs. Kelley for information.

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