Hello! Welcome to the school counseling page! We are excited to work with your children at Parkside Elementary this year and look forward to a great year!

Erica Holt is the school counselor for grades K, 1, and 5. Mrs. Holt has been a school counselor at Parkside for ten years and loves working with the Parkside Community. She is a mom of two teenage daughters, and she loves watching her girls' athletic events, playing tennis, cooking, socializing with friends, and spending time outdoors with her family. Erica Holt 540-710-5190 ext. 8027

What does my counselor do?

Monthly Classroom Lessons - Developmental classroom lessons offer an opportunity to support the largest number of students in the school. The school counselor presents lessons that are developmentally appropriate for students in kindergarten through fifth grades. Lessons are designed to build students' personal/social, academic, and career development. Topics include:

friendship skills
goal setting
making healthy choices
problem-solving
bully awareness
decision making
conflict resolution
career choices
emotion regulation

Short-term, Small Group Counseling - In small group counseling, the counselor works with two or more students. During the group sessions, students will engage in fun activities such as playing games, drawing, role-playing, reading books, and group discussions. Students will learn ways of getting along with others, communicating more effectively, controlling their behavior, and resolving conflict. Groups are offered throughout the year based on the needs of the students. Some common group topics include:

Anxiety/worry
Anger Management
Social Skills
Divorce
Friendship
Conflict resolution
Self-Esteem

Individual Counseling - Counseling is provided individually for students whose problems or difficulties dealing with relationships, personal concerns, or normal developmental tasks are affecting their school performance. It focuses on helping students to identify problems and causes, alternatives, and possible consequences and to take action when appropriate. Children are referred to the counselor by:

the student himself or herself
a teacher
parent/guardian

Parent Information - Please call me anytime (540-710-5190) to make an appointment to come in and discuss any concerns you may have about your child. I also can provide support from community agencies to deal with issues that are affecting not only your child, but your whole family.

The Parent Resource Center is an excellent resource for parenting sessions throughout the year and has a wealth of material for parents to use. Check out the PRC website or call the center for more information. 540-582-3616

Character Education - The entire staff at Parkside promotes positive behavior in all our students through PBIS (Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports). Students earn tickets for showing Respect, Responsibility, and Productivity. Classrooms can earn Golden Eagles when the entire class demonstrates positive behavior in common areas. Students are encouraged and recognized in a variety of ways by our staff for showing good character.

Attendance - As a counselor, one of my responsibilities is also to monitor student attendance. Regular and timely attendance is linked to a positive school experience and academic achievement. Parkside staff members work hard to encourage good attendance. When students begin to have unexcused absences or tardies, a staff member may call home to talk to the parent to see how the situation can be improved. If unexcused absences continue, a letter will be sent home. If absences become excessive, a meeting is usually scheduled with the school social worker, counselor, teacher, and administrator to address how to correct the problem.