Teacher Ms. Barnes

Peer Counseling is an elective middle and high school class that provides a full range of services to students, the school and the zone through structured in school and outreach activities. Peer Counselors are a cross-section of students who act as helpers and active listeners for their fellow students. The course curriculum focuses on prevention. It addresses a multitude of social, individual, school and family concerns and has a focus on violence and substance abuse prevention issues. In addition to helping their peers with individual concerns, the peer counselors provide a variety of other services. They act as conflict mediators and peer tutors, provide classroom presentations on teen issues, welcome new students and promote violence prevention, which includes anti-bullying programs.

The Mission of Peer Counseling is to develop and enhance the health, safety and well being of our youth by focusing on peer education through a comprehensive program and curriculum that encompasses social and emotional skills and awareness, peer mediation, academic opportunity, student service and referral.

This program trains a select cross-section of students to act as helpers and active listeners for their fellow students.

The core of the peer counseling program is a strong academic middle and high school curriculum which addresses skill building in communication, problem solving and decision making. It also addresses a multitude of social, individual, school and family concerns. Through careful selection and training, peer counselors increase the likelihood that appropriate help can be received by requesting persons. The focus of the curriculum is preventative. A variety of intervention strategies are employed, however, to educate and motivate students or to involve trained professionals, when needed. The results can be a more positive and safer school climate, healthier students and staff with lower stress levels, and a better utilization of school and community resources.