Mary Devine Elementary School

 

Hello and thank you for visiting my website!  My name is Tammy Surdo and I am the School Counselor at Mary Devine Elementary School.  I am in the building on Mondays, Tuesdays and alternating Wednesdays.  Please feel free to contact me on these days if you have any concerns you would like to discuss or if you would like to schedule an appointment to meet.  I look forward to another wonderful year with the staff, students, and families at Mary Devine.

 

What do school counselors do?

School Counselors...

• Work with individuals and groups
• Help identify needs of students
• Encourage better interpersonal relationships
• Promote positive attitudes and choices
• Aid teachers and parents in helping students
• Coordinate efforts with other school programs
• Coordinate referrals to outside agencies
• Provide "preventative" services
• Maintain confidentiality (In any counseling situation, confidentiality is maintained except: in cases of suspected abuse or neglect, if a child poses a danger to self or others, or the child and/or parent/guardian gives permission to share information.)

 

Who are School Counselors for?

I am here for every student, every teacher, and every parent who is part of our school community.

The primary focus of school counseling and guidance programs at the elementary level is prevention.  My goal is to promote the social and emotional growth of our students and help them develop more positive interpersonal and intrapersonal skills.  The school counseling program is for every student at Mary Devine Elementary.  Therefore, it is designed to reach every student through developmental, preventative education, and responsive services.

 

Classroom Guidance

I will teach a series of classroom guidance lessons to every student at Mary Devine.  These lessons are developmentally appropriate for each grade level and are generally preventative in nature.  My goal is to help empower students with the self-knowledge, coping, and life skills that will enable them to become effective communicatiors, creative problem solvers, and responsible citizens... now, and in the future.

 

Small Group Counseling

I will run a variety of small student groups throughout the school year.  Small groups are needs-based and usually meet weekly in my room for about 4 - 8 thirty-minute sessions.  Examples of different groups that may be offered are:  New Student Groups, Friendship Groups, Changing Family Groups, Social Skills Groups, Self-Esteem Groups, and Anger Management Groups.  However, I will also run groups based on other topics as well, depending on student need.  Small student groups are a wonderful way for your child to meet new friends, gain more self-confidence, and to develop more positive coping skills in a safe and fun setting.  If your child is asked to participate in a group, you will receive a permission form which must be signed before the first group.

 

Lunch Bunches

Students may be invited to my office to have lunch and play games and get to know one another.  This is a great opportunity for the students to practice their social skills, make new friends and also feel more comfortable with the counselor.

 

Individual Counseling

I am available to work with students individually for a number of problems a student might present, such as friendship issues, difficulty in the classroom, on the playground, or on the bus, conflict resolution, new student orientation, anger management, or if they are experiencing a crisis, to name a few.  This individual counseling can be as needed or it can be on an on-going basis if necessary.

 

Referrals for students to meet with a school counselor can be made by the classroom teachers or other school staff (i.e., school nurse or principal), by parents, or through self-referrals.  If you have any questions or concerns about your child that you would like to discuss with me, please feel free to contact me on Mondays and Tuesdays at 215-788-7995.