WELCOME TO 

The Northley Guidance Department Website! 

(UPDATED WEEKLY!!)

 **NEWS!!**

• CHECK OUT THE SECTION BELOW ON FALL PROGRAMS!
• SKATE CLUB INFO ANNOUNCED 9/26/08. SEE BELOW!!
• 2nd Annual Success Workshop will take place on OCTOBER 30, 2008 at NMS! SIGN UP TODAY! See the form in the FILES section below.
  

Please sign up to be notified of changes to the website by clicking on the "Be Notified" icon and entering your name and email address. This way, you will receive an email each time the website is updated. You can also remove yourself from the list, too.

  THE COUNSELORS 

 6^th Grade Counselor - Ms. Sayre

7^th Grade Counselor - Mr. Siegel

 8^th Grade Counselor - Ms. Jacobs

Ms. Nicki Sayre is the 6th grade guidance counselor. This is her 5th year working at NMS. Ms. Sayre received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Muhlenberg College and continued to schooling to earn a Master’s of Education degree in School Counseling. Prior to coming to Penn Delco, Ms. Sayre worked as an elementary counselor for two years at Avon Grove Intermediate School with students in grades three through six, and she is very excited to now be working at Northley! Ms. Sayre can be reached at extension 3355 or nsayre@pdsd.org. 

Mr. Kevin Siegel is the 7th grade guidance counselor. This is his 7th year at NMS. Mr. Siegel graduated from Wilkes University in 2001 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and with an Elementary Education teaching certification. Mr. Siegel then attended the University of Pennsylvania, receiving a Master’s of Science degree in Psychological Services and an Elementary Counseling certification. He has counseled in elementary and middle schools in Wilkes-Barre, Philadelphia, and Delaware County. Mr. Siegel is proud to be part of a strong guidance department, and he can be reached at extension 3332 or ksiegel@pdsd.org.

Ms. Holly Jacobs is the 8th grade guidance counselor. This is her 3rd year at NMS and she is very excited to be a part of the exceptional guidance team at Northley. Ms. Jacobs graduated from Penn State University in 2002 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology.  After completing her undergraduate coursework, Ms. Jacobs attended University of Pennsylvania's Psychological Services program, where she received her M.S. Ed and her school counseling certifications in Elementary and Secondary School Counseling. Ms. Jacobs has counseling experiences in State College, Philadelphia and Delaware County. Ms. Jacobs can be reached at extension 3336 or  hjacobs@pdsd.org.

Counseling Services

Who can make referrals?  Referrals often come from parents, teachers, administrators, other professionals in the school, other students, or the student himself or herself, but referrals can come from anyone who is concerned about a particular student or group of students.

What services are provided through the Guidance Department?  Our guidance program is pro-active, comprehensive, and developmental in nature, addressing the wide variety of needs that our students present. We view our students as unique individuals with a variety of learning styles, areas of intelligence, personalities, capabilities, needs and interests. We believe that a child’s ability to manage his or her emotions, navigate interpersonal interactions and maintain a sense of competence and self worth is the foundation to successful learning. Our guidance programs build upon the strengths that each child possesses. As a result of participating in our guidance programs, all students will acquire the skills and knowledge necessary to become productive, contributing members of society.

The Guidance Department offers a diverse array of services to aid students in succeeding socially, emotionally, and academically to the best of their abilities.  These services include, but are not limited to:

1. Providing individual and small group counseling around a variety of topics
2. Facilitating communication between parents, teachers, and students
3. Referring students to the school psychologist, Student Assistance Program (SAP) team, and outside agencies
4. Coordinating homebound instruction services
5. Formulating 504 Plans for students who require special accommodations
6. Aiding students in resolving conflicts
7. Organizing the Terra Nova and PSSA testing for the school
8. Coordinating bullying prevention and intervention
9. Helping students seek extra academic help when necessary

WE WILL HAVE AT LEAST 4 TRIPS TO UNION RAMP PARK THIS YEAR. THE CLUB IS OPEN TO ALL STUDENTS! OUR FIRST TRIP WILL BE THURSDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2008. YOU CAN PRINT A PERMISSION SLIP AND WAIVER BELOW OR PICK THEM UP ON THE CLUB BULLETIN BOARD IN THE MAIN HALLWAY. HAVE A PARENT/GUARDIAN SIGN THEM AND RETURN TO THE MAIN OFFICE.

-MR. SIEGEL

For a FREE copy of "Getting Organized for Schoolwork & Homework: Ideas to Help Children Do Better In School," email us by clicking on the "Email Me" icon at the top of the page. We will be happy to send a copy to you.  The booklets are left over from Back to School Night.  The 13 page booklet has lots of practical, easy strategies to help your child become more organized for school.

SPECIAL EVENTS!!

...COMING SOON!

Does Your Child Do Community Service?

Let us know! We would love to nominate him/her for a community service award! Email your child's counselor with information about what your child does to help others!

HELP OUR SCHOOL!!!

RECYCLE FOR EDUCATION!

Finally, a great way to raise money for our school – and teach kids the importance of recycling at the same time. For every eligible ink or toner cartridge we collect, we earn money for our school. That’s money we can use for school programming, fundraising, whatever our school chooses. Please send your cartridges in to the main office! Also, if you have a business that will collect them, we will gladly give you a specially marked box to collect them in. Thank you so much for helping us!!

We are proud to now be entering our 6th full school year of the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program. This program is designed to help students and staff prevent, identify and intervene in bullying situations. Research has shown that the program has led to a 30-70% reduction in student reports of being bullied and bullying others. Northley Middle School’s Olweus Bullying Prevention Program is a school-wide initiative that includes weekly group discussions. During these classroom meetings, two teachers in each homeroom discuss with students issues specifically related to bullying at Northley Middle School. In addition to the classroom meetings, when bullying situations are identified, school staff members are required to follow a carefully structured intervention process consistent with the guidelines of the program. This process has proven to be remarkably successful in intervening in bullying situations.

Our Bullying Prevention Committee is comprised of teaching staff, non-teaching staff, counselors, administrators, school nurse, school office staff, and community members.  We are proud to have an actively involved and caring committee.  The committee members are:

Allison Runge (Specialists Representative), Colleen Miller and Jen McCoy (6th Grade Representatives), Cherie Freeman, (7th Grade Representative), Kelly Muller (8th Grade Representative), Susan Mingey (Special Education Representative),  Patty Iannucci (Office Staff Representative), Jennifer Josephson (Physical Education/Health Representative), Julia Grieco (Paraprofessional Representatives), Dan Hill and Rosemary Edmiston (Administrative Representatives), Nicki Sayre, Kevin Siegel, and Holly Jacobs (Guidance Representatives), Christina Saunders (School Nurse), Chief John Eller and (Community Member Representative).

In addition to this school committee, we also have a Student Bullying Committee and a Parent Bullying Committee.  The parent committee meets one Friday each month (the Friday after the school committee meets.  If you would like to become a member of the committee, please email your child's guidance counselor.

Now in its fourth year of circulation, The Guideline is an invaluable resource guide for all parents. Published by the Northley Guidance Department periodically throughout each school year, it lists (1) suggestions for parents around an assortment of important topics, (2) recent news, and (2) opportunities for parents and students to get involved in school and in the community.

Click on an issue in the FILES section at the bottom of the website to view it in Adobe Reader. If you do not have Adobe Reader, you can download it at http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html.

This invalulable club began toward the end of the 2003-2004 school year, and for the sixth year in a row is available again this school year to all students from 3:00pm-3:55pm Monday through Thursday in the Northley Library!! The Homework Club will provide students with an optimal working and studying atmosphere. At least 2 members of the Northley Middle School staff will be present to answer questions and help students with difficult concepts. This is a great opportunity for students to do their homework and receive teacher assistance, if needed. Students MUST stay until 3:55pm.  Late bus services are provided each day ONLY for Homework Club students at 4pm. There are two buses each day: One for Parkside/Brookhaven and one for Aston.

Is your child having difficulty in a particular subject? Looking for a little extra help? Consult the updated 2007-2008 Northley Approved Tutor List. Click on the list in the FILES section at the bottom of the website to view the tutor list in Adobe Reader. If you do not have Adobe Reader, you can download it at http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html.

Please keep in mind that tutoring specifics (times, location, fees) are to be arranged between the tutor and parent/guardian. The Guidance Department only provides the list as an aid to parents and guardians.

Three great initiatives here at Northley to communicate with parents are the teacher websites, online grade reports, and emailed grades.

• Teacher websites – Logon to http://www.yourclasspage.com/61049763003330 and click on the names of your child’s teachers to check daily homework assignments. Please be informed that most, but not all, teachers update the websites. This is a great way for you to keep track of your child’s homework assignments each night.

• Online grade reports - To access a breakdown of all of your child's grades (including MISSING ASSIGNMENTS), go to: http://www.pdsd.org, scroll down and click on "Pinnacle Internet Viewer" on the left menu bar.  Next, click "Yes" to proceed, and then click on "Click Here To Begin."  You will be asked to input your child's Student ID and PIN Code.  The student ID is your child's 6-digit student ID at school (you can contact the main office or look on the label on your child's assignment book to obtain this number).  The PIN Code is your child's birthdate (i.e. 092492 would be September 24, 1992). Next, switch the school to "Northley Middle School."  Then click on "Request Report." You will be brought to a page where you can "Select a Class," "Select a Report," or "Select a Marking Period."

• Emailed grades – If you are not already receiving your child’s grades online, logon to http://www.pdsd.org/Schools/Northley/PD-Email%20Letter.pdf to download a form to fill out and return to Northley’s main office. You will need Adobe Acrobat to download the document. You can also fill out a form in Northley’s main office. Once you return the form to Northley’s main office, you will begin receiving your child’s grades by email each Thursday.

Groups

The Guidance Department will again be running groups this year.  Among the groups planned are:

• New Student Groups - All new students are welcome to attend.

• Organization Groups - To help students get their supplies, lockers, and time organized.  Parents can request that their child join these groups.

• Grief Groups
• In addition to these great groups, the Northley Student Assistance Program (SAP) Team also runs groups in conjunction with Holcomb Behavioral Health Systems.  The groups offered this past school year (which are different from those offered the year before) were:

• AIM Club (Addition Impacts Me) - Resiliency, coping curriculum for children affected by family addition/recovery
• SIMs Club (Self Improvement Matters) - Self-esteem issues for GIRLS, decision making, making friends, getting along, social skills, boys, anger management/impulse control
• SAM Club (Stress and Me) - Anxiety issues, coping skills, relaxation techniques
• BCC (Boys Chill Club) - Anger management, impulse control, decision making, coping, making friends
• HUD (Help Understanding Divorce) - Resiliency, personal strengths within divorce environment

All parents will be informed of the groups that will run during the 2007-2008 school year.  Please continue to check this website and any mailings that go home with your child(ren) or in the mail.

Live Homework Help® New--See Flash Demo Below Get free homework help online via our Live Homework Help tutoring service. Live Homework Help connects students in grades K through 12th,introductory college level and adult learners to expert tutors in math, science, social studies, and English. Funding for this service is provided by Delaware County Council. Hours: Live Homework Help is available through member libraries of the Delaware County Library System both in the library and remotely via the library website Sunday through Thursday 3:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. Live Homework Help is closed on July 4, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. How It Works: Using your library card number, students log on from computers at home or at the library, and enter the grade level and subject you need help in. You are then connected to the first available subject expert tutor in an Online Classroom. Try it now. Students and tutors work together in an online classroom using controlled chat and an interactive white board. You can send computer files, such as essays, to the tutor for review and assistance, and share educational website. About the Tutors: Tutors are certified teachers, college professors, professional tutors, or graduate school students from across the country who have been hired by Tutor.com, the provider of Live Homework Help. Tutors with expertise in math (including algebra, geometry, and calculus), science (including earth science, biology, chemistry, and physics), social studies, and English composition are available. A Safe Online Environment: Tutors undergo a criminal background check and a reference check before being hired by Tutor.com. They are prohibited from asking any personal information from the student or contacting a student outside the online classroom. Live Homework Help is a completely anonymous program, to protect children's safety and identity. FAQ & System Requirements

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