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West Elementary School

Engaging in the Present to Prepare for the Future

School Counseling

Counselor/​Social Worker/​Family & Community Resource Liaison/​School Mental Health Liaison

West Elementary has a full-time counselor to support students and staff. The school counselor will conduct specific classroom group activities for students in the areas of social-emotional learning, character education, and career awareness, but will also serve the building in other roles, such as PBS Team Leader, Student Improvement Team facilitator, Case Manager for 504 Plans, coordinator of resources for students and families, and much more. The Sped school social worker is assigned specifically to special services students, but may be used for consultation on any student. Teachers should contact the principal if there is a need for school counselor or social worker services.

USD 320 provides a “Family & Community Resource Liaison” & “School Mental Health Liaison” for our elementary schools. This position is specific to Central and West and is used to connect families to specific resources, as well as to provide support to families and students, as needed. Information on the referral process for the FCRL will be provided at the beginning of the school year.

Photo of Robin Butlet with short blonde hair wearing a colorful leaf print shirt under a black sweater.

 

Robin Butler

Phone: 785-456-8333 ext. 3118

Email: butlerr@usd320.com

Hello, my name is Robin Butler and I am the counselor at West Elementary School.  I have been a counselor in Wamego since 2000.  I have two years teaching experience and have been a school counselor since 1988.  I hope I can answer some of you questions below, but if you have any further questions, please feel free to contact me.

 

  • The school counseling program is designed to promote academic, career, and social/emotional development of our students. Within these ares, the counselor focuses on the counseling curriculum, individual student support, responsive services, and system support.

  • Students meet weekly for classroom guidance activities.  During our time together we discuss the following topics:

    • Empathy
    • Skills for Learning
    • Emotion Management
    • Problem Solving
    • Bullying/Harassment
    • Career Awareness/Exploration
    • Decision Making

  • Help resolve problems that interfere with learning;

    Counsel groups on the topics of;

    • Divorce
    • Grief
    • Anger Management
    • Friendship
    • Deployment
    • Counsel individual students;
    • Conduct classroom guidance activities;
    • Facilitate educational activities that help students understand the responsibilities of work and participation in school;
    • Coordinate with school staff and community resources to assist students; and 
    • Offer crisis intervention and prevention.

  • Students may be referred to the counselor by self, parent/guardian, teacher, administrator, friend, or agency.

  • A positive relationship between school and home enhances the academic, career, and social/emotional development of children.  Counselors work with parents/guardians to encourage academic and social success by:

    • Involving parents/guardians;
    • Offering “Becoming a Love and Logic® Parent” courses;
    • Providing referral information about community resources;
    • Informing parents/guardians of situations that may harm their child or that may harm others;
    • Obtaining parental consent before proceeding with on-going counseling; and
    • Protecting the privacy of information shared by parents and students.