September 2007
Dear Parent/Guardian,
Our names are Dick Luther and Katie O’Neill and we are your student’s school counselor! We look forward to working for and collaborating with you and your student throughout the year.
In the Issaquah School District, school counselors play an important role in the educational system which supports your student in his/her academic, personal/social, and career needs. In order to provide support from all angles, we will work with parents, staff, and the community in whatever avenues necessary to be an advocate for your student.
Throughout the year, we will work one-on-one with students, run small groups, teach classroom lessons, and work with parents and guardians as a part of our school counseling program. Within these avenues of program delivery is the potential for growth. The one-one-one setting provides your student with a safe, confidential atmosphere in which we can collaborate and problem solve about the different aspects of his/her life. In a small group setting, your student will have the opportunity to share experience and gain insight within a safe environment of his/her peers. These small groups may address issues related to such topics as academics, friendships, and family. Our classroom lessons will provide guidance, education, and problem solving on various topics including planning for the future, drug and alcohol education, and awareness about problems/issues within our school. And by working with you, the parents and guardians, we can ensure that your student is getting wrap-around, consistent help from us as a team.
In an effort to monitor student achievement, we plan to meet with students that are failing classes or whose grades drop significantly after each grading period. We will collaborate with these students on ways to improve their scores during the next grading period. These interventions may include the use of progress reports, parent/guardian signatures on homework agendas, and various forms of a “success plan”. We will also continually add resources to our list of references which we can provide to you and your students for additional outside academic and personal support.
In order to see us, students can make an appointment on the sign-up sheet at the front of our office. Our policy is that we will do everything we can to see your student within 24 hours. We look forward to the year and to working with you and your student. Please do not hesitate to call us at any time with questions or concerns!
Sincerely,
Dick Luther
Katie O'Neill