Counselor

A Note from the Counselor

Hello and welcome to an exciting new school year! My name is Ally Swisher and I am incredibly thankful and happy to be Prairie Point’s School Counselor. I am entering my 12th year in education, with eight of those years being an elementary and middle school teacher. I earned my Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from Wichita State University, a Master’s Degree in Education (English Speakers of Other Languages) from Fort Hays State, and a Master’s Degree in School Counseling from Emporia State University. My passion is connecting with, encouraging, and empowering children to understand and experience their true worth, and to thrive emotionally, academically, and socially. When I am not working, I enjoy spending time with my two daughters and husband. My favorite activities are being outdoors, trying new restaurants, and running.

If you have any questions regarding the counseling program or would like to refer your child, please contact me directly at 816-359-6289, email me at swishera@parkhill.k12.mo.us, or you can refer your child online. Read more about referrals below.

I look forward to working together this year to help ensure your child’s success in school and life. We are going to have an awesome year!

Sincerely,

Ally Swisher
School Counselor

Virtual Calm Down Room

Referrals

If a student, needs to check in with Mrs. Swisher to discuss a problem or feeling they are experiencing, they can complete a Student School Counseling Self-referral form. To access this form, students will need to use their "park hill email." Responses will be recorded and sent to the school counselor. This referral is for non-emergent situations. If there is an immediate need for help, please call Mrs. Swisher at (816) 359-6289 or Miss Anderson at (816) 359-6379. If this is a mental health emergency, please call 911, or the Suicide Hotline 1-800-273-8255 or text HELLO to 741741

Ways to Refer

For a Parent and Counselor Meeting

Reasons for a Referral

You have concerns with your student or child's attitude toward school.
You have concerns with your student or child's academic growth.
You have concerns with your student or child's relationships with peers at school.
You have concerns with your student or child's personal development.
You have concerns with your studenet or child's reactions to changes within the family that may be effecting his/her learning at school.

Why Should It Be Done

Provides students with more one on one help, support, and intervention
Increases specificity of interventions and supports and tailors them to the student
Increases privacy for the student
Removes the student from the situation or circumstance to discuss solutions to it
Reduces anxiety and pressure on student
Provides the student with the full attention of an adult
Allows student to feel secure
Allows an adult to give a student undivided attention
Allows the classroom teacher to continue teaching the rest of the class without having to stop to speak, or counsel a student in the hall or away from the class

When Should It Be Done

When students are over emotional and cannot calm down in an appropriate and brief amount of time
When a student’s needs are greater than those the teacher can provide for in the classroom setting
When a student requires more support and attention to address or solve a problem, issues, etc
When students need more specific and individualized help, solutions, and plans to address issues
When a student needs more privacy than a teacher can provide in the classroom
When a student is in a crisis situation (a harm to them-self or someone else is harming them)--a staff member will remain with the student until the student is safe with the school counselor or school social worker

How Should It Be Done

Counselor referrals may be planned or spontaneous
For planned referrals, have the student set up a day or days and times to meet with the counselor ahead of time and provide the student with reminders
For spontaneous referrals where an incident happens and the student unexpectedly requires counselor support, send the student down to the counselor with a note briefly explaining what happened, or send the student down and call and explain to the counselor the issue.
- You may walk the student down or send another student to walk down with the student to the counselor
- The counselor may also come to the room to retrieve the student

Zones of Regulation

Regulation is something everyone continually works on whether or not we are cognizant of it. We all encounter trying circumstances that test our limits from time to time. If we are able to recognize when we are becoming less regulated, we are able to do something about it to manage our feelings and get ourselves to a healthy place. This comes more naturally for some, but for others it is a skill that needs more attention and practice. This is the goal of The Zones of Regulation (or Zones for short).

The Zones of Regulation creates a systematic approach to teach regulation by categorizing all the different ways we feel and states of alertness we experience into four concrete colored zones. Integrating in cognitive behavior therapy, students build skills in emotional and sensory regulation, executive functioning, and social cognition. The framework is designed to help move students toward more independent regulation while also honoring and respecting each student and their unique self.

Have your child take the pre-survey.

Zones Check-In For Home

You can use this document to do a home check in, or watch the video below.

Read Aloud Videos

Pick a category and listen to books about that topic.

Empathy and Friendship

Emotion Management and Feelings

Mindfulness, Self Management

Responsibility and Listening Skills

Self-Esteem

Anti-Bullying

Contact

Ally Swisher
816-359-6289

Counseling Mission

To support life-long success for all Prairie Point Elementary students, the School Counselor works with students, parents, and staff to facilitate a comprehensive guidance program that teaches respect, responsibility, and positive role modeling.

District Resources

Visit Student and Family Support on the district website for a list of helpful resources.

Small Group Counseling

Small group counseling sessions, with parent permission, for students focusing on: divorce, grief, anxiety, study skills, friendship/social skills, and anger management. If you feel that your child needs assistance in any of these areas please let me know.

Parents and/or Teachers-- If you would like your child or student to participate in a small group with Mrs. Swisher, please fill out the Small Group Referral Form. Thank you!

Bullying Prevention

According to the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program, "Bullying is when someone repeatedly and on purpose says or does mean or hurtful things to another person who has a hard time defending himself or herself."

The program also shares that, "Bullying can take many forms, such as hitting, verbal harassment, spreading false rumors, not letting someone be a part of the group, and sending nasty messages on a cell phone or over the internet."

Report Bullying Incident or Concern

My Library

I compiled a list of books based on different categories I think will be helpful for my students.