Counselor

EMS Counselor

Counselor's Message

The Erath Middle School Guidance Counselor strives to aid each individual student in realizing his abilities to the fullest, in making sound choices, and in developing self-understanding. Students may visit before school, recess, lunch, also during class time if accompanied by a hall pass.

EMS Counselor

Jackie Puyau

Announcements

Report Cards: Report cards go home on Thursday following the end of every six weeks.
Parent Conferences: Parents may make appointments for conferences with teachers, the counselor, or the principal by telephoning the school office @ 937-4441
Progress Reports: Progress reports are given to students on Wednesday during the 4th week of the six weeks. Progress reports can be printed on an individual basis upon special request.
Homework Hotline: The EMS Homework Hotline is a courtesy to parents and students. If your child is absent from school, you should call the school @ 937-4441 after 2:30 PM to keep up with assignments missed. The hotline is a recording of the daily assignments. Each grade level has its own extension.
Absenteeism: It is the responsibility of each student to select a dependable homework buddy from his/her grade level who can collect any handouts and/or books for them. These can be picked up in the office after 2 PM. Long term illness will be handled on an individual basis. The school sends letters home at approximately the 3rd week of the six weeks to make parents aware of how many days their child has missed. This notification is sent home when students miss 5 or more days.
State Testing: Students take LEAP and iLeap tests on April 12 - 16, 2010

Services Available:

Individual and group counseling is available. Referrals, evaluations, and recommendations, initiated by the classroom teachers are coordinated through this department.

Contact Jackie Puyau

Homework

In the middle grades homework is a necessity. First, it helps establish good study habits; second, it is used to reinforce what has been taught in the classroom. It instills responsibility in a child.

It is, however, very difficult to assign work to each individual child. What might be sufficient for one child may be too much for another. Some students will do most of their homework at school and at the same time, others will always wait until the last minute.

Homework is assigned in a reasonable amount. When homework is assigned, a student is expected to complete it to the best of his ability. Failure to do so may affect the rate at which a child progresses. Generally, homework is assigned as an extension of class work, meaning it is begun under the supervision of the teacher and completed at home. Parents can assist in improving attitudes toward homework when they:

Cooperate with the school in making homework effective
Provide their children with suitable study conditions (desk, light, books, supplies), reserve time for homework, silence the telephone, turn off the television and turn away their young visiting friends
Encourage their children but avoid undue pressure
Are interested in what their children are doing but not do their work for them
Understand what the school expects the homework to accomplish