Other Activities & Responsibilities

AMBASSADOR PROGRAM

The Ambassador Program consists of fifth grade students who serve as helpers in the school community.  The group assists teachers in various ways, including reading with younger students, practicing math facts, greeting and meeting with students before school to help start their day in a positive manner, and even teaching students how to tie shoes!  Ambassadors have assisted in art class with preparing supplies, displaying artwork, cleaning up, etc.  This group helps during Red Ribbon Week, producing skits promoting drug-free choices or counting and delivering Red Ribbon Week promotional materials to classrooms.

RED RIBBON WEEK        

Each year in October, the counselor plans and coordinates Red Ribbon Week.  This includes arranging for guest speakers, programs, assemblies and activities to reinforce the importance of making healthy, drug-free choices.

POSITIVE BEHAVIOR SUPPORT    

The counselor serves on Zeman’s Positive Behavior Support committee.  This group, consisting of teachers and other school staff, plans and facilitates school-wide and individual teaching and recognition of desired behavior, as well as interventions to correct misbehavior.  This has included “Zeman’s Great Expectations,” which identifies behavioral expectations based upon good character in all school settings, (e.g. classrooms, hallways, cafeteria, playground, restrooms, and at assemblies) Quarterly Goals Celebrations, the Manners Table, Zebra Tickets, and Student of the Month awards.

CHARACTER EDUCATION  

Character Count’s six pillars of character are the foundation for many of the classroom guidance lessons.  The character traits have served as a compass for desired behavior and good decision-making at Zeman.

TEAMMATES 

The counselor serves as the Teammate building facilitator, matching adult mentors with Zeman students, coordinating meeting schedules and providing general management of the mentoring program.  Mentors support students in a variety of ways to succeed in school and life.  Founded by Tom and Nancy Osborne, the Teammates program is coordinated at the district level for Lincoln Public Schools.  If you are interested in being a mentor, please contact me.

SCIP 

The counselor is Zeman’s School Community Intervention Program (SCIP) team leader.  SCIP provide a process of identification, screening, referral and support of students experiencing problems which interfere with learning, possibly related to alcohol and other drugs, but not limited to substance use/abuse. The team receives student referrals from teachers, other staff or parents and meets to monitor referrals, plan interventions and/or refer parents and students to mental health agencies for screening evaluations. 

STUDENT ASSISTANCE TEAM

The counselor also serves on the Student Assistance Team (SAT).  This group provides a framework for assisting students whose educational performance and/or behavior seem to be interfering with academic progress. This procedure is designed for use by all staff who, after making the normal day-to-day adjustments in the student's learning materials and environment, determines that their efforts have not been successful in helping the student.

The SAT/SCIP team meets conjunctively on a weekly basis and includes the principal, coordinator, school psychologist, social school worker, school nurse and any teacher(s) making referrals.

 PARENT SUPPORT and EDUCATION

The school counselor has led parenting classes using Jim Fay and Foster Cline’s Parenting and Disciplining with Love & Logic materials, techniques and philosophy.  The counselor also consults with parents regarding individual family/student needs and has many parenting materials available for check-out.

STAFF DEVELOPMENT 

Planning and implementing staff development is another aspect of the counselor’s role.  Teaching and Discipline with Love and Logic and True Colors are topics that have been presented in the past to Zeman staff.

SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT

The counselor participates in Zeman’s school improvement process, planning, implementing and reviewing goals, and reviewing and interpreting the data correlated with those goals.

LUNCH BUNCH

Students can eat lunch with the counselor and other classmates.  It’s a great way to become better acquainted, relax, practice social skills, and just enjoy one other.  

LPS CRISIS TEAM

LPS's crisis response teams are made up of volunteer school counselors, school psychologists, school social workers, and school nurses.  Each teams is on call three months out of the year.