Counseling Office

Welcome to the Counseling Office

The Counseling Office provides a variety of counseling and student support services for all students at Aspire, including individual and small group counseling, disability support, restorative justice, peer mediation, and referrals to important school and community resources.

Parents may contact the front office or Mrs. Vining-Gonzalez directly to schedule appointments. Students may request an appointment by coming to the office to fill out a green appointment request slip.

Teacher-Led Small Group Learning

In advisory period, teachers help students get organized, study effectively, and make new friends. Advisory lessons include school and classroom expectations, organization methods and study skills, and social/emotional learning through the Character Strong program.
On certain days, student with passing grades are invited to join club time and participate in other activities. Students who are failing classes are automatically assigned to core support or a homework completion group.

Counselor-Led Small Group Learning

The Academic Support Group helps students monitor their own progress using their Chromebooks and the Canvas course management system.
The Stress Management Group helps student with the skills needed to reduce stress and anxiety by learning healthy coping skills.
The Team Building Group provides students an opportunity to play indoor games, meet new friends, and build important social skills.

Counseling Resources

504 Plans

What is a 504 Plan?

All students are protected under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. This is a civil rights statute that prohibits discrimination against students with disabilities.

This is a different program from Special Education. Students qualifying for Special Education services are automatically covered under Section 504.

Section 504 protects any student who has a mental or physical impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities including walking, seeing, hearing, breathing, and learning.

Mental impairments include, for example, ADHD or depression. Physical impairments include asthma, cystic fibrosis, diabetes mellitus, and other chronic illnesses that may impact the student's ability to carry out major life functions.

Parents and students are always part of the planning process once a student has been evaluated as being eligible for a Section 504 plan.

Your school's counselor is the case manager for all students on Section 504 plans. If you have a concern about your student's possible eligibility for Section 504, or about accommodations presently being provided under a Section 504 plan, please contact them or your building principal directly.

NTPS Section 504 Overview

State of Washington Section 504 Resources

Bullying

What is bullying?

Bullying is unfair and one-sided. It happens when someone is repeatedly hurting, frightening, threatening, or leaving someone out on purpose.

What can you do about bullying?

Recognize it (learn the definition and characteristics of bullying.)
Refuse the bullying: refuse to allow bullying to happen to you, and refuse to accept bullying at our school.
Report the bullying to an adult.

If you have any questions or worries about bullying at school, be sure to talk to your student's teacher, counselor, or principal.

NTPS Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying (HIB) Reporting

Community Resources

Parenting Resources

Ideas to open up a conversation with your child

As parents and caregivers, our children may come home with a problem from time to time. It may involve friendships, bullying, school work or a conflict with someone that is causing them stress. Finding a way to talk to our children can be tricky, but sometimes phrasing questions and comments in a non-threatening way can help kids open up. The following questions may help your child begin talking in a way that will promote sharing openly.

What happened?
What happened next?
How were you feeling? How do you think (student name) was feeling?
Is there anything else that you can do?
Will that work for everyone?
What do you need to do now?
What would you like to see happen?
How are you feeling right now?

Listen to your child as they express all concerned, fearful, angry, and upset feelings. Reiterate your support and help them focus on processing their feelings. Be on the lookout for physical symptoms of anxiety that children may demonstrate. They may be a sign that they are troubled by recent events. Talk more directly to them if they exhibit these signs more frequently than usual. Contact their counselor, family doctor, community mental health professions, or the 24-hour crisis line for more support.

Headaches
Excessive worry
Stomachaches/backaches
Irritability
Increased arguing
Trouble sleeping or eating
Loss of concentration
Nightmares
Withdrawal
Refusal to go to school
Clinging behavior

College Bound Scholarship

The College Bound Scholarship is an early commitment of state financial aid that will be combined with other state financial aid students may receive to cover the average tuition (at comparable public rates), some fees, and a small book allowance for income-eligible students who sign up in the 7th or 8th grade.

Students are automatically enrolled if:

They are eligible for free meals in 7th, 8th, or newly eligible in 9th grade.
In state foster care, or a dependent of the state between 7th grade and high school graduation.

Students can choose to enroll if:

Some students do not fit into either scenario but are interested in applying for College Bound. Students and families can contact the College Bound program to apply if they meet one of the following criteria:

Attend a private school or homeschool program in Washington State and meet the income requirements.
Are in another type of foster care and not eligible for free meals.

Student Applicants Promise to:

Graduate from a Washington high school or home school with a 2.0 GPA or higher.
Be a good citizen and not be convicted of a felony.
Apply to an eligible college and file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) in a timely manner.

The deadline for application is June 30th at the end of the student's 8th grade year. Students only need to sign up once. Ask your counselor for more information!

Local Tutoring

Virtual Calming Space

Contact Us

360-412-4730

School Counselor

Richelle Vining-Gonzalez
rvining-gonzalez@nthurston.k12.wa.us

Mental Health Specialist

Kacy Adams
kadams@nthurston.k12.wa.us

Crisis Clinic

The Crisis Clinic of Thurston and Mason Counties provides free help any day or night by text or phone:

Text HELP to 741741
Call 360-586-2777

Frequently Asked Questions

My student has a conflict with another student. What do we do?

Conflicts are common in middle school. Typically, these issues are minor and easily resolved between the students or with help from the counseling office or school leadership. However, if you think your student has experienced harassment, intimidation, or bullying (HIB), please report it immediately so the administrator can take appropriate action. See the HIB reporting page for more information and forms.

When a guardian requests that information be shared to help facilitate the educational process at school.
Any time a guardian or student over the age of 13 signs a release of information (ROI) to share information between healthcare providers and the school.
If child abuse or neglect is suspected. Mandatory reporting laws require the counselor to share information with law enforcement or state agencies.
If a student reports a desire to seriously harm themselves or someone else, the law requires confidentiality be broken in an attempt to protect the student or others.
In incidents of bullying, sexual harassment, or assault are reported. Most of these fall under Title IX or other federal and state laws and require administrator interventions.

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