Counselor's Corner
Greetings from Mrs. Margaret Hatcher, Sherwood Acres Elementary Guidance Counselor! I am so pleased to be here working with the students and families at Sherwood. You may be wondering what an Elementary Guidance Counselor does. Elementary Guidance Counselors serve many roles in the school. I teach classes, work with small groups of children, talk individually with children, meet with parents, help teachers, and the list goes on!
I try to get to know all the children so that if they need help they will feel comfortable talking with me. Sometimes students need someone to talk with if they are feeling sad, confused, nervous, scared, or if they have a problem. The conversations that I have with children are CONFIDENTIAL! This is very important to the children. I tell them that unless they give me permission, I will keep what they tell me secret. The exceptions are, of course, if they are being hurt or if someone else is being hurt. In that case, I am obligated to do something to prevent any further harm. Most of the time, students just need a little extra support and guidance on how to handle a situation.
I am available by appointment to meet with parents who have concerns about their child’s academic or social progress. I can assist parents with information about outside resources to address any problems their child may be experiencing.
Most of the time, you can find me teaching lessons to all the students about decision-making skills, test-taking tips, self-esteem, conflict resolution, anti-bullying, interpersonal skills, career goals, and many other topics. All Elementary Guidance Counselors have objectives that must be covered each year. We work to support teachers by giving students positive social skills and motivation to learn.
If you have any questions about the Elementary Guidance program, feel free to call me at the school at 431-3397 or you can reach me by email at margaret.hatcher@docoschools.org. I have voice mail and check my messages regularly. I am honored to serve Sherwood Acres Elementary as your Guidance Counselor.