Counseling DEPARTMENT

The Student Counseling office is open Monday through Friday from 8:15am am to 4:15pm. To schedule an appointment for your student, please email or call the main office at 770-867-8181.

The Professional School Counselor is a certified educator trained in counseling techniques and strategies designed to meet the academic, personal/social, and career development needs of students. They support a collaborative learning environment by working with students, parents, teachers, administrators, and community agencies.  Even though it is an exciting time, middle school often comes with a unique set of challenges-from academic to personal and social. Counselors are prepared to help navigate these challenges, by providing nonjudgmental support and encouragement.

Confidentiality

The relationship between a student and his/her counselor is established and maintained due to trust and respect. In order for meaningful dialogue to occur, confidentiality must be part of the foundation of the counseling relationship. We stress to our students, "What you say in here, stays in here but there are 3 exceptions to this rule.

Exceptions to Confidentiality

• Someone is hurting you
• You want to hurt someone
• You want to hurt yourself

In efforts to streamline the process of attendance coding, an email, RMSattendance@barrow.k12.ga.us was been created to allow parents/guardians to email note regarding absences directly to the RMS registrar. If you have questions, please contact the RMS and ask to speak to the registrar, Molly Orr.

Georgia Helpline

1-800-244-5373 or www.PCAGeorgiaHelpline.org.

Includes Resources for:

• Caregiver Support
• Counseling and Support Groups
• Afterschool and Child Programs
• Domestic Violence Resources
• Child Abuse Resources
• Housing and Basic Needs

If you have concerns about your child's health and safety, the Georgia Crisis and Access hotline is available as a 24 hour service and can be reached at 1-800-715-4225.

Review BCSS Safety Information and/or submit a tip below.

The Barrow County School System offers, at no charge to the parents, academic instruction to eligible students who are confined at home or in a healthcare facility for periods of time that would prevent normal school attendance. To be eligible for this service, certain criteria must be met. If you would like to consider this option, please review the information on our district website. An application for Hospital Homebound Services can be located on the site as well or can be requested through the counseling department.

If you are under 18 years old, you will need proof of school enrollment for your learners permit. The certificates of enrollment can be obtained through our register. Please note that an Online Practice Test is available through the Department of Driver Services.

Mentor

The Barrow County School System Mentor Program offers community members the opportunity to help a child or teenager succeed and grow. Spending time with a student at school, sharing experiences and knowledge, and offering guidance and friendship can foster significant changes in a student’s life.

If you are interested in a mentor for your Westside Middle School student, please complete the permission form on the Barrow County School Website. Once you are on the there, please scroll to the middle of the page, and click on Parent/Guardian Permission Form. If you have any questions, please contact our WMS Mentor Coordinator, Mrs. Annette Williams.

The Barrow County School System adheres to the requirements of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Improvement Act of 2001 to ensure that all children and youth receive a free appropriate public education and are given meaningful opportunities to succeed in our schools. If you are currently experiencing homelessness, please note that there are supports to assist you and your family. If you feel that you may qualify for the services, please reach out to your students counselor at RMS:

Gary Wood
gary.wood@barrow.k12.ga.us
6th Grade & 7th Grade Last Names A-L

Pamela Robinson
pamela.robinson@barrow.k12.ga.us
7th Grade Last Names M-Z & 8th Grade.

The Infinite Campus System is used to access information about the students of our School District. Parents can set-up an account to access information on their student. Once created, your account will be retained within the System as long as you have a student enrolled in Barrow County Schools. Student data will be available for all students of each grade or level. With access to this system, you will be able to see the attendance at the your child's school, class schedule, grades, and subjects, and more.

If you would like to set-up a Parent Portal account, you can start the process HERE. If you need any support with setting up or accessing your account, email Parent Portal Support.

We are pleased to announce our partnership with The Cook Center for Human Connection, a valuable resource dedicated to supporting the mental health and well-being of our community. Our goal is to provide every adult and caregiver in our district with free access to reliable, compassionate, and professional guidance to navigate the toughest parenting challenges. It's through a website called parentguidance.org.

• Free On-Demand Courses And Well-Being Resource Library
  Through this partnership, we offer a comprehensive Mental Health and Well-being Library available to all families. This free resource includes over 70 on-demand courses in English and Spanish, created and presented by licensed clinicians. Topics covered include Anxiety, Depression, Self-Harm, Bullying, Social Media, Substance Abuse, Grief and Loss, and more.
   
• Free Mental Health Series & Ask A Therapist Live
  The Mental Health Series are virtual events designed to provide valuable support and insights at no cost to you. Experienced facilitators lead each one-hour session that offer practical advice and strategies from licensed therapists for supporting your child's mental health, addressing common parenting challenges, and connecting with a supportive community of parents. You can join any session any time.
  
  Ask a Therapist Live is included in the Mental Health Series events. This is your chance to get expert answers to any question you have about your child’s mental health or your parenting journey. You can submit questions anonymously in the webinar chat or through the interactive tools - or you can just listen to other parents ask questions and hear the answers our live therapist shares.
   
• Free Parent Coaching
  We also offer a Parent Coaching service. Their goals are to help give you confidence, structure, and practical ideas to tackle tough topics. Participation in coaching is completely HIPAA protected, ensuring your privacy. Coaches act as virtual parenting assistants, providing advice and day-to-day suggestions to help your child thrive. They can guide you through challenges related to grief, anxiety, depression, and general parenting. You can connect virtually with your coach on a weekly basis, with the option to text or email anytime and receive a response within 24-48 hours. This service is available at no cost to you due to our partnership with The Cook Center for Human Connection.

To get started, go to ParentGuidance.org to fill out a brief questionnaire. Once completed, you will be matched with a coach within 48 hours and can begin working on your questions and concerns immediately.