Contacting the counseling office

The Student Counseling office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. To schedule an appointment for your child, please email or call the main office at 770-307-2972.

The Role of the Professional School Counselor

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

Rising 9th grade information

Welcome to Apalachee Information

Summer Health Personal Fitness Opportunity

Check out the AHS Counseling page for more information!

Dual enrollment information

Dual Enrollment

School wide tutoring is offered every Wednesday from 3:15 p.m. -4 p.m., contact your student's teacher if you need additional information.

If your student has to be out, please send documentation to our registrar regarding your students absence. A doctor’s note is helpful but we also appreciate notes from parents regarding the reason for the absence. Please make certain to include your students name, the date/s of their absence/s, your name, and a number where you can be reached.

Boys & Girls Program

Are you looking for an after school program for your student? If so, you may want to consider the Boys & Girls Club. If your student attends a Barrow County Middle School, they can attend the after school program for free with the exception of a $50 annual membership fee. Transportation is provide every day after school but spots are limited. If you are interested in applying, applications can be located HERE.

Other Resources

Are you finding it difficult to get other items for your student to participate in school?

• Clothing
• Glasses
• School supplies

Contact your counselor today to receive more information.

Community Resources

 Barrow County Resource Guide

Georgia Helpline

Connect Caregivers with Support 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

Health & Safety

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.

Holiday Support

Do you need help providing gifts for your children during the holiday season? If so, consider Holiday Connections. Holiday Connections is a program that supports local families during the holidays. To learn more about the Holiday Connections Program, visit the Barrow Family Connections website.

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.

Learner’s Permit

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 located on the Barrow County School Website at https://www.barrow.k12.ga.us/departments/teaching-learning/mentor-program. 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.

MVP

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.

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, you can email Parent Portal Support.

Does your student have a condition that may be denying them access to education? If so, please let us know so we can discuss options to help support your student.

Minors aged 14 and 15 who reside in Georgia must obtain a work permit before they are allowed to start a job they have been employed to do. The process of securing a work permit in Georgia is officially done online. The Minor Instructions can be used to help you through the process. The school will act as the issuing officer. Once the employer completes their portion of the Youth Work Permit, the minor must contact the issuing officer at their school to have the work permit completed and issued.