Counseling: Draper Middle School

We support our district’s mission to prepare all students to succeed responsibly in post-secondary education and/or the workplace. To do so, we work hard to provide timely and effective communication with students, parents, and teachers through parent/teacher conferences, phone calls home, and evening programs. Through coordination of services, consultation, and academic, career, and personal counseling, we help promote the skills that students will need to be successful in school and in life. We encourage strong communication with parents and the greater Rotterdam community. Let’s work together to promote the success of all of our children at Draper!

Your counselor is here to help!

As students progress from one grade to the next, their counselor moves with them, providing continuity and time to really get to know students and their parents. School counselors are often the first people students and parents contact with questions or concerns. They take a holistic approach to making sure each student has a positive experience at Draper Middle School and that they are well-prepared for the challenges of high school and beyond.

Some of the key things counselors typically help students with include:

• Helping each student know him or herself. This includes helping students explore interests, capitalize on strengths and develop plans to address weaknesses.
• Educational guidance and goal setting. Counselors meet with students and parents as needed. Counselors will also act as a “go-between” with teachers, students and parents to facilitate solutions to academic and/or behavior problems.
• Personal counseling and/or referrals for students experiencing any number of problems – academic, social, family, etc.
• Helping students balance the demands of school, family and friends. Special attention is paid to teaching “life skills” such as organization, study skills, time management, responsibility, cooperation, teamwork and other habits and attitudes that will serve students well in any classroom, job or social situation.
• Organizing and facilitating parent-teacher conferences where the focus is on problem-solving.
• Communicating regularly with parents to build strong and effective partnerships between home and school.

Serving students in grades 6-8
School Hours: 7:30 a.m. – 2:10 p.m.