The mission of the Martinsville High School Counseling Program – in partnership with other educators, parents/guardians, and the community – is to provide a comprehensive, developmental counseling program that addresses the academic, career, and personal/social development of all students and ensures that they are self-directed, lifelong learners who are prepared to become productive and responsible citizens of society. Counseling services are available to all students at Martinsville High School. The role of the school counselor is to advise students about topics such as careers, occupational information, and to assist students with interpreting test scores. In addition, counselors are available to students who may have personal concerns about social, school, or home issues. School counselors also help to establish lines of communication between staff and students. Experienced, licensed counselors are available throughout the school day and by appointment. Strict confidentiality is maintained. The counseling department maintains a library of information on colleges, financial aid opportunities, and vocational information for student, faculty, and community use. Detailed information on most post-secondary institutions in Indiana is available. The counseling department also maintains and distributes information on current financial aid resources available for post-secondary education. Career information is also available through the Counseling Department.
The MHS Guidance Counselors
Kami Hyde – Department Chair
Julie Presley – Last Name A-F
Chanda Rautenkranz – Last Name P-Z
Hannah Mattimiro – Last Name G-O
Jen Nuckles-Stafford – Registrar
The counseling department serves as the liaison between parents and students and the special services department. Special services include help for students with learning disabilities, speech and hearing difficulties, the need for vocational rehabilitation, and emotional difficulties. Special services conferences and appointments are made through contacting the high school or the Director of Special Education, 765-342-6641, ext. 1012.
Individual Services – Experienced, licensed counselors are available throughout the school day and by appointment. Strict confidentiality is maintained.
Alejandra Shaffer – MHS Social Worker
Parents are encouraged to see counselors at any time during the school day, but appointments are preferred.
The department also aids currently enrolled students on an individual and on-going basis in developing and maintaining an appropriate 4-year course plan to provide a foundation for future career goals.
The counseling department is responsible for several additional services for the staff and students at Martinsville High School. These include: monitoring the academic progress of each student by consulting with teachers through a variety of communication methods; working closely with the middle school counselors to assure students have a smooth and effective transition to high school; working closely with Hammons Alternative School staff; resolving scheduling conflicts; assisting in administering standardized tests; distributing standardized test results; attending professional development workshops and conferences; assisting with the college application process; training counselor interns; assisting with career-related field trips; coordinating leadership development opportunities for students; and being a liaison between MHS and Hoosier Hills Vocational School.
The counseling department maintains and distributes information on current financial aid available in the form of scholarships, grants, and loans for post-secondary education. MHS has no control over or responsibility for which scholarships and loans are available to the students.
The counseling department will host a Financial Aid Night. At this meeting a college financial aid officer will assist students and parents in completing the student FAFSA form. FAFSA forms can now be filed out starting October 1st and are due on or before April 15th. You will need to check with your colleges to see if they may have an earlier deadline.
This financial aid program is held at 34 sites statewide on Sunday, November 7, 2021 and February 27, 2022. College Goal Sunday is a time to receive free, professional help in completing your college financial aid application. You will need to bring your completed IRS 1040 tax return, W-2 form, or other income and benefits information. For more information, please click the link below to the College Goal Sunday website.
Carl Wagner – Senior Success Center
Interested in an After School Study Program? Please contact our Guidance Office.
To report an absence please call the Guidance/Attendance Secretary, at 765-342-6628 and choose Option 1. If you call after 9:00am, the automated call system will contact you regarding the absence.
If your student has any information that needs to be changed, such as a change of address or phone number, please contact the Guidance office or update the information on Family Access.
Homework is available online. Please call the office if paper copies are needed.
The mission of the elementary school counselors in the MSD of Martinsville school district is to provide a comprehensive program addressing the areas of academics, social/emotional support, and career development for students in grades K-4. This mission is accomplished through the development of a positive, supportive environment that encourages students to be successful in their learning and future productive members of society.
The elementary school counselors provide ALL students with support through several avenues including one-on-one meetings, group instruction, and classroom guidance. The goal of these interventions is to promote learning in an environment that is safe and engaging to the student. School counselors collaborate intentionally with teachers and school personnel to develop the best plan possible for each student.
School counselors also work cooperatively with community stakeholders including parents, community representatives, and others involved in promoting student success to create positive relationships between the school, students, and community.
School counselors are dedicated to providing opportunities for academic, career, and personal/social development for all students.
We meet individually with students to address current stressors and situations, teach social skills, increase self-esteem, learn new ways to cope, manage emotions, and more. Students may be referred by staff, parents, or they may self-refer. We maintain confidentiality with our students.
We provide small group instruction for students who face similar concerns. Small groups provide a safe and caring environment for students to share emotions and acquire the skills necessary for learning. Permission is requested before students begin working in group counseling.
We present developmentally appropriate and preventative classroom lessons to promote social and emotional learning, academic skills, and career development.
We work with administration, staff, parents, and community organizations to ensure the students’ needs are being met. We consult to explore strategies and interventions that best serve the student. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if there is any way we can support your child here at school.
We support students and their families through providing school and community resources for additional assistance and information.
In addition, we closely monitor testing and attendance data, provide informational workshops for parents, work with families to coordinate 504 plans, serve on the school’s RTI committee, attend professional development events to stay up to date on current trends and interventions in school counseling, and collaborate with other counselors in the school district.
When parents are involved and engaged in their child’s education, they are more likely to succeed. Parental involvement is linked to higher grades, better attendance, and an overall stronger parent/child relationship. Here are some ways you can help your student achieve academically:
Children experience a wide range of emotions, as adults do. However, unlike adults, children may not understand how to regulate the difficult emotions that they face. Remember these tips as you help your child recognize and express their emotions:
As adults, we hear “get it together” or “settle down” and we know how to do it. However, just like everything else, kids needs to be taught the skills to help them do that. Coping skills are strategies we can use or activities we can engage in to change our feelings and our thoughts. We can’t always change our situations, but we can do things to help us manage the feelings and thoughts we have about situations.
Communication is Key!
It’s important to take the time in your day to have conversations with your child. Whether it’s on the way to school, at the dinner table, or as you tuck them in to bed, touching base with your child will help them remember how much you care.
Here are some phrases you may add into your vocabulary to help facilitate these conversations:
Remember that every child is different in how they choose to communicate, and you know your child best.
See how important parent involvement is here
Career and College Exploration
The desired outcomes of career and college exploration at the elementary level are:
As counselors we reach these outcomes by prioritizing the following in a child’s education:
Awareness of self: Career Exploration
Students at the K-4 level should begin exploring what kinds of careers interest them most. The best way to explore is through exposure. Exposure can be done in several ways:
Dreaming without limits: Broadening the view of the working world
At this age level students should be encouraged to explore all kinds of careers including professional and trade careers. Students are the expert at what makes them interested so it is best to listen to were their career attention lies.
Encouraging creativity: Incorporating career interests into their day-to-day lives
Students should be encouraged to explore their career interests through using them as inspiration in their lives. This can be done through:
Reaching for their dreams: Instilling confidence and belief in ability
The number one motivator to future career and college success in confidence in ability. A student begins developing this confidence and belief at a young age. Consequently, it is important for educators, counselors, and parents to give their students positive encouragement in their school work and career interests.
Start preparing for college!
It is never too early for students to begin looking into:
