PSA Counselors Enhance Student Engagement 

School-based PSA Counselors in ESC North are using their creativity and ingenuity to help students feel connected at school.  In March, Liat Broome led a walking field trip to Payless Shoes with forty of her neediest students at Noble Elementary in Panorama City.  The Assistance League donated funds to purchase a brand new pair of shoes for each student.  Liat said that the smiles on her students' faces could have "lit a dark room".  She received several thank-you notes, including one from a little boy who said, "I don't know how to repay you guys because I've wanted these shoes since I was seven.  This is the best day ever."  One little girl wrote, "Noble Avenue is the best school because you care for us, you keep us safe, you are nice to us, and you give us so many things, like inviting us to Payless....I appreciate you so much....Noble Avenue you are the best school in the world."  A few miles away at Sepulveda Middle School, Rosalie Zetino has been facilitating a positive social skills group for girls.  During the group sessions, the girls have been practicing conflict resolution and socially appropriate communication skills like assertiveness.  Since the group has begun, several of the girls have shown increased trust in Ms. Zetino and even in the other adults on campus.  When conflicts have erupted, the girls have sought out adults and asked for help to solve the problem instead of fighting.  Ms. Zetino has been very pleased to see this proactive and pro-social behavior from the very same girls who used to be guarded and closed-off to adults at school.   At the end of the day, all of these efforts and interventions help students feel that school is a safe place where people care about them.  From a new pair of shoes to a new social skill, meeting students' needs enhances engagement, which results in increased attendance!

Provided ATTENDANCE Forces To 75th Street Elementary School

Pupil Service and Attendance Counselor Mary Ann Dibs engaged in many "Power" trips in collaboration with the DWP.  From March 17th through April 11th, Mary Ann staged an attendance competition at her school that yielded enlightened rewards for her students. 

Through the overwhelming generosity of the DWP, the 5th graders landed a trip to Redondo Beaches' Roundhouse Aquarium for having the highest attendance gains among all of the grade levels.  The 4th and 6th graders placed second in the competition and they were awarded an exotic excursion to the Japanese Gardens in Van Nuys.  

Not to be left out, the 1st, 2nd and 3rd graders were privileged to explore the La Brea Tar Pits as 3rd place winners.  As an added bonus, students with perfect attendance scored an opportunity to possibly go to all three wondrous locations through a raffle. Again, none of these adventures would have been possible if not for the enormous heart of the DWP's "Adopt a School" program. 

For more information about DWP's "Adopt a School" Program  click here.

Utilizing Counseling to Improve Student Outcomes

PSA Counselors utilize many skills to assist students and families overcome barriers to attendance and academic success- one of these skill sets is counseling!  Megan Thomas, PSA Counselor at Malabar Elementary, has been utilizing group and individual counseling to improve academic outcomes for 14 years.  Students are identified for counseling through short half page referral forms submitted by parents, administration, COST and SST, teacher assistants, and after-school program leaders.  For every referral received, the student's teacher provides feedback regarding their academic functioning/success.  Megan includes the teachers in the process because participation in counseling pulls children from instructional time.

Students are referred to Megan for many reasons, but the general categories of groups include Anger Management, Impulse Control, Motivation, Anxiety, Social Skills, Adjustment to School, and Grief and Loss.  Typically, Megan conducts four to five groups a day, as well as meeting with a few students individually.  Students have a set day and time to meet with Megan, similar to a clinical appointment, and are provided passes to remind them to attend their session.

Megan first began working at Malabar as an EBIC Counselor.  Some of the tools and strategies she uses today she gained from the EBIC Program, such as the Walker Mcconnel Scales to monitor student growth (teacher rated).   She also uses the Young Child Rating Scale for the students to report on their progress pre and post counseling services.  In addition to these tools, Megan requests weekly feedback from teachers and other school stakeholders regarding students' progress.  Feedback forms are shared with students during groups.

Megan also runs multiple incentive and recognition programs at Malabar.  Students included in Megan's caseload are recognized weekly for any accomplishments they achieve, either self-reported or reported by the teacher.  Also, when students terminate from counseling due to improvement, they are recognized and rewarded.  Additionally, Megan coordinates the Malabar school-wide positive behavior support program, STARRS.  Students are recognized for positive behavior on a weekly and monthly basis.  On a weekly basis, students receive certificates, letters home, and all-call PA announcements.  On a monthly basis, students are invited to lunch with the principal at which they received prizes and T shirts.  STARRS students also have their pictures taken and their names and pictures displayed on the Malabar Website.  Way to go, Megan!

The Pico Union site of the Youth Policy Institute (YPI), has partnered with the School for Integrated Academics and Technologies (SIATech) to provide  LARCA students  a high-quality high school education.   SIATech is a WASC-accredited public charter school designed for students, ages 16 to 24, who need to get back on track to graduate. 

Juan H., a 19 year old LARCA student, enrolled at SIATech in October of last year.  Juan was unable to complete his high school program at a traditional LAUSD high school.   He indicates that he has always found school challenging, but his high school years proved particularly difficult.  While in his sophomore year, his father passed away.  Soon after this painful event, his mother started experiencing serious health problems.  She eventually lost her job.  The emotional and financial stress of these events, extracted a heavy toll on Juan and his family. 

He began isolating himself and lost his motivation to succeed in school.  Juan also stopped attending school regularly, which led to academic failure and falling behind in his high school program.  As a result, he did not have enough credits to graduate on time.

In spite of this setback, Juan kept seeking for a pathway that would lead to a High School Diploma.  He was eventually referred to YPI's Pico Union Site.  After meeting with PSA counselor, Hiram Dabbah, Juan found out he was eligible to participate in the LARCA program.  Juan reports that he enjoys attending SIATech and that he is receiving supportive services coordinated by his case manager.  He is scheduled to graduate in December of this year, plans to attend community college afterwards and is now very hopeful about his future.

May is National Foster Care Month.  Each year, National Foster Care Month provides an opportunity to highlight the needs of over 500,000 youth in our nation's foster care system. 

 

On May 1, the LAUSD Foster Care Program started the month with its 4th Annual Pathways to College Program. Over 68 foster youth from across the district participated in the celebration. The event was filled with fun and heartfelt emotion as we recognized foster youth who will be graduating from high school and attending college. One foster youth commented "I know I would not be going to college if it were not for my counselor supporting me. I didn't know what to do, and had no one else to turn to. As a foster kid I often feel alone, and my counselor helped me. Thank You."  

 

This event would not have been possible if it were not for the sponsorship of Board Member Steve Zimmer who was our key note speaker, Jerry's Famous Deli, and the Pinz Bowling Center. 

 

During the month of May, the

Foster Care Program will have several fundraisers, which include a Porto's Bakery sale and a homemade jewelry sale just in time for Mother's Day. All proceeds will help benefit foster youth.  

On May 15, the Foster Care Program will participate in the Greater Los Angeles Construction and Associated Careers Awareness Day at Los Angeles Trade Technical College. This event benefits youth who prefer to pursue a vocation or technical path after graduation from high school! Last year over 1000 youth participated.

Diploma Projects 2nd Annual College Empowerment Symposium at Loyola

On Saturday, March 15, 2014 The Diploma Project

Marymount University.  

With the support of our community partner Inspiration 52, the symposium hosted 300 student attendees from all high schools served by the program; Fremont, Dorsey, Huntington Park, Belmont, San Fernando and Gardena High School. Students enjoyed a full day symposium with keynote speakers, seminars, plenary sessions, campus tours and team building activities. The event theme focused on encouraging students to "Navigate their way to Greatness."  Overall, students had a great time. For many of our students this was their first opportunity to tour a university. 

Student Comments:

"All these sessions were inspirational!" - Belmont Student

"I wouldn't change anything this was a great day." -  Huntington Park Student

"Everything that was said today was said for a reason." - Dorsey Student

"It really moved me. I related to it deeply." - San Fernando Student

"Very powerful speakers." - Gardena Student

Fremont HS Students

The second half of the school year was a very busy one for the Homeless Education Program. Much of January was spent finishing up the details of the Sponsor a Family program which included getting thank you cards and pictures out to the sponsors.  The Feed the Children backpack event was also held in January.  This was a great way to start the second half of the school year and replenish the much needed school supplies and backpacks for the program.

February and March calendars were filled with OSB on Wheels at Hooper Elementary School, the first annual Homeless Education Program Symposium, and OSB Prom. 

PSA Counselors Ana Quintero and Edna Martinez at OSB Prom

Sponsor a Graduate finished up in April with 35 homeless students being matched with sponsors.  The donated funds were used to assist with senior dues, graduation packages, yearbooks, prom tickets and grad night activities.  Thanks to the many sponsors who contributed to supporting our graduating seniors.

On May 22nd The Homeless Education Program along with the office of Board Member Monica Ratcliff and Beyond the Bell will host the first annual Graduate Recognition Luncheon.  There is no better way to end the school year than to celebrate the resiliency and dedication of our homeless graduating seniors.  

Click here for the May Newsletter.