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What Parents Need to Know About Confidentiality

When it comes to their children meeting with a school counselor, some parents are reluctant to support such a decision. They may fear the child will share "family secrets," which will then be spread throughout the school. Or that all the teachers in the faculty lounge will learn of their child's specific problems and hold it against the student.
In fact, such concerns couldn't be further from the truth.
A student's right to privacy and confidentiality is the basis for an effective counseling relationship. Confidentiality ensures that school counselors won't share students' disclosures with others except when the student authorizes it or when there is a clear and present danger to the student and/or to other persons.
And, should parents to be called in to meet with the school counselor as well, in a collaborative effort to help the student, parents must also realize that confidentiality is the hallmark of a school counselors' work. When students enter into a counseling relationship with their school counselor, the school counselor will educate the student about the purposes, goals, techniques and rules of procedure under which they may receive counseling. This disclosure notice, which the school counselor will explain in terms appropriate to the student's age and cognitive ability, addresses the limits of confidentiality, such as the possible need to consult with other professionals, privileged communication, and legal or authoritative restraints. Consulting with other professionally competent persons is essential in the school setting when this is in the student's best interest. The parents/guardians are informed of the confidential nature of the counseling relationship between the counselor and student. Information is kept confidential unless disclosure is required to prevent clear and imminent danger to the student or others, or when legal requirements demand that confidential information be revealed.

Mouth injuries that are forceful enough to knock out a tooth may also damage other teeth or other structures in the mouth or face, such as the roof of the mouth, gums, lips or cheeks. A permanent tooth can sometimes be put back into its socket (re-implanted). The best results occur if a dentist puts the tooth back in the socket within 30 minutes. Chances of successful re-implantation are unlikely after 2 hours.

1. Find the tooth.

For a baby tooth: Apply clean gauze to the gum and socket for about 15 minutes to control the bleeding. A baby tooth is not re-implanted after it has been knocked out because the re-implantation may cause problems with later development of the permanent tooth. Your child will need to be checked by a dentist even if the tooth was getting ready to fall out soon.

For a permanent tooth: Apply clean gauze and continue with the steps below.

1. Rinse the tooth gently with tap water while holding it by the top of the tooth. Do not rub or scrub the tooth or touch the root.       
2. Store the tooth properly for transport to the dentist.

The best way to transport a tooth is to put it back into the socket. Gently place it back into its normal position. Do not be concerned if it sticks out slightly. Bite down gently on gauze or a moistened tea bag to help keep the tooth in place. Hold the tooth in the socket with your finger during transport. An adult or older child may be able to keep the tooth in his/her mouth between the gums and cheek or under the tongue, being careful not to swallow it. A young child should not be expected to do this. Another method is to place the tooth in milk. If milk is not available, use tap water or a non prescription product such as Save-A-Tooth.

Do Not put the tooth in salt water, alcohol or mouthwash.

1. Call the Dentist immediately to arrange for your care.If you are unable to talk with your Dentist right away, go to the emergency room immediately. Be sure to take the toot with you.

Source:  http://www.webmd.com  

Georgia Students Show Gains in All Areas on National Assessment of Educational Progress  

Georgia's students showed gains from 2011 in all four areas tested, according to national test results released last month.  The results of the 2013 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) show Georgia's students improving in 4th grade reading and math, as well as 8th grade reading and math. Georgia had higher results than the nation on the 4th grade reading test (222 scale score compared to the nation's 221). In addition to making gains on the overall scale score, the percentage of Georgia's students scoring at Advanced levels increased from 2011 in each of the grades and content areas: 4th grade reading (+2 points), 4th grade math (+1 point), 8th grade reading (+2 points), and 8th grade math (+1 point).

READING    Key Findings in Grade 4 Reading

• The average reading score for students in Georgia was 222.  This was a one point increase from the score in 2011 (221) and a four point increase from the score in 2009 (218).
• Georgia's average score in 2013 (222) was one point higher than that of the nation's public schools (221).
• The average reading score for White students in Georgia increased from 231 in 2011 to 233 in 2013.  The average score for Black students increased from 208 in 2011 to 209 in 2013.  The average score for Hispanic students decrease from 214 in 2011 to 213 in 2013. 
• The average reading score for students who were eligible for the National School Lunch (NSL) Program increased from 209 in 2011 to 211 in 2013.
• In 2013, the percentage of students in Georgia who performed at or above Basic was 67 percent. This was a one percentage point increase from 2011 (66 percent), and a four percentage point increase from 2009 (63 percent).
• The percentage of students in Georgia who performed at or above Basic (67 percent) matched the percentage at or above Basic for the nation's public schools (67 percent).
• In 2013, the percentage of students in Georgia who performed at or above Proficient was 34 percent. This was a two point increase from 2011 (32 percent), and a five point increase from 2009 (29 percent).
• The percentage of students in Georgia who performed at or above Proficient (34 percent) matched the percentage at or above Proficient for the nation's public schools (34 percent).
• In 2013, the percentage of students in Georgia who performed at Advanced was 9 percent. This was a two point increase from 2011 (7 percent), and a three point increase from 2009 (6 percent).  

Key Findings in Grade 8 Reading

• The average reading score for students in Georgia was 265. This was a three point increase from the score in 2011 (262) and a five point increase from 2009 (260).
• Georgia's average score (265) was one point lower than that of the nation's public schools (266).
• The average reading score for White students in Georgia increased from 272 in 2011 to 274 in 2013.  Black students' average score increased from 251 in 2011 to 252 in 2013.  Scores for Hispanic students increased from 258 in 2011 to 260 in 2013. 
• The average reading score for students who were eligible for the National School Lunch (NSL) Program in Georgia increased from 253 in 2011 to 255 in 2013.
• In 2013, the percentage of students in Georgia who performed at or above Basic was 75 percent.  This was a one percentage point increase from 2011 (74 percent) and a three percentage point increase from 2009 (72 percent).
• The percentage of students in Georgia who performed at or above Basic (75 percent) was two percentage points lower than the nation's public schools (77 percent).
• In 2013, the percentage of students in Georgia who performed at or above Proficient was 32 percent. This was a four percentage point increase from 2011 (28 percent), and a five percentage point increase from 2009 (27 percent).
• The percentage of students in Georgia who performed at or above Proficient (32 percent) was two percentage points lower than the nation's public schools (34 percent).
• In 2013, the percentage of students in Georgia who performed at Advanced was 4 percent. This was a two percentage point increase from 2011 (2 percent) and 2009 (2 percent).

MATHEMATICS    Key Findings in Grade 4 Mathematics

• The average mathematics score for students in Georgia was 240.  This was a two point increase from the score in 2011 (238) and a four point increase from 2009 (236).
• Georgia's average score in 2013 (240) was one point lower than that of the nation's public schools (241).
• The average mathematics score for White students in Georgia increased from 249 in 2011 to 250 in 2013.  The average score for Black students increased from 224 in 2011 to 226 in 2013.  The average score for Hispanic students increased from 233 in 2011 to 235 in 2013. 
• The average mathematics score for students who were eligible for the National School Lunch (NSL) Program was 227 in 2011 and 230 in 2013.
• In 2013, the percentage of students in Georgia who performed at or above Basic was 81 percent.  This was a one percentage point increase from 2011 (80 percent) and a three percentage point increase from 2009 (78 percent).
• The percentage of students in Georgia who performed at or above Basic (81 percent) was one percentage point lower than the nation's public schools (82 percent).
• In 2013, the percentage of students in Georgia who performed at or above Proficient was 39 percent.  This was a two percentage point increase from 2011 (37 percent), and a five percentage point increase from 2009 (34 percent).
• The percentage of students in Georgia who performed at or above Proficient (39 percent) was two percentage points lower than the nation's public schools (41 percent).
• In 2013, the percentage of students in Georgia who performed at Advanced was 7 percent.  This was a one percentage point increase from 2011 (6 percent), and a two percentage point increase from 2009 (5 percent).

Key Findings in Grade 8 Mathematics

• The average mathematics score for students in Georgia was 279. This was a one point increase from the score in 2011 (278) and 2009 (278).
• Georgia's average score (279) was five points lower than that of the nation's public schools (284).
• The average mathematics score for White students in Georgia increased from 291 in 2011 to 292 in 2013.  Black students' average score remained the same at 262 in 2011 and 2013.  Scores for Hispanic students decreased one scale score point from 277 in 2011 to 276 in 2013. 
• The average mathematics score for students who were eligible for the National School Lunch (NSL) Program in Georgia was unchanged at 267 from 2011 to 2013. 
• In 2013, the percentage of students in Georgia who performed at or above Basic was 68 percent.  This was unchanged from 2011 (68 percent) and a one percentage point increase from 2009 (67 percent).
• The percentage of students in Georgia who performed at or above Basic (68 percent) was five percentage points lower than the nation's public schools (73 percent).
• In 2013, the percentage of students in Georgia who performed at or above Proficient was 29 percent.  This was a one percentage point increase from 2011 (28 percent) and a two percentage point increase from 2009 (27 percent).
• The percentage of students in Georgia who performed at or above Proficient (29 percent) was five percentage points lower than the nation's public schools (34 percent).
• In 2013, the percentage of students in Georgia who performed at Advanced was 7 percent.  This was a one percentage point increase from 2011 (6 percent), and a two percentage point increase from 2009 (5 percent).