Counseling Dept.

Welcome to the Westlake Middle School Counseling Department’s home page

OUR VISION

Students will acquire the academic, career, and personal/ social skills to reach their fullest potential and successfully manage their lives as healthy, responsible, and productive citizens.

OUR MISSION

The relentless pursuit of learning for all students and staff in order to achieve academically, socially, emotionally, and vocationally.

OUR GOALS

Support the Westlake Middle School and District 12 academic goal that 95% of our students will be at grade level in reading, writing, and math by 2007.
Work in partnership with students, staff, parents, and the community in order to promote student achievement.
Assist students with exploring and developing their career aspirations.
Prepare students with the knowledge and skills necessary to become responsible citizens and life-long learners.

Westlake’s Counseling Department is an integral part of the school’s educational program. We provide services, following a data driven, comprehensive, developmental, competency based program, that are closely aligned with the District 12 and the American School Counseling Association’s curriculum framework.

OUR DELIVERY SYSTEM

08-09 Guidance Curricuum Action Plan - download

GUIDANCE CURRICULUM Includes lessons for all students on school success, career exploration, and personal/social development.
INDIVIDUAL PLANNING Includes assistance to students, on an individual or small group basis, who need more than the regular guidance curriculum.
RESPONSIVE SERVICES Includes crisis management, personal emergencies, school-wide concerns.
SYSTEM SUPPORT

Includes professional development, consultation, teaming, program management and operation.

Students visit counselors for:

I. Academic Issues such as:

Interpretation of test scores
Difficulty with curriculum
Student/teacher conflicts
Schedule concerns
Homework
Goal setting
Organization
Time management
Decision making
Problem solving

II. Personal/Social Issues such as:

Conflicts with friends
Bulling
Difficulties at home
Family changes
Depression
Grief/loss
Adolescent development
Goal setting

III. Career/Future Planning such as:

Career exploration

Interest inventories

Educational planning

Career guidance

Goal setting

WLMS Counselors:

Are available to all students.
Are resources for students, parents, teachers, and administrators.
Are liaisons between school and community.

8th Grade Expo Permission Slip - download

2009 Summer School Information

Below are the names and responsibilities of our team members

Danny Austin	7th Grade & 8th Grade Apache Core	720-972-5213	danny.austin@adams12.org
Jennifer Phillips	6th Grade & 8th Grade Olympian Core	720-972-5212	jennifer.phillips@adams12.org
Teresa Biller	8th Grade Thunder Core	720-972-5222	teresa.a.biller@adams12.org
Shannon Gunter	Registrar	720-972-5211	shannon,r.gunter@adams12.org
Tiffany Leija-Wheeler	Psychologist	720-972-5228	tiffany.j.leijawheeler@adams12.org
Doug Whiles	School Resource Officer	720-972-5207	doug.whiles@adams12.org

We invite you to call if you have any questions or concerns about your child’s school program.

The department’s business hours are school days from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm.