The following are some of the macro and micro accomplishments of the elementary
school counseling program at Hooper Avenue Elementary where Luis South is the
elementary school counselor. All of these strategies remain available as viable
communication lines continue to develop in a "pupil learning communities" environment:
1) Collaborated and vigorously advocated to
set up a functional reporting system to keep better track of
student discipline. The swis.org program offers a very
affordable system to schools that makes it worth the effort.
At my request, Hooper is on the list to receive this program
since it's inception in this district. A Hooper
administrator informed that we will implement it in the
beginning of the new school year (2008-09). What's going on?
2) Collaborated with staff to provide the integration of
anti-violence, anti-drugs/alcohol/tobacco in school
curriculum utilizing Second Step as the main curriculum of
choice.
3) Formed collaborating alliances with counselors at local
middle school (L.A Academy and Carver MS) receiving our
students in order to better assist with transition issues
and remain proactive about Hooper students as they go
through their secondary school experience.
4) Collaborated to identify and strengthen community based
programs of service to Hooper community (via aggressive
information services to families regarding the availability
of tutoring in the home sponsored by LAUSD, California). The
LAUSD board is presently questioning the effectiveness of
the tutoring contractors offering these services. That's a
good idea so only the most productive continue to receive
funding.
5) Collaborated to increase the number of Hooper family
homes having a computer. I have delivered computers to 5
homes, one classroom, and another for student use in my
office. Two more are about to be placed.
6) Collaborated to increase the number of students
enrolled in the College & Beyond after school program that I
designed and implemented. Over the past three years this
program has developed an education counseling approach to
empower elementary students and other siblings at home so
they grow with a clear vision of earning their way to
college by virtue of hard work and creativity. Each year has
culminated with trips to local colleges (LMU and LA Trade
Tech).
7) Collaborated to provide more and higher quality services
to at-risk students and their families via researched
communications with Hooper administrators, school nurse,
school clinical counselor, Math coach, Language Arts coach,
parent liaison, LAPD, LAUSD school police, surrounding
churches, 211, 311, school psychologist, community based
small businesses, City Council District 9, Mayor's Office,
et. al.
8) Collaborated to fulfill the ideas adopted by Hooper
Avenue Elementary from the book written by Mike Schmoker
titled "Results", a book adopted by the Hooper
administration and staff in '06-'07as a result of continuous
in-service training focused on reading through and
discussing concepts contained in each chapter.
9) Collaborated and initiated the idea that college
counseling must begin from elementary school via Western
Association of College Admissions Counselors. See the link
below.
http://www.educounselor.com/images/WACAC20%June%202007%20Annual%20Conference2.pdf
10) Collaborated and researched via contacts to college
professors and LACMA
to establish a dynamic new art form to teach and invigorate
thinking skills
in students of all ages.
11) Collaborated and Actualized the museum concept
utilizing empty
classroom spaces so that primary students could see the
actual artwork of
4th and 5th graders in order to envision minimum standards
that were
expected of them in the near future. During these museum
experiences I
typically address concepts that help to develop character.
e.g., the
importance of CLEANLINESS and PERSONAL HYGEINE, CARING
COMMUNITY, WORLD
PEACE, and CAREERS, etc.
12) Developed strategies to identify and better serve the
families referred
to DCFS so that those families still remain receptive to my
communications.
Ongoing dialogue with district administrators regarding the
need for policy
changes continue.
13) Continuing to identify and report the need for
improvements in the stull
evaluation process so LAUSD board and state legislators can
formulate
funding strategies based upon ethical, more accurate
reporting of real
circumstances concerning school counseling.
14) Collaborated and implemented a critical thinking game
to inculcate
critical thinking skills in elementary students focused on
college and
career. The game is called What's My Line---Of Work?, most
often played when
adult visitors come to dialogue with students about their
career path.
15) At Hooper Elementary School Thursday, June 19, 2008 was
the day that
moved "Career Day" into a new phase of Career Orientation
Process, a
year-round concept integrated into the curriculum.
16) Collaborated and successfully instituted the Pennies
for Patients
student donation drive to support the Leukemia and Lymphoma
Society. This
vehicle was utilized in order to consciously empower a
community thought of
as "impoverished." Our students received a constant message
that they are
powerful whenever they work in harmony. They are waiting for
a date to be
set for this year's drive at Hooper.
17) Collaborated to create a new link on my web page for
parents to find
viable internet links serving student education in home
based Math and
Language Arts. See
www.educounselor.com . Again, I'm formally
requesting the
inclusion of my web page link on Hooper's web page. Please
send a written
comment regarding this request.
18) Playground staff and Hooper administration
collaboration to identify
and assist with resolution strategies addressing problems on
yard.
19) Collaborated with Hooper administration and teachers to
identify and
work towards a totally safe campus.
20) Collaborated with charter school teachers and
administrators in order
to stay abreast of state-of-the-art concepts distinguishing
these two public
school concepts (traditional vs. charter).
21) Collaborated with teachers, administration, and parents
to continually
identify student problems and work towards three-dimensional
resolutiions.
Cases referred to me receive efficient and appropriate
services leading
students on a path of eventual problem resolution.
Continuity of service is
a factor that is too often interrupted due to a lack of
communication among
professionals and this sometimes causes a slower progress.
22) Collaborated and strategized with teachers to include I
Know It and I
Show It as a viable supplemental education program that
effectively provides
exercises in Math and Language Arts. This collaboration is
among the first
to initiate the Small Learning Environment concept at an
elementary school
in LAUSD. Please inform me as to the implementation of the
Small Learning
Environment concept (PLC's) at Hooper.
23) Collaborated with teachers and parents to fulfill the
purpose of the
PHBAO funding by providing students with educational lessons
and counseling
focused on inculcating pride of their cultural groups'
history and sacrifice
to make the United States of America among the greatest
countries in the
world. As well, parents have given through their hard earned
tax donations
to support public school education so Hooper students can
receive a quality
education.
The above statements are all quite verifiable facts. This is
not a statement
concerning perfection. Generally, students who come into my
jurisdiction
typically exhibit greater improvements behaviorally,
academically, and as
community volunteers.
Respectfully,
Luis South, M.A/PPS
Hooper Avenue Elementary School counselor
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