Recent ActivityCounselor's Corner
The Counseling Program at Margaret Brent strives to support our administration, teachers, parents, and community in helping all students to reach their full potential as members of society by providing them with a safe and caring learning environment in which to develop their emotional, academic, and social skills, along with a deeper understanding of the community in which they live.
Program Initiatives
Individual Counseling: Referrals for any counseling service can be made by a teacher or other school staff, parents, or the student. Individual and small group counseling are short-term, voluntary, and confidential. Parental permission is obtained prior to any group counseling experience and prior to any extended individual counseling.
Small Group Counseling: Small groups will be offered throughout the year based upon the needs of individual students. Groups may focus on, but are not limited to, such issues as family changes, grief, self-esteem, anger management, study skills, and friendship. Your suggestions of group tropics which may be helpful to your child are always appreciated.
Classroom Guidance: Throughout the year, students will participate in classroom guidance lessons, which will occur every 3 weeks, for approximately 45 minutes. The guidance lessons are aligned with the counseling curriculum and will most often coincide with Stafford County's Word of the Month Program.
Consultation with Parents/Staff: The school counselor provides information and assistance in order to support parents and teachers with the academic, social, and career development of students.
Coordination and Referral Services: The school counselor works closely with the social worker and community agencies to provide support service information and referral services for students and their families.
Meet Your Counselors
Hello! I am Laura Hoover and I am looking forward to my seventh year as the full-time counselor at MBES. I received my Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Wake Forest University and received my Master of Arts in Counseling from UNC-Charlotte. Before joining the MBES team, I worked with children with Autism and their families as a Habilitation Technician. I live in Fredericksburg with my husband (an MVHS teacher) and our two sons. I enjoy the outdoors, traveling and, of course, being a BOBCAT! GO BOBCATS!!!
I am Marcia Matheson, one of your Bobcat counselors. I will be at MBES on Tuesday and Thursdays. Mrs. Hoover and I are excited to work together this year. Before coming to MBES, I worked at Garrisonville Elementary as a teacher and counselor for many years. Prior to earning my Master's degree in counseling, I taught Kindergarten, first, and second grades. I have two grown children, a son and a daughter, who attended Stafford County Schools K-12. I look forward to getting to know you and your children.
This year, Mrs. Hoover and Mrs. Matheson will divide up responsibilities in the following way:
Mrs. Hoover will do ALL guidance lessons (K-5) and small groups/individuals in grades K, 3, 4, 5
Mrs. Matheson will do ALL small groups/individuals in grades 1 & 2
Guidance Announcements Helping Your Child TransitionDo you have a timid Bobcat at home? Nervousness and excitement are to be expected at the beginning of each new school year, especially for our youngest students. Crying and holding on to parents can extend into the first couple weeks of school. It's okay! Here are a couple of things to keep in mind:
SMALL GROUP OPPORTUNITIES Please check our most recent newsletter for current information regarding small group opportunities. **Due to the large number permission forms received for our current group offerings (Study Skills/Organization for 3-5 and Cool Cats for K-2), we will be running half of the groups starting next week and will run the second half starting in early December. Class Files
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Parent/Student Resource Links  Stafford County Schools does not endorse the contents of any linked sites. The content of the link(s) on this web site is the responsibility of the outside source(s) who produced the linked web pages. School division staff reviewed the linked home pages when they were inserted. If any linked home page content is considered inappropriate, please let staff know and the staff member shall bring the matter to the attention of the Webmaster. The outside source web pages may link to other pages that have not been reviewed by the school division; surf at your own risk.  Children and GriefInformation on grief and how children understand death based on their development. Crisis Management InstituteIncludes helpful resources for parents and teachers on topics such as grief and trauma. Hospice Support CareIncludes information on small group and grief camp opportunities for children and families. KidsHealth WebsiteFun information for kids including games and activities dealing with feelings, growing up, staying healthy, etc. |
