Guidance
Our mission is to facilitate each student’s personal/social, academic, and career development through the implementation of a comprehensive K-12 Counseling Program. Through a collaborative effort between the home, school, and community, school counselors will ensure that all students have access to the tools enabling them to become responsible, productive citizens and lifelong learners.
*Pottsgrove School District is not responsible for any Internet content outside of this website. Links to external sites are included as a service for visitors. Inclusion of external links does not imply endorsement or approval of external content.
8th-Grade Course Selection
Child Study Team
The mission of the Child Study Team (CST) is to identify, refer, and assist our middle school students presenting with academic weaknesses or other factors that impede their performance in the classroom. The CST functions to intervene with these students who need more academic support. The role of the team is to work with teaching teams in order to brainstorm, select, and apply individual strategies to aid the student in achieving success and to help them derive meaning from their classroom instruction.
Teachers, counselors, other staff members, and parents may refer a student to the CST by contacting the guidance department or by placing a referral form in the first-floor mail area.
Reasons to refer a student:
- Refusal to engage in work
- Task avoidance- repeated requests to leave the classroom
- Sudden drop in grades
- High rate of absences
- Disciplinary issues
- History of academic difficulties
- Emergence of disruptive behavior in the classroom
- Failure of vision/hearing screenings
- Hyperactivity and/or difficulty with concentration or focus
Once a referral is received, the team will gather more data including grades, standardized test scores, attendance, discipline and health history, teacher and parent observations, and records/information from former schools. The team then assesses a level of concern and develops an individualized action plan with a focus on a specific and measurable goal. Upon following up on progress toward the goal, the team may decide to:
- continue with the plan;
- modify the plan;
- or refer to other resources (Student Needs Assistance Program or Multidisciplinary Evaluation).
Team Members
Tom Frevert- Dean of Students
Cristina Kleinfelter - School Counselor (A-L)
DiAinni Dennis- School Counselor (M-Z)
Crystal Stubbs- School Psychologist
If you have any questions regarding the Child Study process or would like to make a referral, please contact one of the above team members or call 610-326-8243 ext. 2022.
Career Education
Pottsgrove School District does Career Education from Kindergarten through 12th grade. With the use of Naviance, we are able to create comprehensive college and career readiness that helps connect academic achievement to post-secondary goals.
Students: Click on http://connection.naviance.com/pottsgms to access your Naviance Career Portfolio.
Log-in steps:
1. Email is the students' school email OR only the first part of the student email. EX - My email is ddennis@pgsd.org, to log in I need to type in: ddennis@pgsd.org OR ddennis.
2. Password is the student's network password/log-in WITHOUT the PG at the end.
If you have any questions, please contact Miss Dennis or Mrs. Kleinfelter.
8th Grade Course Selection Timeline
End of January -
- 8th-grade assembly with High School and Middle School Counselors to review the upcoming course selection process.
- The 8th-grade parents' evening meeting (students are welcome to attend) is held at the High School. High school counselors review the high school scheduling process with the parents.
- Review the presentation here.
February -
- Middle School Counselors teach the course selection process to 8th-grade students. Courses are selected on Powerschool.
Student Needs Assistance Program
The mission of the Student Needs Assistance Program (SNAP) is to identify, refer, and assist students in a crisis concerning known or suspected drug and alcohol abuse, depression, suicide ideation, or other areas of concern that interfere with school success and channel referrals to the appropriate resources.
Anyone can refer students for help. Some reasons to refer are:
- Drop in grades
- Several absences
- Disciplinary issues or disruptive behavior
- Secrecy, Isolation, Loneliness
- Change in interests, peer group, or family involvement
- Weight gain or loss
- Thoughts of hurting self, or self-injury (cutting)
- Frequent illness, fatigue, or listlessness
- Possession of paraphernalia (cigarettes, pipes, lighter, etc.)
- Hyperactivity or inability to concentrate
- Dishonesty, lying
- Giving away treasured belongings or other signs of "saying goodbye"
- Family Issues
- Dealing with a loss or transition
*If you would like to make a referral or have any questions about the SNAP team, please contact your child's counselor:
DiAinni Dennis (M-Z)- 610-326-8243 ext. 2052
Cristina Kleinfelter (A-L)- 610-326-8243 ext. 2054
Resources
Community Resources
Helpful Links
Eating Disorders:
National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA)
National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders
Self-Injury/Self-Harm:
Parent's Guide to Suicide Prevention
Cornell Research Program on Self-Injury and Recovery
Helpful Links:
Pennsylvania 2-1-1: A free and easy-to-remember phone number, 2-1-1 connects people with important resources in their communities- for everyday needs and in crisis situations. The highly trained, multilingual call specialists are available 7 days a week from 8 AM- 8 PM.
COMPASS: online application to apply for many health and human service programs.
Your Way Home (Montgomery County): Centralized system for screening and intake for those in need of housing 1-877-646-6306.
Montgomery County Community Resource Page: Includes resources for nutrition and health, maternal and child health, oral health, obtaining food, and tobacco cessation.
Community Health and Dental Care: Providing health and dental care to families, regardless of their insurance.
YWCA Tri-County Area: Offers a variety of classes and workshops for women and children, including an adult literacy center, English as a second language, family literacy, one-on-one tutoring, a parents' network, childcare, and women EXCEL.
Parent to Parent of Pennsylvania: A statewide parent peer support network for parents and caregivers who are caring for children with behavioral health concerns, physical or developmental disabilities, special health care needs, foster care/adoption, and educational issues.
Local Counseling
Blossom Counseling: Online therapy that empowers children, teens, adults, and couples to manage anxiety and stress.
BodyMetrix Health and Wellness Services, LLC: A qualified team of dietitians providing Medical Nutrition Therapy and nutrition counseling that includes two dietitians with an extensive background in eating disorders.
Bryn Mawr Psychological Associates: Provides Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Child & Adolescent Therapy, Family & Parenting Counseling, Counseling for College Students, Therapy for Adults and Seniors, Couples & Marital Counseling, Educational Testing, and Behavioral Consultation.
Center for Allied Psychiatry & Psychological Services: Provides outpatient psychiatry, psychological testing and evaluation, and psychotherapy services for children, adolescents, and adults.
The Center for Loss and Bereavement: Provides individual, couples, and family counseling, support groups for parents and children, summer camps, and education.
Creative Health Services: Provide outpatient, intensive outpatient, residential treatment, case management and children’s programs as well as other services.
Gateway Counseling Services: 634 East King Street, Pottstown, PA 19464 610-323-8866
Innovative Counseling: 600 Creekside Drive, Suite 601, Pottstown, PA 19464, 610-326-2728
Pillars of Light and Love: A 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization with free workshops, programs, and support groups in the Collegeville area to empower youth and adults to lead happy, confident, courageous, and healthy lives by learning resilience and coping skills for daily life.
Psychology and Counseling Associates: Provides individual, marriage, family, and group psychotherapy and counseling.
Sanctuary Counseling: Provides practical, client-centered therapy that always proceeds at your individual pace.
Spring-Ford Counseling: Provides individual, couples/marriage, and family counseling, as well as psychiatric evaluations.
Yong Shin and Associates: Provides outpatient mental health and behavior services for children, adolescents, adults, and the elderly.
Drug and Alcohol
SAMHSA National Helpline: is a confidential, free, 24-hour-a-day, 365-day-a-year, information service, in English and Spanish, for individuals and family members facing substance abuse and mental health issues. Call 1-800-662-HELP (1-800-662-4357).
Alcohol Addiction Center: Your comprehensive guide to getting help and understanding the disease.
American Medicine Chest Challenge: Provides a unified national, statewide, and local focus to the issue of medicine abuse by children and teens.
The Medicine Abuse Project: Provides comprehensive resources for parents and caregivers, law enforcement officials, health care providers, educators and others so that everyone can take a stand and help end medicine abuse.
DrugFree.org: Find a wealth of information, tools and opportunities to help prevent and get help for drug and alcohol abuse by teens and young adults.
The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA): Delivers science-based facts about how drugs affect the brain and body so that kids will be armed with better information to make healthy decisions.
Smokefree.gov: Provides free, accurate, evidence-based information and professional assistance to help support the immediate and long-term needs of people trying to quit smoking.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA): Wide range of prevention and support resources to help reduce the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on America's communities.
To Write Love on Her Arms: A non-profit movement dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury, and suicide.
Shatterproof: Committed to providing accurate, evidence-based, up-to-date information to help people make informed decisions when it comes to prevention, treatment, and long-term recovery from addiction.
Ask Listen Learn: Provides youth ages 9-14 and their parents with information about the dangers of underage drinking.
Mental Health
Bullying
StopBullying.gov: Provides information from various government agencies on what bullying and cyberbullying are, who is at risk, and how you can prevent and respond to it.
Stomp Out Bullying: Focuses on reducing and preventing bullying, cyber bullying, sexting, and other digital abuse, educating against homophobia, racism, and hatred, decreasing school absenteeism, and deterring violence in schools, online, and in communities across the country.
Pacer's Center Teens Against Bullying: Created by and for teens, this website is a place for middle and high school students to find ways to address bullying, take action, be heard, and own an important social cause.
Kind Campaign: An internationally recognized movement, documentary, and school program based upon the powerful belief in KINDness that brings awareness and healing to the negative and lasting effects of girl-against-girl “crime.”
It Gets Better Project: Created to show young LGBT people the levels of happiness, potential, and positivity their lives will reach – if they can just get through their teen years.
Self-Esteem
MyGirlTalk.org: Girl Talk’s mission is to help young teenagers build self-esteem, develop leadership skills, and recognize the value of community service.
Born This Way Foundation: Led by Lady Gaga and her mother Cynthia Germanotta, the Foundation is dedicated to creating a safe community that helps connect young people with the skills and opportunities they need to build a kinder, braver world.
Girls Inc.: Inspires all girls to be strong, smart, and bold through life-changing programs and experiences that help girls navigate gender, economic, and social barriers. Offers programs for girls aged 6-18.
Helpful Links
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: Provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week: 1-888-273-TALK (1-888-273-8255).
SAMHSA: National Helpline (also known as the Treatment Referral Routing Service) is a confidential, free, 24-hour-a-day, 365-day-a-year, information service, in English and Spanish, for individuals and family members facing substance abuse and mental health issues. Call 1-800-662-HELP (1-800-662-4357).
Montgomery County Teen Talk Line: Connects you with a fellow teen to discuss whatever’s on your mind with absolutely no judgment. Call 866-825-5856, or Text 215-703-8411.
The Trevor Project: Provide crisis and suicide prevention for LGBTQ youth. 1-866-488-7386.
Boys Town National Hotline: (available 24/7) Offers support and safety for at-risk children and their families. 1-800-448-3000.
The Campaign to Change Direction: A collection of concerned citizens, nonprofit leaders, and leaders from the private sector who have come together to create a new story in America about mental health, mental illness, and wellness.
Half of Us: Aims to initiate a public dialogue to raise awareness about the prevalence of mental health issues and connect students to the appropriate resources to get help
CHADS Coalition: Resources to educate, guide, and support young people and their families concerning mental illness
To Write Love on Her Arms: A non-profit movement dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury, and suicide. TWLOHA exists to encourage, inform, inspire, and also to invest directly in treatment and recovery.
Cerebral Palsy and Special Education: Cerebral Palsy is a name given to a set of nerve disorders that affect muscle coordination and body movement. Each year, roughly 10,000 babies are born with cerebral palsy. We are an online resource for anyone who has been affected by cerebral palsy, brain injuries, or birth injuries.
New Spanish-Language Mental Health Resources
Contact Us
DiAinni Dennis
Middle School Guidance Counselor (M-Z)
Cristina Kleinfelter
Middle School Guidance Counselor (A-L)
Stacy Sheppard
Middle School Counselor