Washington Park Intermediate School
Guidance Services
Guidance Counselor: Esther Cardillo, M.Ed., N.C.C
724-223-5074
Students in grades 3-6 get to know their Counselor in a variety of ways. The Counselor goes into the classroom to teach lessons 4-5 times a year. These lessons include Personal Safety, Drugs, Careers and Bullying. Students may ask to see the counselor individually or participate in various groups that are run throughout the school year. Specific group topics are dependent on the needs of the students. In the past, groups have included Anger Management, Study Skills, Problem Solving, Newcomers, and Friendship. Groups are usually 4 to 10 weeks.
Another important role is to be available to students, parents, teachers, and non-teaching staff to deal with issues that arise on a day-to-day basis. The counselor coordinates with outside agencies as well as school staff and families to address academic, behavioral and emotional needs of students.
The counselor is also responsible for coordinating all standardized testing. The counselor completes Intelligence tests and Behavior Assessments when needed and is an integral part of the IST (Instructional Support Team) process. A monthly trip to Even Start to complete a classroom lesson with preschoolers is another task completed by the Guidance Counselor.