Information

North Middle School Counseling Program

Counselors:

          Ellie Schultz, Counselor  - (A-K) all grades>
          eshultz@portageps.org
          Neil Mead, Counselor  - (L-Z) all grades>
          nmead@portageps.org

Here at North Middle we could be working with your child in the following four main areas:

1. Counseling Support
2. Educational Support
3. Scheduling
4. Testing

1. Counseling Support

1. We have two counselors who work with our students, Ellie Schultz and Neil Mead.
2. We try to provide an open and comfortable environment where students can express their feelings, worries, fears and conflicts.
3. We encourage all students and parents to contact us with any concern.

2. Educational Support

• We are able to provide educational assistance whenever needed. We do so through helping our students organize their materials, learn daily study routines, and gain extra help and understanding of subject areas through tutoring.

3. Scheduling

• We are involved with student schedules as students’ individual needs arise. When students are choosing future classes, we assist them by answering questions and helping students to make sound decisions.

4. Testing

1. 6th Grade-MEAP (Michigan Educational Assessment Program)
2. 7th Grade-MEAP
3. 8th Grade-A.C.T., Explore, MEAP

We would like to share just a few ideas with you about the challenging years of adolescence:

• Encourage dialogue with your pre-teen and listen to the feelings that are expressed.
• It’s important to follow through with discipline, but balance this with good communication and love.
• You may not agree with what is said, but accept your child’s right to his/her own feelings.
• Keep the doors of communication open with your child and with the school.
• Be supportive, remain calm, retain your sense of humor, and remember that this, too, shall pass.