Counselor

What services does a school counselor provide?

A school counselor, also known as a guidance counselor, offers academic, career, college, and social advice and guidance to children in grades K through 12. , a school counselor might assist a student with social challenges such as dealing with bullying or might help a student deal with problems at home. A school counselor also assists students in setting academic goals, and may also help students prepare themselves for college or careers. School counselors may also help mediate student/teacher conflicts, and help students through challenging situation taking place at home or school.

School Counselor

Tina Cruz

Guidance Counselor
BA in Psychology & PPS Credential
tcruz@cusd49.com
533:7700 ext 4419

Counseling Support

School Counselor provides guidance, strategies and support to all students regarding concerns and struggles in areas of

  • Academic
  • Behavioral
  • Social
  • Emotional

Setting and visit durations

  • One on One – 5 to 30min visit
  • Group- 15-30min visit
  • Check-in- 5 to 15min
  • On-going- 20-30min up to twice a week per request of parent and/or student

Who can request a visit with school counselor

  • Parent
  • Student
  • Teacher
  • Administration
  • School counselor

How to contact school counselor

Parents:

Students:

  • Ask parent to contact school counselor
  • Stop by room 19
  • Ask your teacher or any staff member
  • Leave a note in office
  • Email

The school counselor’s visits with a student are to provide a safe place without judgment to work together to gain strategies to solve problems and ease concerns, allow for safe conversation and an area to refocus. Visits are confidential unless that student is found harming self or others. Students are encouraged to talk with parents and/or school the counselor will talk with parents if students ask for help in regards to personal matters. The school counselor and teachers work together on an appropriate time to visit so it does not impede on important instruction time but know that some students need immediate help and will adjust assignments accordingly. 

Any questions regarding the school counseling process please don’t hesitate to call, email or set up an appointment to meet with the school counselor, Tina Cruz.

If a student requires more intense therapy or Crisis help,  Columbia now has a Mental Health Clinician provided by the County School Office on campus.  The Clinician’s name is Maria Barajas. All referrals to see Maria will go through the school counselor first. Parents/guardians will be notified that a referral has been made before a student can see Maria, unless that student is in an immediate mental health crisis(i.e. suicide threat, cutting,extreme anxiety attack etc). 

Tina Cruz

School Counselor, Columbia Elementary

Trauma-Informed, Evidence-Based Social Emotional Learning for All Ages

Check out our school wide social emotional curriculum. If you want more information and to learn how Conscious Discipline can help at home too please contact me or Mrs. Wilson.

Conscious Discipline

Tools and Activities

Social Skills for Siblings

Asking for a turn

Sanford Harmony

Bring Social Emotional Learning Resources to Your Home at No Cost

When Siblings Won’t Stop Fighting

How parents can keep the peace and help kids learn to resolve conflicts