Kennedy HS

Counseling

The mission of John F. Kennedy High School Counseling Services Department is to provide a comprehensive counseling program that addresses the personal/social, academic and college/career needs of all students. Our goal is to promote a commitment to lifelong learning, personal and academic growth and to aid students in becoming responsible and productive citizens who can progress confidently into an ever-changing society. This foundation will be supported and further strengthened by collaboration with other educators, administrators, parents/guardians and community advocates.

Click the tree for mental health resources and to meet our school psychologist, Ms. Kimberly Medina.

PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR VITAL MENTAL HEALTH AND COMMUNICATION GUIDELINES DURING OUR SCHOOL CLOSURE.

Students have many options available to them and they need skills to assist them not only in seeking information, but also in evaluating the information and making good decisions related to these options. Because counselors have the information and perspective to consider the whole student rather than his/her performance in one subject or situation, they can provide the personal attention needed to coordinate and focus the student's total school experience.

Community Mental Health Resources

During this time of social distancing, adults and children are at increased risk of significant mental health challenges because our typical support systems (i.e., friends and extended family) and methods of coping (e.g., socializing in groups, engaging in joint activities) are not available. A pandemic outbreak can be stressful because of the fear it can generate, in addition to the losses individuals may face when loved ones become ill. Nationally, the rates of depression, anxiety, and substance use have increased as social distancing has continued. It is expected that these rates of mental health issues will continue long after schools and workplaces re-open and that there will be an increase in post-traumatic stress disorder.

Nationally and locally, there are multiple resources to support students, families, and staff members who are experiencing mental health difficulties.

• Montgomery County Hotline 301-738-CALL (2255)
  • Confidential supportive listening, information, and referrals 24/7. From noon to midnight, individuals mayconnect via text messaging
• Montgomery County Crisis Center 240-777-4000
  • 24/7 in person crisis intervention for walk-ins; 1301 Piccard Drive, Rockville
  • 24/7 phone consultation, screening, and referral information
• Suicide Prevention Lifeline chat (suicidepreventionlifeline.org/chat) 24/7
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration National Helpline 800-662-HELP (4357)
  • Provides free, confidential 24/7 treatment referral and information (in English and Spanish) for individuals andfamilies facing mental health and/or substance use difficulties
• Montgomery County Public Schools Waymaking video series, including episodes on Suicide Awareness, Managing Stress During Social Distancing, Montgomery County Crisis Center, and EveryMind Crisis Prevention and Intervention 

April Happiness Calendars

CLICK HERE FOR A DOWNLOADABLE PDF

HAGA CLIC AQUÍ PARA DESCARGAR PDF

Counseling Assignments | Las Asignaciónes de los Consejeros

Click here for a bilingual printable version of the table below.

Lexanne_C_Wilson@mcpsmd.org

Mental Health Awareness

Fast Facts about Children’s Mental Health

• Mental health refers to a person’s overall emotional, behavioral and psychological well-being. It impacts how we think, feel, and act, including how a child:
  • Feels about himself/herself
  • Relates to other children and adults
  • Handles change, stress and other life situations
   
• One in five children may experience a mental, emotional or behavioral health problem before age 18. These problems affect children of all demographic groups, regardless of education, income, race or culture.
• 70% of school-aged children with a diagnosable mental illness do not receive treatment.
• Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week is a great time to learn more about children’s mental health and to check out available resources to help ensure all children have the opportunity to be successful in school, at home, in the community, and in their future adult lives.
• Read more about the signs and symptoms of mental health problems and find resources, including our Family Resource Kit, for help at www.ChildrensMentalHealthMatters.org.

Counseling Department Newsletter

The Counseling Department offers a bilingual quarterly newsletter with news and reminders for students and families. CLICK HERE for the current newsletter; you may read old issues via the links below.

• Quarterly Cav, Winter 2022
• Quarterly Cav, Fall 2022
• Quarterly Cav, Summer 2022

Minor Work Permits

A Maryland work permit is required for all minors under the age of 18 to work in the State of Maryland. Work permits are issued for the state in which the job is held: for instance, if your job is in Maryland, you need a Maryland work permit, but if your job is in DC, you need a DC work permit. A hard copy of instructions to obtain a Maryland work permit are available from Ms. Lyons in the counseling office or on the Maryland DLLR website.

Student Support Resources

Kennedy offers many options to support students. For more information, you may contact the Counseling Office or click the links below.

• SNEAKERS For the past 15 years, the SNEAKERS program has guided many young women towards making positive decisions in their lives. SNEAKERS is a program for adolescent females who are experiencing the challenges and changes of growing up. Through interactive sessions that involve group discussions, role plays, educational games and other creative techniques, girls build a positive peer support group that allows them to deal with the many issues they face on a daily basis.
• Academic Support Resources Kennedy offers many resources for students' academic support.

Other Key Resources

• County Career Center
• Graduation Requirements (CLICK HERE for full information about graduation requirements)
• Course Bulletin

How to login to MyMCPS classroom.pdf