Counselor's Connection

8th Grade Students - High School Information

8th grade students, it is that time of year to begin thinking about High School.  Over the next few months, several meetings will occur.  Below is a summary of what to expect:

• February 1, 2012 @ 7:00 p.m.  Parent Information Night at Barber Middle School.   Representatives from NCHS will be at Barber to give an overview of the Freshman Academy and explain the course registration process.
• February 14, 2012 - NCHS Counselors will meet with students during their class periods to review electives and general information about NCHS.
• February 22, 2012 - NCHS Freshman Academy tour at NCHS.  Forty Barber students will attend a tour of the academy.  If interested, students must sign up during the information night on February 1, 2012.
• March 13, 2012 @ 6:30 - Parent/Student Night at NCHS.  This is open to all incoming 9th graders.
• April 2012 - 8th Grade students will meet with Barber Counselor to set up a GACollege 411 Account.

Pebblebrook Magnet Informational Meeting

There will be an informational meeting about the magnet program at Pebblebrook High School at Barber Middle School on January 11th at 9:30.  Please sign up if you are interested. Sign-up sheets are in the counseling department.

Peer Mediation

Barber is excited about our Peer Mediation Program.

To view video please click below:

 Peer Mediation Zone

At the end of last year and over the summer 30 of Barber's students were taught communication and mediation skills.  The goal of peer mediation is to reduce conflict and assist Barber students with problem-solving skills. Trained peer mediators create a safe atmosphere, allowing disputing students to tell their stories and assisting them in working out a mutually acceptable agreement.

Since a solution is not forced on the students, the disputants feel empowered to take responsibility for their actions and to deal constructively with their immediate and future disagreements.  The conflicts that lend themselves to peer mediation include interpersonal disputes like friendship issues, spreading rumors, and other conflicts. 

The peer mediation process works because both mediators and disputants learn to communicate more effectively and solve problems without violence.  During the peer mediation mediators do not:

• • Place blame
  • Take sides
  • Judge guilt or innocence
  • Make decisions regarding a solution
  • Force a solution on disputants
     

What a peer mediator will do is:

•  
  • Provides an opportunity for both disputants to tell their story
  • Listens carefully and respectfully
  • Be sensitive to each students feelings
  • Be patient and friendly

High School Magnet Program

Information on High School Magnet Programs are now available.  All applications are processed on line.  See below for information:

 North Cobb High School:  Open House Tuesday, November 15th at 7:00 PM. 
Website:  www.nchsmagnet.com

Campbell High School:  Open House Wednesday, November 16th at 7:00 PM.
Website: http://campbellhighschool.typepad.com/ib_department

Kennesaw Mountain High School:  Open House Thursday, November 17th at 6:30 PM
Website:  http://kmhsmagnet.com

Pebblebrook High School: Open House Friday October 14th at 7:30 PM
Website: www.cccepa.com

South Cobb High School:  Open House Wednesday, November 9th at 7:00 PM
Website:  http://www.southcobbmagnet.com

Wheeler High School:  Open House Tuesday, November 8th at 7:00 PM
Website: www.wheelermagnet.com

Career Cruising

For Parents: We have introduced our students to Career Cruising.
What is Career Cruising?

Career Cruising is an Internet-based career exploration and planning tool used by your son or daughter to explore career and college options and develop a career plan. Career Cruising can be accessed from school, from home, or wherever your son or daughter has access to the Internet.

Features of the program include:

 ❱❱ Interest and Skills Assessment - a world-renowned career assessment tool to help people identify suitable career options based on their interests and skills

❱❱ Career Profiles - thorough and up-to-date information about hundreds of different occupations, including direct links between careers and related college programs

❱❱ Multimedia Interviews - interviews with real people in each occupation, which add depth and realism to career profiles

To find out more about Career Cruising, we encourage you to login using the school’s access information:

Login at: www.careercruising.com
Enter your school’s username: murray
Enter your school’s password: barber

DUKE TIP Information

Duke TIP for 7th Grade Students. 

Who Can Participate? 
Seventh Grade Students who have scored at the 95th percentile or higher on grade-level standardized achievement test, aptitude test or approved state criterion-referenced test.

Why Should You Participate?
Participation will help you better understand your academic abilities and more effectively plan for high school and beyond.

For additional information see you counseling department or log into: www.tip.duke.edu/7gts

 

This Week's Newsletter

Download Counselor's Newsletter

Welcome Barber Students 2011-2012

Welcome new and returning students.  We are looking forward to a great Barber year!  Please stop by to meet your counselors.  Parents we look forward to answering your questions.  Your counselors are:

Mina Harp - Sixth Grade and 7A

Lara Salzman - Eighth Grade and 7B

Welcome!