School Counseling

GVMS Counseling Department's Mission:

The counseling department will support the growth of all students in the areas of personal/social, academic, and career development to ensure each student is able to reach their highest potential. The Gainesville Middle School Counseling Department will collaborate with administration, staff and families within the community to ensure that each student receives a world class education. Every counselor Gainesville will take responsibility for every child's academic success. We will always be focused on doing what is best for our children.

GMVS Counseling Department's Vision:

The GVMS Counseling department will allow each student the opportunity to reach their fullest potential and to become lifelong learners. Through the help of the comprehensive school counseling program, Gainesville students will be able to be reflective, persistent, and brave to gain the skills necessary to above expectations and have positive, lifelong impacts on our school and community.Gainesville Middle School counselors will provide a safe, structured, engaging environment in order to encourage student growth, responsibility and achievement. Courtesy and respect are integral parts of our learning community, and are expected from each member. We highly encourage the active participation of all students, educators, staff, and parents to ensure the success of all.

Counseling Philosophy

The Gainesville Middle School Counseling team is invested in empowering our students; Empowerment to believe in their future with confidence, and to believe in their ability to RISE to each of their potential. We believe that the mind is powerful, and if it believes it can achieve, it will achieve. Students will leave Gainesville Middle with the focus on self-discipline, the importance of mental/emotional health, and a mindset to achieve.

Services offered:

GVMS counselors help students make appropriate personal, career, and educational decisions. In individual, group, or classroom guidance sessions, counselors do the following:

• Encourage each student to develop a positive self-image and appropriate relationships with others.
• Assist students in acquiring decision-making skills to make appropriate educational, career, and personal decisions.
• Assist each student in implementing his or her decisions by facilitating enrollment in appropriate programs, courses, or services.
• Meet annually with each student to review their academic plan consistent with his/her needs.
• Provide information to students and parents about specialty programs, careers, and vocational schools.
• Provide organizational, study, and test taking skills.
• Provide testing and test interpretation to help students analyze their interests and abilities.
• Serve as the case manager for student's with 504 Plans.
• Serve as integral member of the student’s Individual Education Plan (IEP).
• Collaborate with teachers, administrators, and parents to help students achieve their fullest potential in school and life.
• Act as student advocate at all times.

The Gainesville Middle School Comprehensive School Counseling Program is:

• Based up on the requirements of Prince William County Public Schools as well as the developmental needs of middle school (grades 6-8) students.
• Committed to implementing the Prince William County Developmental Counseling Curriculum, which aligns with American School Counseling Association (ASCA) national model and meets the specific needs of our diverse populations.
• Planned and coordinated by Gainesville Middle School Counseling Department in accordance with guidelines set for by Prince William County Student Services Department, the GVMS stakeholders, and community at large.
• Committed to develop community partnerships to enhance school counseling services, to meet the needs of all students.
• Dedicated to deliver an all inclusive, developmental, data driven program aligned with the ASCA National Model.
• Committed to involving all counseling team members to evaluate and monitor students' academic, personal and social success at Gainesville Middle School

Meet the Staff:

Counselor assignments are based off of student last names