Natalie Faucette wants to help students help themselves.
Stressing the importance of coming to school every day, enhancing social skills and developing better coping mechanisms are just some of the ways the Caledonia Middle School counselor is assisting students and promoting good behavior and safety.
Faucette, who previously worked as a history teacher and as a counselor at Quitman High School and as a counseling intern at Enterprise High, is working with students individually and in groups. These groups meet at different times throughout the school day. Each group has a different focus, but the goals are the same.
“There are so many needs that kids have – and not just the kids because I am here for the teachers, too – that the group aspect is amazing,” Faucette said. “They are getting the information from me and they’re able to help each other, and you’re able to meet with more than one at a time, which is great for time management.”
Several students participate in these groups and Faucette hopes to add more. She said a lot of the work she does with the students focuses on setting “SMART” goals, which stands for specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound.
Faucette said student participation and involvement is critical in affecting change, which is why students are asked to track their progress and to identify their goals. She said she then will work with the students to find ways they can utilize school to help them realize those goals and to identify things that may “block” or stop them.
“I want them to have these skills in place so, hopefully, it is not an issue when they get to high school, or even when they get out of school, like showing up to their job,” Faucette said. “They don’t realize a lot of times that the habits they put in place now are going to positively or negatively impact them later on.”
Faucette said her plan is to evaluate the progress of students every nine weeks and to re-examine the subjects students will focus on. She said flexibility will be important because some students may need more time to accomplish their goals.
Faucette said other possible areas of discussion may involve peer pressure, anger management, handling friendship drama, study skills, developing healthy coping skills and conflict resolution.
She acknowledged some of the current and future topics may appear to be daunting, but she said she is trying to get students to understand a lot of the issues are common so they feel more comfortable opening up and working to find a resolution. When those goals are reached, Faucette wants students to know they will be rewarded with things like “Do Right Breaks” or monthly attendance breaks and a special end-of-the-year lunch at Mi Toro in Caledonia, two things CMS Registrar Kelly Cross began and oversees to promote school attendance. By utilizing positive reinforcements, such as these breaks, the CMS staff hopes to continue making progress in increasing school attendance, positive behaviors, healthy habits and academic success.
Faucette said CMS uses a “whole team approach” to promote the positive reinforcements and that she encourages teachers and staff members to recognize students’ accomplishments because that will help them develop better habits and boost their potential.
“The more we can educate and the more we can push and be positive about (these topics), I really think it leaves positive nuggets there that it may not solve the issue, but it may help the issue,” Faucette said.
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You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 39 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
