School Guidance Counselors
At Provident Charter Schools, our Guidance Counselors are here to support the academic, social, and emotional well-being of all our students. They provide a safe, caring, and supportive space where students can talk about challenges, build confidence, and learn skills to thrive in school and beyond. They offer support and encouragement to families by building relationships and partnerships in the best interest of the child.
How Our Guidance Counselors Help:
- Individual and Group Counseling: Meeting with students one-on-one or in small groups to talk through challenges and learn important life skills.
- Mental Health and Emotional Support: Helping students work through feelings of anxiety, stress, sadness, grief, and other struggles.
- Support for Everyday Needs: Assisting students and families experiencing housing or food insecurities and helping kids build friendships and feel like they belong.
- Learning Disabilities: Supporting students as they navigate the challenges of having dyslexia, other learning disabilities, or multiple needs, and helping them see their strengths.
- Advocacy: Working with families and students to help communicate concerns with school personnel and outside agencies through problem solving and collaboration.
- Crisis Support: Providing immediate help to students who are dealing with tough situations like loss, trauma, suicidality, or thoughts of self-harm.
What Our Counselors Do:
- Lead monthly classroom lessons on topics like healthy choices, kindness, bullying, and drug and alcohol prevention.
- Organize school wide events like Red Ribbon Week and Kindness Week to build a positive, supportive school community.
- Share helpful resources with families, including information about school-based therapy and other support services.
- Provide counseling services for students who need extra support, including those with Individualized Education Plans (IEPs).
- Our school guidance counselors may recommend additional services for students who require long-term therapy or support such as school-based therapy, group referrals, outpatient therapy, wraparound services, etc.
Our Guidance Counselors are passionate advocates for our students, working to ensure every child feels seen, supported, and empowered to succeed. We are here to help students navigate life’s challenges and celebrate their successes, creating a caring and inclusive community for all.
Coordinator of Student Engagement and Belonging
At Provident Charter School, the Coordinator of Student Engagement and Belonging plays a vital role in fostering a supportive, inclusive, and nurturing environment for our students and their families. This position ensures that every student feels connected, supported, and ready to succeed, both academically and personally.
Key responsibilities of this role include:
- Supporting Transitions: Organizing events to help students and families navigate transitions, such as moving from middle school to high school or joining Provident Charter School. This includes one-on-one meetings, interviews, and guidance for 8th-grade students and their families, as well as support for 5th-grade students transitioning into middle school.
- Student Assistance Program (SAP): Serving as the SAP Coordinator by managing student cases, facilitating meetings, and connecting families to valuable resources with the help of our social worker.
- Student Support: Providing short-term support for students in need and leading Social Academic Instructional Groups (SAIG) to help students build important skills in a small-group setting.
- Family Engagement: Checking in regularly with families, supporting events like family engagement nights, and assisting with initiatives such as holiday gift-giving for students in need.
- Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEI-B): Promoting equity and belonging through initiatives like staff and student groups, professional learning opportunities, and ongoing review of school policies and practices to ensure they are inclusive and equitable. The Coordinator also facilitates ongoing conversations, fostering an open and inclusive environment for all members of the PCS community.
- Trauma-Informed Practices: Developing plans and coordinating training for staff to address trauma-informed approaches and culturally relevant competencies, ensuring our school is a safe and understanding space for all students.
- Community Connections: Supporting the school’s community pantry, collaborating with staff, and participating in schoolwide special events to strengthen relationships within the PCS community.
The Coordinator of Student Engagement and Belonging is a dedicated advocate for students and families, ensuring every child feels valued, supported, and ready to thrive in school and beyond.
Student Assistance Program (SAP)
SAP is a team-based approach to help students who may be facing challenges that impact their learning or well-being.
The SAP team works to identify and address issues such as concerns with mental health, alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs, as well as other barriers that may affect a student’s success in school. Our goal is to support students and families by connecting them with the resources they need to overcome these challenges, so every child has the opportunity to succeed and thrive.
Our SAP Team at PCS Central, along with a SAP Liaison, meets every two weeks to review referrals and determine how we can best support students. SAP is a confidential, supportive process that focuses on working together to ensure each child gets the help they need to stay on track and achieve their goals.
For more information about the Student Assistance Program in Pennsylvania, you can visit this link: SAP Information.
If you have any questions or believe your child might benefit from SAP, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Ms. Cynthia Russell at PCS Central (crussell@providentcharterschool.org) or Ms. Amanda Pinto at PCS West (apinto@providentcharterschool.org).
We are here to help!
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEI-B)
In the role of Coordinator of Student Engagement and Belonging, the aim is to create an equitable school system of belonging where every student can thrive socially, emotionally, and academically, gaining the knowledge and skills needed to become mature and productive citizens. This commitment includes providing personalized resources and opportunities while upholding principles of nondiscrimination, multiculturalism, anti-racism, and social justice. These efforts benefit all students and staff, fostering an inclusive and supportive environment for growth and success.
Some of our initiatives include:
- Professional learning opportunities for staff
- Promoting activities centered around Diversity and Belonging
- Reviewing school policies and practices to ensure they are inclusive and equitable.
- Facilitates ongoing conversations with students and staff on diversity and belonging
- Staff and student groups
- Fostering an open and inclusive environment for all members of the PCS community
Resources
- Are you experiencing homelessness or do you have attendance concerns for your child?
- PCS Central – connect with our Social Worker, Ms. Keating
- PCS West – connect with our School Counselor, Ms. Pinto
- PCS Central School Pantry
- Transitioning from PCS
- Sarah Heinz House after school program
- PCS Central Backpack Program
- Contact Mr. Greg Pacoe: gpacoe@providentcharterschool.org
- SNAP Program