The Press-Dispatch
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/1083834
C-12 Wednesday, Februar y 20, 2019 The Press-Dispatch EAST GIBSON NEWS Submit school news: Email: egnews@ pressdispatch.net Deadline: Noon on Friday Barton Township Elementary Francisco Elementary WOOD MEMORIAL UPCOMING SPORTS SCHEDULE WEDNESDAY, FEB. 20 Wrestling vs. North Knox, 5 p.m. THURSDAY, FEB. 21 Boys' Basketball ( V ) at South Knox, 5:30 p.m. SATURDAY, FEB. 23 Wrestling at Pike Central Invite, TBA TUESDAY, FEB. 26 Wrestling at Princeton, 5 p.m. By Kenzie Rudolph In honor of last week be- ing National School Coun- selors Week, Beth Hill and Kelly Carlton, at Wood Me- morial High School, took some time out of their busy schedules to talk about what they do as Trojan counselors. This is the second year that Hill and Carlton are working together, and they said that the first year was chaotic, but now they have divided and conquered. Carlton and Hill both agree that they are thankful to have each other. Hill said that she does a lot of the academic things like schedules and college/ career readiness, scholar- ships, grants and choosing textbooks, while also teach- ing an eighth grade Careers class. Carlton works more with the guidance counsel- ing side of things, with so- cial and emotional issues that the students might face, where she can use her Psychology degree. Carlton has been in that role for ma- ny years at Wood Memori- al, but she said that she has recently started teaching. She has a Psychology class and a Speech and Commu- nications class, which are both for dual credit. Hill al- so is in charge of Upward Bound, standardized tests and coaching the Fine Arts Academic Team, while both counselors are also class sponsors. "We wear a lot of hats," said Hill. She also added that even though they have so many other jobs to do, the kids' problems come first and if one of them needs to talk, that takes pre- cedence. According to Hill, she received her Masters in School Counseling in 2002, and she got to intern with Carlton one period a day to fulfill her requirements. She added that when Carl- ton's youngest daughter was born, she was able to fill in and finish out the year for her while also teaching her art classes. Four years ago, Roger Benson, a for- mer principal, talked to Hill about cutting back on art classes, which she used to teach full-time, to ease into the position that she has now, and she said that little by little, she stopped teaching the art classes and moved into counseling full- time, besides the one career class. Since both counselors both get to also teach, Hill said, "It gives us both a taste of both worlds." Carlton, who is brand new to teaching, said "It's my favorite part of the day. I think it's because I get to be with the kids, which is what we are supposed to do, but sometimes the oth- er stuff takes away from it. It's a trade-off I guess." Hill said she does miss being in the art classroom. "This is my first year that I am not doing an art class whatsoever…I do really miss it…but I think this is where I am supposed to be." This past year was the first time that Carlton and Hill were put into side-by- side offices, and they said that it took them a while to figure out who was best to do what job and in what ways they would reach stu- dents' needs best. Carlton said, "I have dif- ferent strengths and she has different strengths, and so it's a really workable set up for us, and for everybody." As counselors, the pair said that students often need help with relationship issues and the many stress- ors that come with being a high school student. "I think that they have a lot more stressors than we realize that they do. And things that are important to them, that bother them, I think some people think 'that's not a big deal,' but to them, it is. So sometimes, it's just letting them get it out…I think we all need that sometimes," added Carl- ton. She also added that they have a great group of students at Wood Memori- al, and that they just main- ly need someone to listen to them. Hill added, "We live it. We see what the kids go through, and sometimes you have to be in the school culture to be able to under- stand some of the things that they have to deal with." As a whole, they said that the Trojan students stand up for each other and help each other out when there is a problem. They also add- ed that the students seem to be accepting of differenc- es amongst each other. Hill added that there is a Trojan Allies club that helps stu- dents to learn to be more ac- cepting. She added, "There is just not this stigma that there used to be for being different…social media is probably a part of it." Carlton said that Wood Memorial has had some positive changes since Principal Wilson has tak- en over. "This year, start- ing the first day of school, walking in here, it was just a wonderful feeling. Every- thing just seemed so re- laxed and positive, and Mr. Wilson has a very dry but really cool sense of humor, and I think the kids take to him...I feel like he is a re- ally good fit for us, and it's noticeable, without anybody even saying anything. You can just feel it." For National School Counselors Week, Hill and Carlton said that they received a lot of shout outs from co-workers and friends to encourage them and recognize what they do. Carlton said that a special friend even sent her flowers to celebrate the occasion. Hill's biggest goal with counseling is to tweak what her "why" is. "I work with students because I think every student has a special ability, and some of them just need that extra help, either confidence wise or uncovering that ability, or they need that person in their life to say, 'you may not be financially support- ed if you want to go on past high school, but here are some resources.'…I really think my part with the aca- demics is to make sure that my students are set up for after high school, no matter what it is…my goal is to help every student succeed." When it comes to gradu- ating and getting the work done that is needed to com- plete school, Carlton said, "Mr. Benson used to say, 'we can want it, but you've got to want it more than we want it for you.'" She added that it can be scary and that reality hits the se- niors the end of the second semester. She added that her and Hill would do just about anything, just short of doing something ille- gal, of course, to help their students when times gets tough. She said, "You don't have to even meet us halfway, sometimes it's 25/75… don't quit, don't stop. It'll be worth it." Hill and Carlton celebrate National School Counselors Week at Wood Memorial Pictured above are Mrs. Beth Hill and Mrs. Kelly Carlton Second graders at Barton Township Elementary school, Haley Deisher, Noble Doerner, Bryleigh French, Presley Heichelbech, Alexis Sandifar, Rae- ann Stevens, Christian Tkacz, Josie Warner, Richard Gillihan and Trinity McAtee show off the Valentine boxes they made to celebrate the special day. Contributed photo Above: Francisco Elementary fifth graders had a character day and got to dress up as a character or leader that they admire. Students from left to right, starting in the back row, Jesse Gendren (Blackbeard the Pirate), Ian Clark (Elvis Presley), Isaac Schmitt (Abraham Lincoln), McKenna Bailey (Sacagawea), Piper Besing (Princess Diana), Kaleb Sterczer (Martin Luther King), Cary Phillips (Dolly Par- ton), Gwyn Nimrick ( Albert Ein- stein), Alivia Robling (Theodore Roosevelt) and James Norrington (Stan Lee). Contributed photo Left: Hannah Robling eats lunch at Francisco Elementary. Kenzie Rudolph photo Right: From back to front, fifth grade Owls Piper Besing, Ian Clark and Alivia Robling enjoy lunch together at Francisco Ele- mentary. Kenzie Rudolph photo Kindergarten teacher Ms. Williams and Brent- ly Norrington at Francisco Elementary. Kenzie Ru- dolph photo Pictured is the K-3 hallway at Barton Elementary with decorations and do- nations raised for Riley Children's Hospital. Contributed photo