Sewell Counselor's Corner

 

Joanette Woods

Phone: (972) 675-3050

 

What can my counselor do for me?

Counselors will help you by:

• providing study skills and academic information
• providing career and college information
• helping in teacher/student relationships
• helping cope with family issues
• listening to concerns about friends, etc.
• giving you information about life and decision-making skills
• referring you to people or places outside of school for help if necessary
• being your advocate – counselors are here for you!

Counselors for each campus are certified by the state of Texas in School Counseling, have a Master’s Degree, and previous teaching experience. Each elementary school has a guidance counselor to help ensure that adequate support for helping students to succeed and meet their goals is available.

Visit the district website for more information about the GISD Guidance & Counseling programs.

Sewell Counseling Program

Mission Statement

The mission of Robert B. Sewell Elementary counseling program is to provide a safe, inclusive, and exceptional supportive environment that advocates for all students. In alignment with Garland ISD and in active partnership with our diverse community and families, we cultivate social-emotional growth, academic resilience, and multi-cultural appreciation. We are dedicated to nurturing self-confident, motivated, lifelong learners, empowering every Seahawk to achieve their highest potential and laying the foundation for future success in college, careers, and life.

Vision Statement

Reaching the future by driving excellence, one student at a time. The vision of the Robert B. Sewell Elementary counseling program is to cultivate a safe, collaborative, and empowering environment where every Seahawk finds the power in their words, embraces diverse perspectives, and takes positive risks. By nurturing the whole child, we envision a future where ALL students grow into resilient, empathetic, and self-assured leaders—fully equipped to achieve excellence and navigate the boundless opportunities of college, career, and life. 

 

Sewell School Comprehensive Counseling Program  

The School Counseling Team at Sewell Elementary School in Garland ISD operates under the Texas Model for Comprehensive School Counseling Programs. Their mission is to empower "Sewell Seahawks" to become resilient, empathetic, independent thinkers, and lifelong learners.

As parents, you can expect a comprehensive program divided into four distinct components defined by the state and the district. Here is what you can expect from the Sewell Counseling Team:

The Four Areas of Counseling Support

1. Guidance Curriculum (Classroom & School-Wide Lessons)

Counselors proactively push into the classroom to teach foundational skills that help all students succeed academically and emotionally.

• Weekly SEL Activities: Ongoing instruction tailored to social-emotional development, covering themes like Caring for Myself and Communication Skills.
• Campus Campaigns: Coordination of specialized thematic weeks including Anti-Bullying Week, Red Ribbon Week, and College & Career Week.
• Skill Building: Direct lessons focused on decision-making, study habits, peer relationships, and life skills.

2. Responsive Services (Immediate & Targeted Support)

When personal, social, or family challenges get in the way of learning, the counseling team steps in with targeted interventions.

• Short-Term Interventions: Individual and small-group counseling sessions to address immediate concerns like anxiety, grief, behavioral changes, or family transitions.
• Crisis Management: Implementation of district-wide safety interventions, such as the Suicide Intervention Protocol (SIP), ensuring immediate parent notification and safety planning if a crisis arises.
• Outside Referrals: Connecting families to trusted community mental health resources, shelters, or medical specialists when standard school support isn't enough.

3. Individual Planning (Future & Goal Readiness)

Even at the elementary level, the counseling team helps students begin to view themselves as future-focused citizens.

• CCMR Awareness: Introducing early concepts of College, Career, and Military Readiness (CCMR) so students connect today's learning with tomorrow's goals.
• Academic Advocacy: Assisting students in understanding their personal learning styles, tracking their goals, and fostering a strong sense of self-advocacy.

4. System Support (Collaboration with You)

A student succeeds best when their home life and school life are aligned. System support encompasses everything the team does to fortify the adult network around the child.

• Parent Consultation: Open collaboration regarding your child’s emotional growth, behavioral trends, or adjustments in the classroom.
• Teacher Integration: Collaborating with Sewell teachers to craft strategies that reduce learning barriers directly inside the classroom environment.

Counselors for each campus are certified by the state of Texas in School Counseling, have a Master's Degree, and previous teaching experience. Each elementary school has a guidance counselor to help ensure that adequate support for helping students to succeed and meet their goals is available.  

Additional Counseling Opportunities

Small group, individual, and crisis counseling are also available for students in need. Counseling topics may include:

• Academic concerns-such as test anxiety, lack of motivation
• Behavior issues-such as anger management, hyperactivity in class
• Personal struggles-such as parental separation/divorce, loss of a loved one, family dilemmas and low self-esteem.

 

Bullying

No student should be subjected to bullying or harassment that interferes with their ability to learn or their safety.

Visit the Bullying Prevention and Investigation page on the district website for more information and resources.

Anonymous Alerts®

You can use the Anonymous Alerts® webform or mobile app to quickly, easily and anonymously report bullying, cyberbullying and other sensitive topics to school officials.

Anonymous Alerts® is monitored by GISD Security 24-hours daily and should only be used for serious and urgent matters. In the event of an emergency or life-threatening event, always call 911.

Submit an Anonymous Alert®

Download the app

To place a report from a mobile device, first download the free Anonymous Alerts® app from the Apple App Store or Google Play store. Then open the app and enter activation code garlandisd.