WELCOME STUDENTS and PARENTS!             

          Mrs. Mecca, School Counselor for Grades: 7, 8, and 9 

New for 2020-21 school year: "Naviance Student"

What is Naviance Student? 

Naviance is a district-wide career and college readiness tool that assists students in researching strengths and interests for postsecondary goals. Naviance Student assists with: Self-Discovery, Career Exploration, Academic High School Planning, and College Preparation. 

Naviance Student will be introduced within the classroom, and 7th, 8th, & 9th grade students will be assigned activities to complete during class time. All assigned activities are required to be completed by the student.

This years activities:

For Dec 2020:

7th grade: Career Key and Career Key Reflection [Health/Phys Ed class]

8th grade: Career Cluster Finder and Career Cluster Reflection [ELA class]

8th grade: Game Plan Survey [Health/Phys Ed class]

9th grade: "Do What You Are" Assessment [English class]

Announcement: Testing Window for PSSA's, Spring 2021:

                        ELA- April 19, 2021 to April 23, 2021

                        Math and Science- April 26, 2021 to April 30, 2021

COVID-19 Resources for students and parents: 

Resources to help you talk to children about Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, by Center for Disease Control and Prevention:

English: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/managing-stress-anxiety.html

 Spanish: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prepare/managing-stress-anxiety-sp.html

At parent's discretion: A brief video that you may want to share with your children, a basic perspective for them to understand the Coronavirus. Coronavirus Explained! for Kids, by Dr. Michelle Dickinson, aka "Nanogirl": https://youtu.be/OPsY-jLqaXM       

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School Counselors...What is their role in the school?

My role of a School Counselor is very complex, as I work with students, their parents/guardians, teachers and faculty, outside agencies, and other facilities, businesses, etc.

Some things that I do in Guidance:

*Work individually with students, listen to their concerns, and assist with problem solving and making good decisions.

*Have contact with parents/guardians regarding school, personal, or family issues; grades/academic progress, etc.

*Classroom visits for career exploration, scheduling, providing special information, etc.

*Coordinate standardized testing such as PSSA's, Keystone Exams, Algebra Prognosis Test.

*New student orientation.

*Special projects and field trips such as: 9th gr visit to Wilkes-Barre CTC

*Member of Riverside's SAP Team. Our SAP (Student Assistance Program) is an in-house process which assists student's who may be having school, home, or social difficulties to receive help for their issues/problems such as: drug or alcohol use, anger issues, severe problems with peers and/or adults, feelings of depression, anxiety, etc. A SAP referral can be made on Riverside's Counseling page, in-person, or via handwritten note which can be placed in the box located in school nurses office. 

Contact Information:

Mrs. Laurie A. Mecca, M.S. 

School Counselor, Grades 7-9

Riverside Jr. Sr. High School

(570) 562-2121, ext. 1122

email: lmecca@riversidesd.com