Welcome to the Franklin County Middle School Counseling Department!

At Franklin County Middle School, our school counseling program offers a variety of services to all students.   Academic success for everyone is extremely important; therefore, the services provided are geared toward enhancing each student’s educational achievement. Parental involvement in the student’s educational experience is desired and welcomed. Counselors strive to provide services that assist students in developing academic, personal/social, and career development and success.  

Specific services available include:

             Personal/Social development through Individual and Group Counseling

            Classroom Guidance 

            Advocacy         

            Advisement Training

            Consultation through conferencing

            Coordination/Collaboration with students, parents, administrators, staff and community.

            Crisis Counseling

            Career Guidance and Counseling

            Academic Development

As FCMS school counselors, we invite you to use our services. We are always mindful of confidentiality issues, legal and ethical concerns, and we strive to perform our duties to a high standard of excellence. Student success depends upon many factors, and we are uniquely equipped to assist your student and your family for many different reasons. Our doors are always open; all children have equal access to our counseling and guidance services and will be treated with respect and dignity. Our goal is to develop and enhance a positive relationship between school, home, and community.  Please contact us if we can be of support and assistance to you and your family in any way. It is our pleasure to be of service to our FCMS family and our community.

Tina Hart a School Counselor here at FCMS, and she works with 6th grade students (A – I) and all 8th  grade students; she is a Licensed Professional Counselor and has earned degrees from Emmanuel College (B.S. Middle Grades Education), Clemson University (M.Ed. School Counseling), and Liberty University (Ed.S. Teaching and Learning). Mrs. Hart has been counseling at FCMS for 9 years and taught language arts, social studies, and reading for 4 years prior to counseling.

Mrs. Hart is also a therapist at Wellsprings Psychological Resources located in Franklin Springs, Georgia. Wellsprings is a private practice counseling center. Mrs. Hart has worked at Wellsprings since 2011, and works with children, adolescents, adults, and families.

Mrs. Hart has been married for 35 years to another former FCHS graduate, David Hart. They have a son, Peyton, a daughter-in-law, Megan, and two beautiful grandchildren, Beckett and Deakon! They reside in the Sandy Cross Community and attend Peniel PH Church where Mrs. Hart has served as the Music Director, Church Pianist, Christian Education Director, Sunday School Teacher, and Youth Director at various times over a period of 35 years.

“I want students to know that they are BRAVER than they believe, STRONGER than they seem, and SMARTER than they think!” A.A. Milne

“I love working with our students here at FCMS!” Tina Hart

E-mail is tina.hart@franklin.k12.ga.us

Phone: 706-384-4581, ext. 2340

Jenny Tollison works with 6th grade students (last names beginning with J-Z) and all 7th grade students. She has earned degrees from Emmanuel College (B.A. in Christian Ministry), Liberty University (M.Ed. in School Counseling), and University of West Georgia (Ed.S. in Professional Counseling and Supervision). Mrs. Tollison has worked at FCMS since 2013 as a behavior support teacher (first 2 years) and as a school counselor.

Mrs. Tollison loves her work as a middle school counselor and is passionate about helping students to find their own passions. She truly believes that ALL children can learn and be successful and is committed to helping students achieve this goal! "I am always just a phone call, email, or chat away, so please reach out if you (students or family members) are ever in need or have questions. I am happy to help in any way that I can." - Mrs. Tollison

Frequently Asked Questions:

1. How can I see my counselor?  Students may request to see their counselor by asking a teacher to e-mail her.  The counselor will make an effort to see students as soon as possible.  Students may also leave their name with the counseling secretary in the counseling dept. 

2. What are some reasons I may want to see my counselor?  Your counselor can offer you guidance/counseling with any situation concerning academics, personal/social issues or about careers.

Is everything that I say in the counselor’s office confidential?  Yes, with the exception of information that may result in harm to you, others, or the school.

10 Parenting Tips for Teaching Respect and Curbing Disrespect:

(1) Model it:  If you want them to do it, you have to do it too.

(2) Expect it:  When your expectations are reasonably high, children rise to the occasion.

(3) Teach it:   Give children the tools they need to show you respect. 

(4) Praise it:   When you see or hear your children using respectful language and making respectful choices, recognize it and praise them for making positive, respectful decisions.

(5) Discuss it:   Pick out times when you see other children using respectful or disrespectful language or behavior and discuss it with your children.

(6) Correct it:  Be strong, firm, and direct when teaching respect. At the same time, be sure you are being respectful yourself while correcting the behavior.

(7) Acknowledge it:   Don’t just let things slide! Be sure to notice when respectful behavior is being exhibited and make sure to call them on disrespectful behavior!

(8) Understand it: Your children are growing and learning. Sometimes word choice and behavioral decisions are made because they do not have the correct words or behavior to relay “I’m tired,” “I’m frustrated,” or “I’m angry.”

(9) Reinforce it:   Remind children of their good decisions so that they remember how it felt, the praise they received, and the overall experience of being respectful.

(10) Reward it:   Respectful behavior should be something that children want to do without overindulgent rewards. However, it is good to associate respectful behavior with intangible rewards such as praise, recognition, extra responsibility, and privileges.

Teaching respect takes patience, time, and a willingness to do as you preach. Time isn’t everything though, is it? It takes years to rear a respectful child and only moments to fill one with anger and disrespect. Which one do you choose?

ETIQUETTE

Manners and etiquette are about knowing what it takes to feel comfortable in unfamiliar situations and behaving in a way to make others feel comfortable, too. Knowing a little something about proper etiquette and good manners makes it easier to be around others, and it makes others want to be around YOU!

The following sampling of proper etiquette is NOT meant to be a complete list.

The Basics

Young people should know the importance of showing respect, therefore, should do the following:

• Stand when being introduced to someone.

• Pass the food first to guests and his or her parents.

• Wait to begin eating until everyone has been served.

• Do not interrupt others while they are talking, but wait until there is a pause to say what he or she wants to say.

• Offer to serve as “an extra pair of arms and legs”: “Would you like me to reach that for you?” “Excuse me, but you dropped your gloves.”

• Realize that in public places (in the mall, at the movies, on the bus, on the street) it is rude to make a lot of noise with friends because that can upset other people.

• Never yell at others in the house (with hope that the parents don’t yell either!).

• Remove hat or cap when entering a home, school, or any public building.

• Speak when spoken to, and don’t maintain a sullen silence.

• Show respect at all times. Respect for parents, grandparents, teachers, the pastor, police officers, and anyone else in position of authority should be instinctive.

• Follow house rules regarding curfew and telephone use.

• Chew gum quietly with your lips closed.

• Say “thank you” whenever anyone steps back to allow you through or holds a door for you. Do the same for them.

• Say “excuse me” if you accidentally brush against anyone.

• Write thank-you notes for every gift (including any gift from grandparents, aunts, uncles, or friends of any age), after every meal at a friend’s house, or as a friend’s guest at a restaurant

• Do not litter on the street, school yard, or ANYWHERE!

• Respect our environment.

Adapted from Basic Black: Home Training for Modern Times, Karen Grigsby Bates and Karyn Elyse Hudson, Doubleday (publisher)