Role of a School Counselor

Welcome to the Weston School Counseling Page!

Welcome back! :)

Throughout the school year, we will be working with students through classroom lessons, small group counseling, and/or individual counseling. As the School Counselors, we are also members of the Intervention and Referral Services (I&RS) Team and the Anti-Bullying Specialist for Weston Elementary School.

We are looking forward to a successful school year and to ensure this success, it is important that we maintain open communication. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or concerns throughout the school year. Our door is always open.

Please feel free to reach Kristin via email, kstranieri@manvillesd.org or by phone, 908. 231. 8500 x 8562 with any questions or concerns. Jamie is also available via email jlopes@manvillesd.org or by phone 908.231.8500 x 8564.

We look forward to working with all the students and families at Weston!

Contact

Contact

Mrs. Stranieri

Kristin Stranieri
Guidance
kstranieri@manvillesd.org

This is my sixth year as a school counselor in Manville. I am part time at both elementary schools, with three days a week at Weston and two days a week at Roosevelt School. Before coming to Manville I spent ten years teaching Language Arts at the middle school level and I also spent a year teaching first graders in China. I love working with students and helping them to succeed. I also enjoy running, gardening, yoga, reading, traveling and learning about different cultures.

My job is to help facilitate personal, social, and emotional growth by holding small group counseling, as well as individual counseling sessions for eligible students. My door is always open, and I am always more than happy to speak with our parents/guardians regarding academic, personal, social, and emotional progress and/or concerns of their students. I am looking forward to a great year!

Degrees

B.A. English & Secondary Education, Rowan University
M.Ed School Counseling, Rutgers University

Certifications and Licenses

K-12 Standard English Teaching Certificate
K-12 School Counseling
Licensed Professional Counselor
National Certified Counselor
College Admissions Specialist
Trauma and Crisis Specialist
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Specialist

Ms. Lopes

Jamie Lopes
School Counselor
jlopes@manvillesd.org

I am thrilled to serve as the part-time school counselor between Roosevelt and Weston Elementary Schools in the Manville School District. My journey in education began in 2005, and I have been fortunate to work in a variety of roles that have allowed me to support students in different ways. I started my career as an elementary school teacher, where I taught Kindergarten, First Grade, and Fifth Grade. In 2019, I transitioned into my current role as a school counselor, continuing to work at the elementary school level but focusing on the social, emotional, and academic development of our young learners.

As a school counselor, my mission is to empower students to grow into confident, resilient, and successful individuals who are equipped to navigate life's challenges. I work closely with students to help them develop essential life skills, build self-esteem, and foster positive relationships. Whether it’s providing individual counseling, facilitating group sessions, or collaborating with teachers and parents, I am committed to creating a supportive environment where every child can thrive.

Outside of my work in the schools, I enjoy spending my free time relaxing at the beach, cheering on my three children at their activities, going for walks, and immersing myself in nature. And of course, there are always those moments when I enjoy winding down with a good movie.

I am truly excited to be part of such a dynamic community and look forward to continuing to support the wonderful students at Roosevelt and Weston Elementary Schools!

Degrees

BA Elementary Education, Kean University
MA School Counseling, Kean University

Certifications and Licenses

K-12 School Counseling
Licensed Associate Counselor
National Certified Counselor
Anti-Bully Specialist

Services

Parent Referral Form for Group Counseling

Weston School is a positive school community which strives to offer a variety of services and support to students to make their time here both educationally and emotionally engaging. Students have the opportunity to participate in many activities that encourage growth and learning and to help them to become successful young adults.

We are offering small group counseling for students to come together with their peers and School Counselor. These groups are designed to promote positive peer relationships among students by allowing them a safe place to talk about current issues with their peers and School Counselor. These groups will foster conflict resolution skills, problem solving skills, social skills, friendship skills, and positive emotional development.

Group will meet during lunch and/or recess and will not interfere with regular academic classes.

If you believe your child would benefit from small group counseling, please return the form below to Dana Correnti or Kristin Stranieri, School Counselors. You can send the form in with your child, drop off the form at Weston, or email a copy to dcorrenti@manvillesd.org or kstranieri@manvillesd.org. If you email the form, I will reply to your email to confirm that I have received your referral. If I do not reply, it means that I did not receive your request. Please feel free to contact us with any questions or concerns, 908-231-8500 extension 8564 (Dana) or 908.231-8500 extension 8562 ( Kristin).

Guidance Lessons

This year we will be going into classrooms monthly to cover lessons on emotions as well as covering the topics of Responsibility, Respect, Emotions, Self Regulation and Coping Skills, Tattling vs. Reporting/Cooperation/Conflict Resolution, Friendship/Kindness, Perseverance/ Self Esteem, Career Exploration, and Mindfulness.

Students will also learn about the characteristics of a friend, the difference between an Upstander and a bystander, how to be an Upstander, tattling vs. telling, and manners. Below are some of the books that we will read in class and topics of discussion.

Conflict vs. Bullying

Students will learn the difference between conflict and bullying.

Conflict is a normal part of daily life. Conflict is usually an argument or disagreement and it is not one sided. It is important that children learn how to effectively deal with conflicts by learning problem solving skills.

Bullying is when someone does something on purpose and it is one sided. Bullying is done intentionally to harm and there is usually an imbalance of power between the students involved.

During classroom guidance lessons, students will be given examples of different conflicts that they may have with a classmate. Students will role play positive ways to react in each situation in order to problem solve. We will also discuss as a class how the outcome would be different if the student were to react in a negative way during the conflict. In order to solve a conflict, students are encouraged to listen to the other person's point of view and feelings, tell their side of the story, compromise, ask for help, say sorry, and talk it out.

The Bully Blockers Club

By: Teresa Bateman

The Bully Blockers Club is a book about a student, Grant Grizzly who is teasing a classmate, Lotty Raccoon. After receiving advice from her siblings, Lotty tries many different strategies such as ignoring him, trying to be his friend, walking away from him, standing up to him, being assertive and telling him to stop, telling her teacher, and telling her parents. Lotty learns that it is not tattling to let an adult know that there is a problem.

After these strategies do not work for Lotty, she suggests to her classmates that they should all form a club to stick together to stand up to others that are being unkind (Upstander). Lotty realizes that teachers and adults may not always be around so it is important for students to stick up for each other. Working together, they created an environment where all students feel safe and accepted.

In the end of the book, all students started to become Upstanders. Grant stopped bullying Lotty since all students in the school found it unacceptable. With each classroom, we had questions and answers as to how students can be Upstanders at Weston School. Students in class were encouraged to try the same strategies that Lotty used if someone is unkind to them.

Stand up to Bullying!! Be an UPSTANDER!!

What is an Upstander?

An Upstander is the opposite of a Bystander. An Upstander is a leader and person that chooses to take a positive stand and act on behalf of themselves and others. An upstander is person who will stand up to defend others who are being mistreated.

Examples of an Upstander…..

o Choose not to join in when people are laughing at someone

o If you feel safe and comfortable, Speak Up and Stand Up against unkind words or actions

o Tell an adult if you see someone being unkind

o Ask the person who is being left out to join you in an activity

o Reach out to new students in your school

o Each lunch with someone new

o Don’t gossip or spread rumors

o Respect other students’ differences

o If someone is being excluded, include them in your group.

o Ask yourself: How would I want to be treated? How would you want a bystander to act if someone was being unkind to you?