Katie Shaw's Clinical/Counseling Practicum

Lancaster Central School District "Special Friends" Program

September 2006-May 2007
Position: Child Associate / Mentor

August 14, 2006
Interview at the Lancaster Youth Bureau with Nicole Gunsher, Program Coordinator.
Nicole informed me of what to expect in the program. There are four other interns in this program. The "Special Friends" program doesn't start officially until October 10th, but because we all need hours before the end of the semester, we will be helping put together manuals, picking up referrals from the schools, meeting the teachers, and helping out some of the site supervisors. Once the program begins, I was told that I will work with about eight kids from one of the Lancaster Elementary Schools. I will pull them out of their class and "hang out" with them for about half an hour. The kids that get referred to this program usually have some kind of problem going on at home, have a learning disorder, or attentional problem like ADHD.
hours today: 1
total running hours: 1
September 11, 2006
First Day at the Lancaster Youth Bureau
Today I met two of the other interns. Nicole explained to us what we will be doing before the official start of the program, scheduled on October 10th. We began today putting together referral forms for the classroom teachers at the six different schools we will be working at. The referral forms are a way for the classroom teacher to get a child into the Special Friends Program. School has been in session for less than a week so we will get these referral forms out sometime next week once the teachers have become better aquainted with the students. Nicole explained to us that we are not counselors to the kids, we are just a friend to "hang out" with. We can ask them how their weekend was or what their weekend plans are and if they tell us information on any problems at home then we will use what we will learn in orientation and classes to deal with issues that may arise. We will have a binder that has all the information we need and a section where we will be writing a journal entry on each child after we spend out time with them. Nicole will look over our journal entries weekly and give us feedback such as alternative activities or ways to resolve situations.
Today there wasnt much more for us to do but make copies. It looks at thoe we will be coming in a couple times a week before the program begins in October.
hours today: 1
total running hours: 2
September 12, 2006
The referral forms for the classroom teachers were completed today. I was a lot of photo copying. Each classroom teacher gets four referral forms. We bring others to the school if the teacher needs more than the four given. The social workers at Lancaster Youth Bureau refer most of the same kids back into the program from the privious years. It is up to the classroom teacher, however, to allow them to continue with the program.
After we finished putting together the referral form packets (which contained a letter expliaing the program and 4 forms) we went to two of the schools, Williams Street Intermediate School and Como Park Elementary School, to drop off the packets in the teachers mailboxes. Nicole had hoped that we would meet with some of the staff, but we didnt have enough time.
There is not much more for us to dobefore the program starts. This was my last day this week, I wont be back to the Youth Bureau again until next Tuesday.
hours today: 2
total running hours: 4
September 20, 2006
Today Lori, one of the other interns, and I put together the Special Friends training books. Our training day is Friday October 6th and we meet with Nicole and the school social workers. The volunteers are also present at this meeting.
hours today: 2
total running hours: 6
September 27, 2006
We visited the schools that the program is active at. William Street, Como Park, and Central Avenue were the three that we visited today. Lori, Takla, Amanda (the other three interns) and I were introduced to Mrs. Barrett at Como Park. She is the school social worker at both Como Park Elementary and William Street Intermediate. She introduced her view of the program and asked what each of us wanted to to after we graduated in May. She loves her job very much as a school social worker and very passionate about building her job up over a school counselors. She did tell Lori and I that we should schedule an appointment with a school counselor at Lancaster High School to meet with her and see just what it is that the counselors do as opposed to the social workers. We only met with Mrs Barrett for about 30 minutes because the day in the life of a school social worker is unpredictable and she was tough to track down in the school.
hours today: 2
total running hours: 8
October 2, 2006
Nicole set up a meeting with Mrs Len, a school counselor at Lancaster High School. Nicole, Lori, and I met with Mrs Len for an entire 40 min. period. Mrs Len explained to us what her normal day consisted of and told us that you have to be flexible all the time because you never know what is going to happen. She showed us how organized she was and used her computer to take notes of every conversation she had with students or with parents. Each conversation or meeting was dated and could therefore be easily accessed incase she needed to quickly refresher her mind of the events that took place. She also said that you need to be active as a counselor and not just stay in your office all day. The best tiime to interact with students is during their lunch periods or the time between classes in the hallway. She always makes an effort to be in the halls during thoes times, it makes her approchable. The entire counseling office works together and has specific programs and duties that make the office run smoothly and functionally. My counseling department at Lockport High School was very unorganized and therefore was not as productive as it could have been.
This was a very informative meeting and it made me even more excited about my future than before. My introduction to school counseling and guidance course, edc 570, is going well and I am planning on continuing on with the program here at Canisius for the next two years.
hours today: 1
total running hours: 9
October 4, 2006
The final organizational steps had to be completed today for both the training day and the program itself. I drove to Hillview School to drop off referrals. Nicole told me that I will be the soul "Special Friend" at Central School, and will also be working at WIlliam Street Intermediate. There was not much that Nicole needed me to complete today. She was working on the placement schedule and everything was prepaired for the training day.
hours today: 1
total running hours: 10
October 6, 2006
"Special Friends" Training Day
hours today: 2
total running hours: 12
October 16, 2006
This was suppose to be my frist day at Central Avenue.
However...
Arborgeddon happened in WNY and Lancaster Central School District was closed all week!
October 23, 2006
Today was my first day at Central Avenue Elementary School. I only had one kid today, Grant at 9:15. Grant did not talk too much, he actually seemed a little confussed at the whole program. He was new to the school district at the end of last year. This year he is a 3rd grader. He is on medication for ADD and is being referred for the banana-splits club which is a support program for students whos parents are going threw or are already divorced. On Grant's referral form, his teacher said that he makes bad choices/decisions. He also has motor skill problems. Grant told me today that his older brother who goes to school at William Street Intermediate School does not like to play with him. He likes playing on the playground and told me that he has mice, dogs and fish. He does not like sports. Today we played connect 4 and got to know eachother.
hours today: 1
total running hours: 13
October 30, 2006
Today Grant and I played guess who and candy land. He was quiet again this session. He is really excited about halloween tomorrow, he is going to be "Scream" and has the mask.
Christian is a new boy that I took on today. He is very ansey and energetic first grader. We played guess who and candy land. He likes sports (especially wrestling) and not classroom work. He was in the Special Friends program last year and is excited about it this year. He knew exactly what to expect when I picked him up from his classroom. When we were playing the games in our session today, I found that Christian needs to work on following rules in games and has to calm down and remember to take turns. He would want to move my game piece when it was my turn. I told him that most people want to move their own game piece. If he learns to take turns that will help him get along with his peers because everyone wants a turn when you are playing a game. I tried to explain this to him in 1st grade terms!
After I had my session with both Christian and Grant, I sat in with Danielle Pitirri, the school social worker, on one of her lunch groups. She brought in 3 first grade boys who seemed to have limited social issues. The lunch group was called lunch friends and they worked on how to get to know someone new and learn to pay attention to things that your friends say to you. A lot of friendship skills were worked on in different activities.
hours today: 2
total running hours: 15
November 9, 2006
Grant was much more talkative today. He told me all about Halloween and how he had a great time. We are really starting to develop a relationship. I missed my internship for personal reasons on Monday and he was upset that I did not show up. I was able to make Monday up today, Thursday and he asked me as soon as I got to his classroom where I was on Monday at our normal scheduled time.
Christian once again needs to follow rules and be more patient. I kept reinforcing these concepts, I told him that when he plays by the rules he is better off in the end.
I played trouble and shoots and ladders with both Grant and Christian
hours today: 1
total running hours: 16
November 13, 2006
Grant's mom had bought him the sneakers with the wheels on the bottom of them. His dad told him they were stupid. He was very upset by that. Grant's parents dont get along and from what I can tell, they belittle eachother and that makes Grant uncomfortable becasue I can tell that he loves both of them very much.
Christian was much better today with taking turns and playing by the rules.
We played hangman and scategories. I chose hangman because I knew that there was a spelling test in 1st grade today that Christian was going to have to take later. The teacher gave me the spelling word list and I used some of the words on that list as my hangman words.
hours today: 1
total running hours: 17
November 20, 2006
Grant was very excited today when I picked him up. When I got to the classroom, one of the other boys wondered where we were going and what we were going to be doing. I told the little boy that we were going to have fun and talk. Grant was excited and could tell that the other boy was jealous. Grant knows how fun the program is because it give the kids a break from the day (or in Grant's case, a fun start to his Monday because I take him for our session first thing in the morning).
Christian told me about his families traditions for thanksgiving and we colored pictures of a dinner table at thanksgiving. We then wrote the names on the picture of what everything was (ie turkey, potatos, stuffing). He was a little hesitint on spelling the words and said that he couldnt do it. I made sure that he knew he could do it and that he was sounding out the words correctly and spelling them the perfectly!
hours today: 1
total running hours: 18
November 27
This was the first day back from thanksgiving. Both boys were excited about Christmas coming up and talked about how they watched the Macy's Day Parade. I was worried at first on if Santa was something that they both still belived in or not. They both did and so we drew pictures of the presents that they wanted. Grant brought his yo-yo to show me and did a bunch of tricks. I told him that he should ask Mrs. Simon if he could show the class his really cool talent. Christian wants a lot of wrestling stuff from Santa this year.
hours today: 1
total running hours: 19
December 4, 2006
NO LIGHTS @ CENTRAL AVE SCHOOL TODAY!
It was a weird day today. There was a fuse in the basement that blew so none of the classrooms had any electricity. They had 2 generators in each of the two school wings with bright lights lighting up the hallways.
Both Grant and Christian thought that this was really cool and we reflected back on how this was kind of like the October storm.
Today I started sessions with Jessica. The social worker told me to work specifically on social skills with her. She has to eat lunch by herself, at her own table, because she is inappropriate and asks to see the boys private parts. She is repeating kindergarden. When I worked with her today, I stressed saying please and thank you and gave her complements on her pretty drawing. We had to work in the hallway today because my normal room was being occupied by Mrs. Piterri and one of her 3rd grade lunch groups.
hours today: 3
total running hours: 22
December 8, 2006
Today was my first day at John A. Sciole Elementary School. I had four kids today, Evan who is in 3rd grade, Kortni who is in 3rd grade, Brandon who is in 1st grade, and Frankie who is in 1st grade. The teachers are awesome at Sciole and knew a lot about the Special Friends program. They were great in that they brought the student out into the hall and introduced me to them personally and then told us to have fun. Both Evan and Kortni were in the program last year. We talked about how their day was going and how they are both excited about Christmas coming up. I told them that this was my first day at Sciole and that they were both going to a new school next year, William Street Intermediate School and they were excited about that.
Brandon is such a sweet heart. He opened right up to the program thanks to his teacher who brought him out in the hall way and told him that every Friday we are going to go play games and draw pictures and talk a lot about fun stuff. He was so excited!
Frankie is a very special case and I did not get much of a feel for him. He is a big 1st grader, much taller than all the others. He seemed confused at first as to what was going on even though his teacher came out in the hall and explained it to him. He wanted to play battleship but couldnt quite grasp the concept. I think that he has some developmental delays but I will have to check into that before I meet with him again. He had told me that he works out and stays in shape. Every morning he does push ups and mentioned something about his dad and how he might tell Frankie to do it. I hope to understand more about Frankie with the school psychologist, Jodi Mazur. I will be working with the other Special Friend mentor: Takla from now on at Sciole and we will be sharing the kids that we work with.
hours today: 3
total running hours: 24
December 11, 2006
I did not get to work with Grant today, he and his class had chorus rehursal for their concert later in the school day and at night for all the parents. He was upset that we didnt get to meet but I will get together with him for one more session next week before Christmas. Today Jessica told me that kids in her class make fun of her. I told her that sometime people are mean and that even though they said something mean to you, you would never want to say anything or do anything mean to them back. I told her to always remember that 2 wrong things said dont make a right and that she could be the better person if she just ignored everything and acted like a big girl.
hours today: 3
total running hours: 26
December 13, 2006
Substitue for Sandy at Court Street Elementary School. Met with Michelle and Noah. I made pictures with both of them and they seem to have a great relationship with Miss Sandy, Noah especially would not stop talking about her. They both wanted me to come back and visit them again. It was fun to meet and have a session with other kids.
hours today: 1
total running hours: 27
January 17, 2007
Over the Christmas break, Nicole called me and was looking for someone to take over at Court Stree Elementary every Wednesday. This was my first day at court street. I have 3 kids, Michael, Michelle, and Noah. Michael and Noah are in the same first grade class and Michelle is in second grade.
hours today: 2
total running hours: 29
January 19, 2007
Today at Sciole, Miss Lancaster, who is a girl that attends SUNY Fredonia shadowed me. She loved all four of my kids at Sciole and took pictures with all of them except Brandon because he didnt want to.
hours today: 2
total running hours: 31
January 22, 2007
Central Ave.
Grant- His dog had puppies over the weekend and he was sad that they would all be gone when he got home from school today. His birthday was over the weekend and he got a cool ring that he was very excited to show me.
Christian- We talked about his home life and he told me a lot about his mom's boyfriend Kevin. He said that he likes him, but he was a little resistant when saying that.
Faith- not in school today
Jessica- She is still having trouble with friends in class and with asking to see private parts. She wants to play with a doll in the social workers office, but I told her that we had to paint instead. The social worker doesnt want her playing with the doll because she tends to take its clothes off.
hours today: 3
total running hours: 34
January 24, 2007
Court St.
Michael- He is beginning to open up a little more. This is only our second day, he began the program later than the other two at this school.
Michelle- She has had no problem adjusting to me as the new speical friend. She seems very mature for her age.
Noah- Questions still come up about if Sandy, the previous special friend, is coming back. They had a very close relationship, but he enjoys special friend time with me.
hours today: 2
total running hours: 36
January 26, 2007
Sciole (Half day)
Evan- When we are together, he is always so well mannered.
Kortni- She is going to a birthday party on Monday and was really excited about it and talked about it most of the time we were together.
Brandon- Because it was a half day, he had music class during special friends time.
Franki- not in school today. His teacher talked to me outside of the classroom and told me that Franki gets sad a lot over stuff that doesnt really matter.
hours today: 1
total running hours: 37
January 29, 2007
Central Ave
Grant- He went snowmobiling with he dad over the weekend and was so excited to tell me all about it. There is always a struggle with his older brother and him. He pointed out to me that he went faster than his brother. He also brought up that his dad and Linda are getting married in August. He said that Linda is usually nice.
Christian- Over the weekend, he and his cousins (Allana) played nerf guns. He didnt get enough sleep last night. His mom woke him up in the middle of the night. He was not smiling in class, but he did when I walked in the room.
Faith- Her birthday is next Sunday. This is the first day we met for Special Friends. She likes gym class, hockey, and soccer.
Jessica- The social worker told me that she seems to be getting over her asking boys to see their private parts.
hours today: 3
total running hours: 40
January 31, 2007
Court St.
Michael- He was a little roudy today. I told him that I would talk he and Noah in the same time slot next week, he was excited about that.
Michelle- She always seems to have a new set of friends each week. She got into a fight with her friend in second grade that lives down the street from her. I told her that I am her freind and that she should treat her friends the way we treat eachother in the special friends program. When she gets in a fight with her sisters, she knows that she will get over it and they will be friends again because they love each other. Michelle always says that she does not start the fights.
Noah- He has not been listening to his teacher.
hours today: 2
total running hours: 42
February 2, 2007
Scolie
Evan- We played hands down and had a lot of fun with it, we had to make up the rules because there werent any in the box. He doenst want spring to come, he likes indoor soccer. There is going to be a superbowl part at his uncles house who has a big screen tv. He said that all the men will watch the game upstairs, and thats where he will be too.
Kortni- The birthday party was a lot of fun.
Brandon and Franki were both at the author visit in the library during our scheduled time.
I did end up seeing Franki, I joined his session with the social worker and the three of us worked together for about 45 minutes.
hours today: 2
total running hours: 44
February 7, 2007
Scolie Parent/Teacher Conference
hours today: 2
total running hours: 46
February 9, 2007
Central Ave. Parent/Teacher Conference
hours today: 2
total running hours: 48
February 14, 2007
Court St. Parent/Teacher Conference
hours today: 2
total running hours: 50
February 26, 2007
Central Ave.
Grant- Fights between he and his brother were significant over spring break.
Christian- He got into a fight on the bus today. His behavior has been out of control since the beginning of February. He has been very tough to handle in class for his teacher.
Faith- She got to visit her family in Penn. over break. She was excited that she didnt have any lice today.
At the conference with the social worker, Nicole, and Faith's teacher, we discussed that she has had lice a lot this year and that her house is not very clean. CPS is looking into her case.
hours today: 3
total running hours: 53
February 28, 2007
Court St.
Michelle- HER IDEA: create a chart for her goal of the week. She wants to go to 3 birthday parties in March, so we said that she has to not get into fights with her sisters and help her parent out around the house
Noah and Michael- TOGETHER. They interacted well. They have opposite personalities. Noah very active, Micky very passive. I had Michael make my choices for me today (which color game piece i should be) because his teacher told me in the parent/teacher conferences that he seems to go along with whatever everyone else picks and chooses and never makes his own choices.
hours today: 2
total running hours: 55
March 2, 2007
Scolie
hours today: 2
total running hours: 57
March 5, 2007
Central Ave.
Grant- Fighting with his brother still.
Faith- She seems to lie a lot. She told me that she went to China over the weekend with her mom right after I told her i was going on a cruise to Mexico.
Jessica- She got into a fight at lunch todaya nd we went over how she was going to appologise when she got back into her classroom.
hours today: 3
total running hours: 60
March 7, 2007
Court St.
Michael- I had him, again, make a lot of choices for me.
Michelle- She was excited to bring back her chart to show me that she got it signed by her grandma. She told me that she really did not get into big fights with her sisters.
Noah- He was having a better week listening to his teacher.
hours today: 2
total running hours: 62
March 9, 2007
Scolie
I made a boat today with the kids and told them that I was leaving for my cruise tomorrow.
hours today: 3
total running hours: 65
March 19, 2007
Central Ave.
Grant- Danielle, the social worker, told me that he has mentioned abuse (physical) between his mom and dad. We dont know yet if this is his birth mom or birth dad.
Christian- TRANSFERED TO HILLVIEW ELEMENTARY.
Faith- Continues to lie. Talked to ehr about it. She told me that she went to Florida and Disney World over the weekend. She also told me that her family doenst have a lot of money which is how i know that these stories cannot be true. I told her that its ok to tell stories, but when you lie, your friends start to not believe anything that you ever say and thats not a good way to make friends.
Jessica- She has been stealing now. I asked her why she did it and if she would wnat someone to do that to her. I told her that we will not be able to have special friend time if she keeps doing these things. When i asked her how her week was last week, right off the bad told me that she stole, so she doesnt lie about it, she knows what shes doing.
hours today: 3
total running hours: 68
March 21, 2007
Court St.
Met with my 3 kids and did some observation with the social worker.
hours today: 3
total running hours: 71
March 23, 2007
Scolie
hours today: 2
total running hours: 73
March 26, 2007
Central Ave.
Grant- This morning he was very quiet. He looked like he didnt feel well and his face was flushed. He was having more fun towards the end of hte session.
Faith- Today she talked about going to Africa with her mom. I reinstated that lying is not a good thing. She talked about her sister for the first time today. She told me that she wears black and has a lot of peircings and that some people are scared of people lik her sister. I told ehr that some people have their won styal and thast fine as long as they are good people.
hours today 3
total running hours: 76
March 28, 2007
Same as last week, met with my 3 kids and did some observation with the social worker.
hours today: 3
total running hours: 79
March 30, 2007
Scolie
Evan- Last weekend his soccer team won their playoff game. He was excited about that. He is always so well mannered, we have a great time during our sessions.
Franki- Won his wrestling tournament and brought in his trophy to show me. He was soooooooooo excited and did not stop talking about it the whole time. He even showed me some moves!
hours today: 2
total running hours: 81
April 2, 2007
Central Ave.
Grant- Today was a good day, right when I picked him up he was happy which was a change from the last couple weeks.
Faith- no in school today.
Jessica- She bit someone last week. We worked on walking away in situations where she feels she needs to act out.
hours today: 3
total running hours 84
April 4, 2007
Court St.
Michael and Noah both expressed to me that they really wanted to have another day where they got to come to special friends together.
hours today: 3
total running hours: 87
April 13, 2007
Scolie and Special Friends Meeting
hours today: 4
total running hours: 91
April 16, 2007
Central Ave.
Grant- He got a new video game over the break. He let his brother play with it too which I told him was very nice of him. His brother got a new game too and let Grant play with it.
Faith- No lice found today. I said as soon as a saw her that I hadnt seen her in a while and she said to me that that was probably because she has had lice. The social worker is still trying to get CPS to come have a home visit.
Jessica- She is again, asking people to see their private parts. She knows exactly what she is doing, she only does this when there is not an adult around. She got caught last week under a table with a boy and his pants were down.
Today I also worked with the banana splits club with the social worker. This is a club for a group of kids whos parents are going through a divorse or have already done so.
hours today: 5
total running hours: 96



The special friends program runs through April. I will continue to keep a journal (required for me to do for the Special Friends Program) and write my wiki. This program great so far and I will be working through winter break when the kids have school. There are referals out to more students parents and I am projected to get 3-5 more kids at Central Ave School and 2 at Sciole.
feel free to ask any questions about anything psychology or about the Special Friends Program (its a great program for all you juniors to think about for your senior year practicum!)
After graduation in May, 2007, I will continue here at Canisius and go for my masters in School Counseling. I have been early excepted into the program, there is a dual program with the psychology department here where you can begin to take courses in the graduate program as an undergraduate. I would encourage people who want to go into school counseling to look into the early acceptance program and the overall masters program here at Canisius. There are some great professors and it is one of the best programs in WNY.
If anyone has any questions on my practicum experience or the masters program in school counseling, my email is:
shawk@canisius.edu







PracticumExperiences
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