Starsha Frederickson

Hello Families!

My name is Starsha Frederickson (Ms. Fred), and I am the school counselor at Smith Elementary. I have worked in the school setting for 13 years, from preschool through 9th grade. This is my fourth year at Smith, and I LOVE my job! As a counselor, I am passionate about the social, emotional, and behavioral health of children and the success of all our students.

As the school counselor, I help out in many ways. Please get in touch with me if there is anything I can do to help your child succeed at school.

COUNSELOR SUPPORT

I teach in every classroom once a week, providing lessons on recognizing emotions, emotional regulation, problem-solving, friendship, and other topics that will help your child be successful at school. I also lead small groups to reinforce skills taught in the whole group lessons and provide individual check-ins with students as needed.

Counselors DO:

• Problem-Solve with students
• Find resources when a student has a need at school or home
• Teach coping skills
• Help students stay safe
• Listen and Care

Counselors DON’T:

• Judge
• Punish
• Provide long-term individual counseling

REASONS TO SEE THE COUNSELOR

All students can see the counselor for any reason. Students themselves, families, or teachers may request an initial check-in with the school counselor. If a student joins a small group or receives regular one-on-one check-ins, the counselor will communicate with families.

Here are a few reasons for seeing the school counselor.

• Worried about something (school, family, work)
• Want help making choices or solving a problem
• Having trouble with another kid or adult
• Need help focusing in class
• Confused about something
• Big changes in their life
• Concerned about something overheard at school or home
• Saw somebody getting hurt
• Somebody is hurting student
• Feel like hurting themselves
• Want to help others

CONFIDENTIALITY

Everything a student says in the counseling office is confidential UNLESS:

• Someone is hurting the student
• The student wants to hurt someone else
• The student wants to hurt themselves

“Under Montana law, if any school staff member has reasonable cause to suspect that a child is being abused or neglected, it remains that individual’s obligation to see that the situation is reported to the Child Abuse Hotline.” – dphhs.mt.gov

STUDENT SUPPORTS

For all programs below, please contact the office or school counselor.

Food Packs

The Helena Food Share partners with schools across Helena to provide food packs each weekend for students in need. This service begins a few weeks after school starts and runs throughout the entire school year. The office and school counselor have the application for receiving food packs.

Stuff the Bus

Stuff the Bus provides school supplies for those students in financial need.

Running for Montana’s Future

The Helena Police Department provides running shoes for those students in financial hardship. This program runs throughout the school year. The office and school counselor have the application for running shoes.

Angel Fund

Angel Fund provides vouchers for students to shop for school clothes. Applications will be available in October with 4 weeks for families to shop.

Exchange Club

The Exchange Club provides snow boots and winter coats to students in financial need.