Guidance

Hilltop Elementary School
24524 Hilltop Drive
Beachwood, OH 44122
Phone: 216/831-7144
Fax: 216/292-4236

HILLTOP COUNSELING CORNER

Hello and Welcome to Hilltop Elementary!

My name is Tiffany Vawters. I will be the School Counselor at Hilltop Elementary. I have been in education for 13 years and a counselor for 10 years. I worked as a Counselor in Kansas City, Euclid and Wickliffe. I was also a Dean of Students in Wickliffe but I missed counseling and returned to Counseling two years ago. I have an M.Ed. in Counseling from Temple University and a B.A. in Psychology from Stephens College. I am originally from Kansas City but I have lived in Cleveland for 19 years. My passion is working with students and teaching them how to manage their emotions. It brings me great joy to see students use and internalize the skills they have learned with me in their everyday lives. I am excited to begin meeting and working with each of you and your students.

I know starting this school year has looked quite different than in the past but we are here to help you navigate through this process. This will be a year of flexibility. I will be meeting with your students for Classroom Guidance Lessons. I will also implement group counseling and at times I may meet individually with students. These activities will focus on teaching students to identify their feelings, as well as coping skills and calming strategies to handle their feelings. They will also learn about teamwork, conflict resolution, and adolescent growth.

We are excited to welcome your students to Hilltop.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions.

Tiffany Vawters

Beachwood City Schools Mission Statement

To develop intellectual entrepreneurs with a social conscience.

Hilltop Elementary School Counseling Vision Statement
Supporting the Beachwood City Schools mission, the comprehensive school counseling program encourages all students to reach their unique and fullest potential. The school counseling program facilitates the partnership of students, families, teachers, administrators and community members by enhancing the academic, career and personal/social development of all students.

I Believe:

Every child is a unique individual.
Every child deserves respect.
Every child deserves to learn and grow in a safe and healthy environment.
Every child can learn and grow to their fullest potential.
A School Counselor is a resource and advocate for all students, staff, parents and community.
A School Counseling program should be comprehensive in scope, developmental in nature and preventative in design.
A School Counseling program should be intentional and include academic, career and personal/social components.

Welcome Back!

Just like your children, I am starting to get that “in my stomach feeling”! It’s time to return to school and with that, all the excitement and unknowns that go along with the winding down of summer.

Below is a link with some very helpful information:

http://kidshealth.org/en/kids/back-to-school.html

25 Ways to Ask Your Kids “So, How Was School Today?” Without Asking Them

“So, How Was School Today?”

What was the best thing that happened at school today?
Tell me something that made you laugh today.
If you could choose, who would you like to sit by in class? Why?
Where is the coolest place at school?
Tell me a weird word that you heard today.
If I called your teacher tonight, what would she tell me about you?
How did you help somebody at school today?
How did somebody help you today?
Tell me one thing that you learned today.
When were you bored today? Why?
If an alien spaceship came to your class and beamed you up, who would you want to take with you?
Who would you like to play with at recess that you’ve never played with before?
Tell me something good that happened.
What word did your teacher say most today?
What do you think you should do/learn more of at school?
What do you think you should do/learn less of at school?
Who in your class do you think you could be nicer to?
Where do you play most at recess?
Who is the funniest person in your class? Why is he/she funny?
What was your favorite part of lunch today?
If you could be the teacher tomorrow, what would you do?
Is there anyone in your class who needs a time out?
If you could switch seats with anyone in your class, who would you trade with? Why?
Tell me three different times you used your pencil today.
If I were in your class, what would I enjoy the most?