St Joseph High School - Jongleur Yearbook (Lakewood, CA)

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i l 3 I X ... at eps. ' 'wr' 1 X xx UU lfhe ribbon cutting for the counseling center includes: fback rowj Emily Perez, Anita Garcia, Melanie W'atts, Lorena DeLeon, Bibi Marti, lulie Dein, Rose van Hagster, Suzie johnson, ffront rowj Mrs. Nelson, Ms. Ponczocha, Sister Veronica, Ms. Mendoza, Mrs. Wittkop, Sister lanet, Mrs. McGowan, and Ms. Keiser. ffront rowj Mrs. Wittlcop, Ms. Mendoza, and Sister Veronica. I counseling staff? fbaclc rowj Mrs. Nelson, Ms. Ponczocha, Mrs.McCowan, Ms. Suzie johnson speaks to Mrs. McGowan about .1 prob- lem she is having with peer counseling. Faculty And Academics 89

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li' I belreve that teens talk to teens' Mrs McGowan frrmly stated The peer counsel1ng program at SJHS was based on th1s prlncrple Mrs McGowan began the program because she heard It was workmg well rn other schools and felt that St joseph students deserved the same oppor tumty To begrn w1th peer counselors were chosen based on applrcatrons es says teacher recommenda trons and rntervrews Over frfty g1rls wrth varled eth n1c backgrounds and per sonal1t1es applled howev er only ten were selected They tramed wlth counsel ors from College Hosprtal and Mrs McGowan before any peer counsel1ng began The program s success was clear 1n that teachers called for peer counselors to help rn touchy srtuatrons and students reached out to each other provrng that teens really do talk to teens For those students who felt uncomfortable speak were also avarlable Mrs McGowan s and Ms Kerser s doors were always open 1nv1t1ng students who needed to talk about anythrng For academrc or career counsel1ng students sought the help of Ms Ponczocha or Ms Mendo za In addrtron the staff adopted Slster Veromca who was avarlable for the freshmen Furthermore the new counsel1ng center was a boon for the counsel1ng staff and peer counselors as well as the student body The development program drrected by Arleen Kern supplred the money for the buxldlng whrch w1ll be on campus for frve years It had offrces for Ms Kenser Ms T Mendoza and large room for meetmgs Consequently thrs addr tron helped make the year l1ve by provrdrng the space needed to accommo date the Sjl-IS counselmg staff 88 Faculty And Academics ,, , I - l - 5 - , , , ing with their peers, adults , . f , , - , , , , . . , a I - iw wee--ft' 5,,,,.,.,,....--I N.,ahN A .al Ms. Terri Mendoza discusses college opportunities with Darci Birchler. Mrs. McGowan, julie Dein, Suzie johnson, Rose van Haaster, Bibi Marti, DeLeon, Chris Danna, Emily Perez, Anita Garcia, Mae Umali, and Melanie Watts proudly as the first group of peer counselors.

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