The mission of Zucker Middle’s School Counseling Program is: Every Student. Every Day. No Exceptions. No Excuses. Our goal is to partner with parents, community, faculty and staff to provide a comprehensive, developmental counseling program addressing the academic, career, and personal/social development of all students thus preparing them with the knowledge and skills to be productive members of society.



Middle school counselors help to meet the needs of all students by:

Helping students understand themselves and others

Helping students develop communication skills

Helping students develop successful behavior patterns

Helping make school a successful experience for all

Helping to prevent problems from developing

Including parents in their children's education

Providing crisis intervention

MIDDLE SCHOOL COUNSELORS

Primary Function
• to provide a comprehensive developmental guidance and counseling program for all middle-level students
• to consult with teachers, parents/guardians, and staff to enhance their effectiveness in helping students
• to provide support to other middle-level educational programs

Major Responsibilities
1. Implementing the middle-level school guidance curriculum through coordination and/or delivery of classroom units and infusion in content areas 
2. Counseling individuals and groups of students toward academic and career development 
3. Counseling individuals and groups of students toward personal/social development and emotional growth 
4. Consulting with and training teachers, parents/guardians, and staff regarding the needs of middle-level students 
5. Referring students and their families to special programs, specialists, and community agencies when appropriate 
7. Participating in the intervention-team process and/or working with the school’s student support team 
8. Planning and evaluating the counseling program attending district, state and locally sponsored staff-development offerings
9. Pursuing continuous professional growth 

MS. SZCZYGIEL

Hi there! I am the school counselor for 6th graders and for 8th graders with the last names A-L.

I graduated from The Citadel with my Masters in School Counseling, and from Southern Connecticut State University with my undergrad in Interpersonal Communication and Journalism. I had a career in advertising with CBS New York, but volunteered with Big Brothers Big Sisters NYC and quickly learned that working closely with children is where I am meant to be. I still partake in many creative outlets and encourage each student to explore as much as they can for a well-balanced life.

In addition to this, I work with each student, guardian, and school staff to best support academic needs, socio-emotional growth, and high school/global citizen readiness. I am always here to connect you with any resources that I can. 

You can contact me at: patricia_szczygiel@charleston.k12.sc.us

I look forward to getting to know you. 

If you’re in crisis or experiencing difficult or suicidal thoughts call the National Suicide Hotline 1-800-273 TALK (8255)
Looking for more information, referrals or support? Call the NAMI HelpLine 800-950-NAMI (6264)
If you or someone you know is in an emergency situation, call The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or call 911 immediately.

The largest program of its kind, participants in the Duke TIP 7th Grade Talent Search identify academic strengths, develop abilities and interests, and celebrate their achievements at a crucial time when they are forming their identities and looking ahead to the future. TIP assists families in determining how advanced their students’ academic abilities are and what level of educational challenge is appropriate.

As part of the talent search enrollment, Duke TIP registers eligible seventh graders to take either the ACT (no Writing) or SAT (no Essay) as an above-level test. This allows students to have greater insight into their abilities and it gives them the opportunity to preview a college entrance exam.

Whether you are new to TIP or participated in our 4th–6th Grade Talent Search, we hope you’ll take a moment to learn about this talent search, its valuable benefits and resources designed specifically for academically talented youth, and its qualifications for enrollment.

Eligibility Is an Honor

As a seventh grade student with strong intellectual abilities, you are eligible to participate because you achieved a qualifying score at or above the 95th percentile on a recent grade-level test. You have been identified as part of a select group who would benefit from participation in our program for academically talented students.

Do I Qualify?

• You must be in the seventh grade (or a current eighth grader who skipped seventh grade).
• You must meet the test score requirements.

Students must have one of the following (available from your school’s counselor):

• score at or above the 95th percentile on an accepted subtest or total battery/composite of a grade-level standardized achievement test, aptitude test, mental-ability test, approved state criterion-referenced test or
• have a standard score at or above 125 on the full scale or composite score on an IQ test that is no more than two years old.

 Scores from either of the two most recent test administrations are accepted. For most seventh grade students this represents scores from either the sixth grade or the fifth grade. Students need to qualify in only one of the accepted composite or subtest areas.

For more information, please go to the Duke TIP website: https://tip.duke.edu/

**Student will be notified if they are eligible by the end of September/early October.

Connecting Learning & Life

Naviance is a comprehensive college and career readiness solution for middle and high schools that helps connect academic achievement to post-secondary goals. (http://www.naviance.com/)

  JZMS Naviance Page:
https://student.naviance.com/jzmss

Chrome is the preferred browser

Username: first three letters of last name, followed by first three letters of first name, followed by last four digits of student id (i.e. - smitom3211 - like the gmail username)

Password: Entire Student ID (number only, found on bar code on back cover of student agenda - may be 5 or 12 digits)

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