Roberto Clemente Middle School

Academics » Counseling

Counsleors Group Photos

Sitting left to right:

Parent Tips & Stategies
Clemente Counseling Brochure
Cyber Safety Brochure
MCPS CyberSafety Initiative (Fact Sheet)
Stop Internet Predators: CyberSafety Parent Academies
Ideas for Parents
High School Magnet Programs
RCMS 2nd High School Fair

High School Fair (photos coming soon)

General School Supply List for All Grades

I have the POWER to be Drug Free!

Red Ribbon Winners!

Peer Mediation



FAQs

What do the school counselors at Roberto Clemente MS do?
Roberto Clemente MS counselors provide many services to support students, parents, staff, and the community. These services are provided in the areas of:

  • Academic Development
  • Career Development
  • Personal/Social Development

How do the school counselors at Roberto Clemente MS provide these services?
Counselors provide these services in a variety of effective methods, including:

  • Individual Student Planning
  • Responsive Services
    • Individual/small group counseling
    • Consultation
    • Referrals to the community
  • Curriculum
    • Classroom instruction
    • Family workshops
    • Group activities
  • System Support
    • Data gathering and interpretation
    • Family involvement
    • School Improvement Plan involvement

What is the role of the counselor in relation to parents and teachers?
The school counselors' role at Roberto Clemente MS is to act as a bridge for information to travel between students, teachers, parents, school staff, and the community. The classroom teacher is always your primary resource regarding school work. However, the counselor participates in parent-teacher conferences, suggests interventions, and provides referrals to other community agencies.

How is course enrollment decided for my student?
The students' teachers decide placement based on the student's grades, test scores, and work habits. Questions about how a student is placed should be directed to a team leader or department resource teacher. Placement tests, teacher recommendations, student and parent requests are used for placing students in math, English, and reading classes. If a student is unhappy with her/his placement, an appeal may be initiated by a written request to the principal within 10 days of notification of the placement.

If I have a question on a grade my student received on his/her report card, whom do I contact?
With any academic concern, you should always contact you child's teacher first. The teacher is the one who knows your child the best and will be able to answer specific grade related questions.

How can I contact my child's teacher(s)?
Staff emails are avalible in the academic section based upon what the teacher teaches.

What is the purpose of a "team meeting" or parent conference?
A team meeting would be scheduled when your child is having difficulty in some or all of her/his classes and a discussion with all teachers is warranted for information sharing and problem solving. Team meetings can be scheduled through the counselor or team leader. Because of the difficulty in scheduling team meetings, a team meeting should be scheduled after all avenues have been exhausted.

How can I schedule a "team meeting" or parent conference with my child's teacher(s)?
If you have any particular concerns about your child's education at Roberto Clemente MS, you may contact an individual teacher, the team leader, or your child's counselor. If your child's team has concerns about her/him, the team will notify you of their concerns, and possibly schedule a conference.

What are alternatives to the team meeting if I wish to contact my child's teachers in regards to her/his progress, or to express my concerns?
Individual teachers will be happy to speak with you by phone or in person (with an appointment). You are welcome to contact you child's counselor, but they will usually redirect your call to the teachers. Therefore, the most direct route is to contact the individual teachers first.
The Roberto Clemente MS "Planner" can be used as a way to communicate between teacher and parent. You may want to call the teacher first to let them know you wish to communicate this way, so they know to look at your child's "Planner".

How do I know what my child's homework is?
Your child should use the Roberto Clemente MS "Planner" to write down and organize their homework assignments and long-term projects. For each subject area, there is a designated area to fill in their daily homework. If they do not have any that specific day, "None" should be written in that subject for that day. Proper use of the "Planner" will increase your child's organizational skills and better prepare them for the increased rigor expected at Roberto Clemente MS and when they advance to their local high school.

How is a student invited to a counseling group?
Students are invited to become a participant in a group that promotes academic, career, or personal/social development through self-referral, staff recommendation, and/or parent request.

My 6th grader is nervous about coming to middle school. She/he comes home every night distraught and overwhelmed. What should I do about this?
Be supportive and understanding. Many 6th graders experience stress as they make the transition to middle school. Don't feed into your child's stress, but instead give your child time to adjust. Things will usually settle down within a month. If your child is still experiencing stress, please let her/his counselor know.

May I contact my child by phone during the school day?
Phone calls for students are not accepted during the school day. In the event of an emergency, call the main office (301-601-0344).

Helpful Links

Enrollment Information

  • What to bring to enroll a new student:
    • Proof of Residency: Your current property tax bill or settlement sheet if you own, your lease if you rent. * A current utility bill - electric, gas or water in parent or legal guardian's name, must accompany older documents. *If the person enrolling the student is not his/her parent the family is referred to the Residency and Tuition Office - 301-315-7324.
    • Student's Birth Certificate or Passport: Students who are NOT U.S. citizens, who have not been in public school in the USA for at LEAST the last two years, must call the International Student Admission Office (301-230-0686) to begin the admission process.
      Student's Immunization Record.
    • The Name, Address, and Phone # of the last school attended by student.
    • Student's Most Recent Report Card.
    • A Copy of the Student's I.E.P. if student receives Special Education services.
    • Clearance Form: if student is transferring from a MCPS school during the school year, or a School Transfer form if student is coming from any other public school.
    • Parent or legal guardian of student must complete and sign the following:
      • New Student Information (form 560-24)
      • Roberto Clemente MS Class Registration Card
      • Authorization to Request/Release Student Records (form 550-2)
      • Emergency Information (form 565-1)
    • If a student wants to participate in any extracurricular activity the Extracurricular Activity form must be completed and the fee paid. Remittance and mailing instructions are on the bottom of the form that is mailed to homes in the summer. Additional forms are available in the School Counseling Services office.