Whitman Middle School

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Whitman Middle School/Resources/Counseling Center

Counseling Center

Whitman MS Counseling Center

Welcome! We are all here to help students and families navigate Middle School.

Cheryl Fraley
Cheryl Fraley
Leti Bravo
Leti Bravo
Kerri Anderson
Kerri Anderson
School Social Worker Wendy Walcoff
Wendy Walcoff

What does the Counseling Team do for Students?

In a Nutshell, WMS Counselors are here to support students and their academic, social, and emotional growth.

Supports include:

  • Provide tools/resources for students’ mental and emotional health
  • Provide emotional support for students
  • Help students navigate their social role at Whitman
  • Help students plan and prepare for High School and beyond
  • Create and manage 504 plans for students with disabilities
  • Schoolwide prevention activities and Social and Emotional classroom lessons

How does the Counseling Team Support Families?

  • Communicate with families via email, phone, chat, and Teams
  • Help obtain supports for food, school supplies, clothing, and other basic needs
  • Provide resources to families on how to manage stress, cope with remote learning, and other challenges
  • Assist with technology support
  • Collaborate with the PTSA to create learning opportunities for families regarding mental health, alcohol, drugs, and other issues pertinent to middle school life

Whitman MS Counseling Team Directory

What does the Social Worker do for Students?

Our school social worker is located right across from the main office. She is at Whitman MS on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays half-day. The social work office offers a bright and welcoming safe space easily accessible to students throughout their day. Wendy helps connect students and families to mental health and community resources and helping remove any barriers to learning. Students can utilize her throughout the day for any social or emotional support.

I am so excited to be joining the Whitman Middle School community! This is my third year as a social worker in Seattle Public Schools, and I am looking forward to building strong relationships with families and students in my neighborhood. My office at Whitman will offer a bright and welcoming safe space easily accessible to students. I am here to connect students and families to mental health and community resources and help remove barriers to learning. Students can check in with me and utilize the student support room throughout the day for any social or emotional support. I will send out a family resource survey in the beginning of the year, but you can also request any services by email or just stopping by! 

Wendy Walcoff, MSW, LSWAIC
wewalcoff@seattleschools.org
206-252-1252

WMS Counseling Center Resources

PTSA Social Emotional Learning Group

Colored dots Feelings Chart. Text: Daily Check In. How are you feeling today? Not good, mch, Ok, good, amazing.

The Whitman PTSA is excited to announce that they developed a Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Group, with previous WMS parents Nicole Shiraev and Amy Conant Wilson. They partnered with the Whitman MS guidance counselors, prevention and intervention specialist, and the school social worker. For information and resources check out the PTSA SEL webpage.

Food Pantry Soup Bowl with steam and heart with spoon.

Whitman MS Food Pantry

The food pantry is for any student facing food insecurity. It was formerly known as the backpack brigade program or weekend food. The pantry will be open after school on Monday and Thursday to bring home nightly dinners and food for the weekend. They can bring home 3 dinners, 2 lunches, 2 breakfasts, and snacks for the weekend. The food is meant to feed the individual student, not the family as a whole. Learn more on the Food Pantry News post. We also encourage families to utilize the Ballard Food Bank if they are in need of support beyond our students.

The program is anonymous and there are no requirements. The sign-up form must be returned to the main office, counselors, or the social worker. If you have any questions, concerns or wish to sign your student up, please contact the food pantry coordinators, Leti Bravo at lrbravo@seattleschools.org or call her at: 206-252-1211.

Even More Resources

Mental Health and Violence Prevention Support

If you, your student, or someone your student cares about is struggling with mental health, substance abuse, or suicidal ideation, in addition to our counselors there are resources available.

  • YMCA Violence Prevention Program
  • NAMI Crisis Line
    • Text NAMI to 741-741. Connect with a trained crisis counselor to receive free, 24/7 crisis support via text message
    • NAMI Helpline: Volunteers answer questions, offer support and provide practical next steps. Chat, call or email info@nami.org or call 1-800-950-6264