Guidance Services and Programs

Bully Prevention Program
The South Fayette Middle School utilizes and in-depth bully prevention program following the Olweus Bullying Prevention Model. The Olweus Bully Prevention Program is a multilevel, multicomponent school-based program designed to prevent or reduce bullying in elementary, middle, and junior high schools. The program attempts to restructure the existing school environment to reduce opportunities and rewards for bullying. It works to involve all students in the preventative process, and attempts to show students that as a whole they can help to stamp out bullying in their school.

Students participate in preventative activities every Thursday during their Activity Periods at South Fayette Middle School. Many different presentation styles are used to inform students on how to properly and effectively eliminate and prevent instances of bullying from occurring. Open-ended conversations, videos, games and journals are among the different methods utilized to express to students the importance of this topic.

The program has shown significant reductions in reports of students being bullied and bullying others, and has been awarded recognition as an Effective Substance Abuse and Mental Health Program by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Aside from reductions in bullying incidents the program has also demonstrated significant improvements in attitude towards schoolwork, classroom order and truancy.

In seventh and eighth grade, students build upon the concepts of the Olweus Bulling Prevention Model by learning about positive character traits, effective behaviors, and proper decision making strategies.

Seventh grade students work with the In Search of Character video program which spotlights core virtues that help teens develop into caring, respectful, responsible people who make choices based on what's right, rather than what's easy. The program follows a series of lessons where students first watch a video of how theirs peers would handle a difficult dilemma, and then have the opportunity to discuss and write about the topics in their classrooms.

Eighth grade students participate in the Premier “Go” program. The Premier Go Program is a powerful, how-to approach to help students change their behavior, and make positive choices under pressure. Character is forged in the defining moments of knowing the right thing to do and then choosing to do it. By giving students the knowledge and skills to make the right choice at the right time within a supportive environment, strong character can grow even stronger. The program consists of a integrated workbook and agenda - the Go Workbook - and a weekly DVD-based training video.

Student Assistance Program (SAP)
The SAP team serves as a screening service for students who are experiencing barriers to their education. The team systematically gathers observable data, then considers the intensity, duration and frequency of the behaviors. Next, the team collaboratively works with students and parents to formulate an intervention plan. Ultimately, the SAP team intervenes by providing supportive and referral services to enable students at-risk to achieve academic success. The team is comprised of administrators, school counselors, teachers, nurses and South Fayette’s social workers. Parents, teachers, or any South Fayette staff member may refer a student to the SAP team. For additional information, or to make a referral, please contact the Guidance Department.

Please note that all referrals and information is strictly confidential and will be kept within the confines of the SAP team, and those with a necessity to know. All information will not become part of a student’s school records, unless otherwise instructed by the family.

parentCONNECTxp
Parents of students currently attending South Fayette Township Middle or High School can now see their student's records twenty four hours a day, seven days a week by using Internet access. Specifically, they can view attendance, assignments, grade information, announcements, tasks completed, and discipline information. The software program is called parentCONNECTxp and access to the password protected system requires registration and login secure web servers that house student information. parentCONNECTxp utilizes daily attendance information, teacher electronic gradebook information, and other student database information to form the basis of reporting to users. Users of the system will also be able to request an automatic e-mail notification of any disciplinary actions, tardiness, unexcused absences, missing assignments and failing scores. You can register for the parentCONNECTxp service by going to the South Fayette homepage (link) and clicking on the parentCONNECTxp button on the left hand side of the page. After entering the demographic information your account will be created within 3-4 days. You must then contact Mr. Rob Warfield to obtain your user name and password. Mr. Rob Warfield can be reached at warfield@southfayette.org or at (412) 221-4542, Extension 245.

Groups
Throughout the course of each school year South Fayette Middle School offers support groups to help middle school students to deal with any number of problems that they may be experiencing. The groups, which are established as needed, are facilitated by the guidance counselor and licensed social worker(s) from different agencies that South Fayette contracts with. The groups are conducted on a rotating schedule throughout the school day and range from 6-9 weeks in duration. Previous group topics have included:

• Social Skills Groups
• Bereavement Groups
• Changing Families Groups

Homework Hotline
Prior to 4:00 PM each school day, all student homework assignments and upcoming test dates will be listed on the school’s Homework Hotline. The Homework Hotline is a voicemail message, updated daily, by your child’s teacher that lists all of their homework for that given day. Both students and parent’s utilize the Homework Hotline to check homework and project due dates and to help manage their after school time. In addition, if a student has been absent from school, the Homework Hotline is an excellent method to learn of the assignments that the student has missed for any given day.

The Homework Hotline numbers for each grade level are:

Grade 5 - (412) 221-4542, Extension 81773#
Grade 6 - (412) 221-4542, Extension 81702#
Grade 7 - (724) 693-9960, Extension 1
Grade 8 - (724) 693-9960, Extension 2