
Click on Classroom image for an interactive Bitmoji Classroom with Links
Sarah Bigelow is the counselor for students in 6th Grade. She can be reached at 770-704-1124 or sarah.bigelow@cherokeek12.net. Click HERE, to make an appointment with Ms. Bigelow.
Mr. Herndon is your 7th-grade counselor. This is his 1st year at FMS, and he is very excited to get to know you and your student this school year! Before FMS, he completed internships at Mill Creek Middle School and River Ridge High School. Mr. Herndon graduated from Woodstock High School, and he also attended Woodstock Middle School and Carmel Elementary School. In his free time, Mr. Herndon enjoys working on his cars and spending time with friends and family. Please feel free to reach him if he can assist you or your student in any way. Mr. Herndon can be reached at matthew.herndon@cherokeek12.net.
Lauren Moss is the counselor for students in 8th Grade. She can be reached at 770-704-1125 or lauren.moss@cherokeek12.net. Click HERE, to make an appointment with Ms. Moss.
As school counselors, Ms. Bigelow, Mr. Herndon and Mrs. Moss strive to help all students in the areas of academic achievement, personal/social development and career development, with hopes that today's students become the productive, well-adjusted adults of tomorrow. Middle school students are characterized by rapid physical growth, curiosity about their world and an emerging self-identity. Ms. Bigelow and Mrs. Moss work as a team with school staff, parents and the community to create a caring, supportive climate and atmosphere whereby young adolescents can achieve academic success. Their goal is for students to achieve optimal personal growth, acquire positive social skills and values, set appropriate career goals and realize full academic potential to become productive, contributing members of the world community. Services provided by the counseling department at Freedom Middle School include, but are not limited to: individual and small group counseling, character education, crisis intervention, referrals to community resources, and consultation/collaboration with staff and parents. On this page, they have included several resources regarding a variety of topics that may be relevant to middle school students and their families. Please don’t hesitate to contact Mrs. Moss or Mrs. Bigelow with any questions or concerns regarding your child.
Resources:
ADHD
A Parent’s Guide to ADHD
Spanish Version
Homework Tips for Parents
Parenting a Child with ADHD
Teens and ADHD
Anger
Taming the Anger Monster in Children
Adolescence and Anger
Helping Angry Preteens
Spanish article
Anxiety
Nine Things Every Parent with an Anxious Child Should Try
Stress Management and Teens
37 Techniques for Calming and Anxious Child
Identifying Signs of Stress in your Children and Teens
Autism
Autism Spectrum Disorders article from the Center for Parent Information and Resources
National Autism Association
Autism Speaks Resource Guide
Career Information
Career One Stop
Georgia Career Information Center
Communication
Talking with Teens: Tips for Better Communication
Communicating with your Children: You Make the Difference
Communication Tips for Parents
Depression
Depression in Children and Teens
Childhood Depression, What Parents Can Do To Help
Parent’s Guide to Teen Depression
Divorce
Helping Children Cope with Separation and Divorce
Helping Children Understand Divorce
Discipline
Teens and Discipline
Positive Discipline for Teens
Positive Discipline for Teens 2
Difference between Praise and Encouragement
Parenting Your Teen
Developmental Information about Adolescence:
Awkward! The tough transition to middle school
What Parents Should Know About Tweens
The Teen Brain: Still Under Construction
Stages of Adolescence: https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/teen/Pages/Stages-of-Adolescence.aspx
Positive Parenting Tips for Healthy Child Development
IEP/504 Information
Individualized Education Program Fact Sheet
Evaluations to Determine if a Child is Eligible For Special Education Fact Sheet
Your Rights as Parents Regarding Special Education
Georgia Department of Education Special Education Website
Overview of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
A Parent’s Guide to Section 504 in Public Schools
Grief
Kate’s Club Information
Childhood Traumatic Grief Resources for Children and Families
Peer Relationships:
Peer Pressure: Its Influence on Teens and Decision Making:
Pacer’s Center Teens Against Bullying
Understanding Middle School Friendships
School Refusal
Is your Child Refusing to Go to School?
School Refusal
School Refusal: When Kids Say No To School
Study Skills/Homework
Study Skills for Middle School and Beyond
Tips For Helping Kids and Teens With Homework and Study Habits
How to Help Your Teen Develop Good Study Habits
Teens and Technology
A Cell Phone Guide for Parents
What’s the Right Age for a Child to get a Smartphone?
Protecting Your Kids Online
Tips for Teens
Social Media: Issues and Tips for Parents