Angela Zirpel
M.S., LPC-MH, CCDCIII
305 West 5th Ave.
Lennox, SD 57039
Office 605-647-2203
Angela.Zirpel@k12.sd.us
Counselor Resources

I have been in the counseling profession for over 20 years and have been with this district since 2005. Prior to my current position, I received my Licensed Professional Counselor, Mental Health status and Chemical Dependency Certification. I worked with all age groups in agencies as a clinical therapist and a drug and alcohol counselor.

I feel blessed to be the Lennox School Districts Elementary School Counselor. I get to spend my days in a position where I get to laugh and learn with some of the most wonderful children I know. My hope is that I also teach them about the ups and downs of life, along the way.

Please feel free to contact me with any thoughts or concerns. I can be reached at Worthing Tuesday afternoons and Thursday mornings. All remaining school hours I can be reached at my Lennox Elementary office.

The elementary years are a time when students begin to develop their academic self-concept and their feelings of competence as learners. They are beginning to develop decision-making, communication and life skills, as well as character values. It is also a time when students develop and acquire attitudes toward school, self, peers, social groups, and family. The school counseling program helps provide education, prevention, and intervention services, which are integrated into all aspects of children’s lives. The knowledge, attitude and skills that students acquire in the area of academic, career, and personal/social development during these elementary years serve as the foundation for future success.

School Counseling Curriculum

• Academic support, including organizational, study and test taking skills goal setting and decision-making

• Career awareness, exploration and planning

• Education on understanding self and others, peer relationships, coping strategies and effective social skills

• Communication, problem-solving and conflict resolution

• Substance abuse education

• Multicultural/diversity awareness

Individual Student Planning

• Academic planning

• Goal setting/decision-making

• Education on understanding of self, including strengths and weaknesses

• Transitional plans

Responsive Services

• Individual and small-group counseling

• Individual/family/school crisis intervention

• Conflict resolution

• Consultation/collaboration

• Referrals

School Counselors Collaborate with:

Parents

• Parent education

• Communication/networking

• Academic planning

• One-on-one parent conferencing

Teachers

• Classroom guidance activities

• Academic support, including learning style assessment and education to help students succeed academically

• At-risk student identification and implementation to enhance success

  Administrator

• School climate

• Behavioral management plans

• School-wide needs assessments

• Student data and results

  
  Students

• Peer education

• Peer support

• Academic support

• School climate

• Leadership development

• Community

• Crisis interventions

• Referrals

• Anxiety and Depression in Children

• Calming First Day Kindergarten Anxiety

• Helping Children Overcome Test Anxiety

• Family and Divorce

• Children and Grief

• Social Issues

• Tips to Ease Back to School Anxiety