Thank you for visiting the Guidance and Counseling site.  My name is Lisa Meister and I am the Eighth Grade response counselor for the 2012-2013 school year. I have been an Elementary School Counselor in the Omaha Public Schools since 1991.  My Bachelors Degree is in Elementary Education from UNK, I received my Elementary School Counseling Masters Degree from UNO.  I am married and have four children, ages 22, 20, 18 and 16.   The guidance lessons I teach are focused in the academic/educational domain and the personal/social domain.  I teach in all four grade levels at Buffett.   

Attendance makes a difference.  Research has shown that students that attend school regularly...

• have higher test scores.
• are more involved in school activities.
• feel more safe.
• maintain healthy friendships.
• are less inclined to participate in at-risk behaviors.
• are more likely to graduate.
• are more likely to attend college.

Habits that children develop in their school "career" often transfer to their work career.  Help your child develop the habit of attending school every day, being on time, and being prepared for the day.

Eighth Grade Guidance Competencies

Career/Occupational Domain Curriculum

Investigate the world of work in relation to the knowledge of self and the importance of employability skills.

Select high school courses based on tentative life and career goals.

     *Career exploration through Nebraska Career Connections

 Academic/Educational Domain Curriculum

Acquire and apply knowledge and skills to become confident, self-directed learners.

Identify possible positive/negative consequences of academic decisions and implement decision making and problem-solving strategies.      

     
Personal/Social Domain Curriculum

 Identify and practice positive social interactions with others.

Explain how personal beliefs and attitudes influence decision making.

Develop the assets to build resilience for significant life events.