School Counselor
Jeri Rochman
818-986-5045 ext 377
Hours on Campus
- Monday – Thursday, 9:30am - 1:30pm
- Students may stop by and see me at Nutrition and Lunch.
- My office is located in the main office building.
- Please let me know if there are school related topics that you would like to discuss. I am here to help all Westmark students have a positive school experience and I am open to all ideas towards that goal.
I am committed to helping students explore their abilities, strengths, interests and talents as these traits relate to their personal and academic development.
Jeri Rochman
A school counselor is a trained professional who works in partnership with students, teachers, parents and the community to help students have a successful and positive school experience. My job is to help the Westmark School students become responsible individuals, to be independent thinkers, to develop sound problem solving and decision making skills, and to view themselves in terms of their fullest potential. Having a comprehensive developmental counseling program at Westmark School is an integral part of the educational process that will enable Westmark School students to achieve success in school.
I received my Master’s Degree in School Counseling from CSUN, hold a Pupil Personnel Services Credential from the State Department of Education and received my Juris Doctor from the Pepperdine University School of Law.
Services Provided
I provide personal and group brief-oriented, solution focused short term counseling to students. Students may visit my office as necessary or as recommended by teachers or parents. In both individual and group sessions, strategies are provided for students to acquire the appropriate attitudes, skills and knowledge that promote respect, appreciation, and acceptance of self, peers, teachers and families. The techniques, skills and strategies that I offer students dovetail with Westmark’s academic curriculum to enable our students to achieve success in school, to accept responsibility for their own behavior and actions and to develop into contributing members of society.
I also plan, organize and implement special days or weeks that are celebrated by the school. The week before the beginning of each new school year, I organize a pizza parties for incoming and returning 6th and 7th grade students. Mix-It-Up Day is a special one-day event that provides students the opportunity to make new friendships as well as encourage the breaking down of cliques. Towards the end of each school year, I organize a “Bridging Day” for 5th and 6th graders with the focus on making the transition to the next higher grade a comfortable, and yet exciting, process.
High School
Lauren Leavitt, Westmark School’s College Counselor, and I conduct a “Senior Transition” program during the Fall and Spring semesters. This program is designed to assist 11th and 12th grade students and their parents to make a smooth transition from Westmark to college life.
Middle School
I work with our 7th and 8th grade students on social cognition skills both formally and informally. We focus on topics including tolerance, peer pressure, relationships, anger and stress management and recognizing signs of depression.
Elementary School
The 4th-6th grade students are involved in a values and ethics program called, “Peacemakers.” This program is designed to teach techniques for conflict resolution, empathy for others, assertive behavior and communication skills.
Recommended Books
| Title | Author |
|---|---|
| "The Blessing of The Skinned Knee" | Wendy Mogel, Ph.D. |
| "Quirky Kids – Understanding and Helping Your Child Who Doesn’t Fit In" | Perri Klass, M.D. and Eileen Costello, M.D. |
| "How To Handle Bullies, Teasers and Other Meanies" | Kate Cohen |
| "How To Help Children and Teens Manage Their Anger" | Bernard Golden, Ph.D. |
| "Not Much Just Chillin’ – The Hidden Lives of Middle Schoolers" | Linda Perlstein |
| "Positive Discipline For Teenagers: Empowering Your Teen and Yourself Through Kind And Firm Parenting" | Jane Nelson and Lynn Lott |
| "More Than Moody – Recognizing and Treating Adolescent Depression" | Harold S. Koplewicz, M.D. |
| "Yes, Your Teen Is Crazy" | Michael Bradley Ed.D. |
| "When Growing Up Hurts Too Much – A Parent’s Guide To Knowing When and How To Choose A Therapist For Your Teen" | Scott O. Harris, Ph.D. and Edward Reynolds, Ph.D. |
| For Girls | |
| The American Girl Library Series: "The Care and Keeping of You", "The Care and Keeping of Friends", "A Smart Girl’s Guide to Boys", "Girl’s Guide to Friendship Troubles", "Girl’s Guide to Starting Middle School" | |
| "Queen Bees and Wannabees: Helping Your Daughter Survive Cliques, Gossip, Boyfriends, and Other Realities of Adolescence" | Roselind Wiseman |
| "Odd Girl Out" | Rachel Simmons |
| "Reviving Ophelia: Saving the Selves of Adolescent Girls" | Mary Pipher |
| "Ophelia Speaks: Adolescent Girls Write About Their Search For Self" | Sara Shandler |
| For Boys | |
| "Real Boys: Rescuing Our Sons From The Myth of Boyhood" | William Pollack |
| "Raising Cain: Protecting the Emotional Life Of Boys" | Dan Kindlon and Michael Thompson |
| "A Fine Young Man (What Parents, Mentors and Educators Can Do To Shape Adolescent Boys Into Exceptional Men)" | Michael Gurian |