Kemmons Wilson Leadership Development and Counseling Center
Upper School Counseling
Bebe Jonakin
Upper School Counselor,
Director of Counseling Services
(901) 260-1335
Academic Support | Alcohol and Other Drug Education | Personal Counseling
Academic Support
Academic Monitoring
Student grades will be monitored, and the counselor will contact each student whose grade report contains any Ds or Fs to analyze the situation and help the student determine approaches that will address the problem in a positive way. Students whose grades are not low enough to place them in the above category, but are below their expectations, are encouraged to make an appointment with the counselor. The counselor also consults with those who are doing well and encourages them to keep up the good work.
Tutor Referrals
Peer tutoring is available for students who are experiencing academic difficulty. For further information, contact Bebe Jonakin in the Counseling Center .
A list of professional tutors available for students who truly need help is maintained in the Counseling Center. Professional tutors should be hired only when all other avenues have been explored.
Parent Conferences
Parent conferences may be scheduled by calling Bebe Jonakin at (901) 260-1335.
Services for Students with Disabilities
Appropriate accommodations on semester exams may be provided to students with documented learning disabilities that limit their ability to reach their potential on lengthy cumulative exams. Refer to the U Book for further details.
Alcohol and Other Drug Education
Prevention is a primary goal; therefore, the focus is on presenting students with relevant, up-to-date, and compelling information that points them toward a reasonable, self-determined, personal policy of non-use. Toward this end, the following activities have been included in our plans for the school year:
- Freedom from Chemical Dependency (FCD): This program is for eighth and tenth graders. Visit the FCD Web site for more information.
- Alive at 25 Program: This program is to teach ninth graders safe driving techniques and responsible decision-making.
- MUS Survey: This is an in-house survey used to identify student levels of drug use.
- Student Referral Program
- Eighth-Grade Mentoring Program: This program sets up small group discussions between Upper School mentors and eighth-grade students.
- Lower School Drug-Free Club
- Community of Concern: This is a parent educational resource.
- Safe Home Program: This program requires a parent commitment to host drug- and alcohol-free parties and to communicate with other parents. Visit the Safe Home Program Web site for additional information and to sign the Safe Home Pledge.
- Heartbeat: This is a non-use group of juniors and seniors who conduct sessions with seventh-grade students regarding tobacco, tobacco products, alcohol, and other drugs.
- Outside the Classroom: Developed by prevention experts at Outside the Classroom in conjunction with Mothers Against Drunk Driving, this online course for freshmen delivers a science-based alcohol prevention program and encourages healthy decision-making strategies for teens.
Any parent, student, or administrator may make a student referral to Bebe Jonakin if they have reason to suspect that the student is using/abusing alcohol or other drugs. She will meet with the student, attempt to determine whether there is a basis for concern, and, if necessary, contact the parents to recommend an appropriate course of action based on the needs of the student.
Our ultimate goal is to prevent alcohol and other drug use/abuse and to promote responsible decision-making on the part of our young men in an effort to maximize their safety and welfare during this time of their lives.
Click here to view our official Alcohol, Drugs, and Tobacco Policy.
Personal Counseling
Personal counseling is the primary focus of the Counseling Department. This is where the rubber meets the road in the journey of the adolescent life. One-on-one verbal interaction in a friendly and encouraging environment allows the counselor to build a relationship, based on trust, that enables the counselor and young men to explore potential road blocks and possible actions that will avoid or overcome those obstacles. Our goal is to allow the students to look within themselves and become aware of their unlimited capacity to achieve.
Adolescents face a variety of challenges throughout their teenage years. Students often enter the counseling office to discuss difficulties with their classes, relationship troubles, stressful home environments, depression, and anxiety. When addressing students’ concerns, the counselor offers empathy, unconditional support, and trust to seek a comfortable environment for the young men to discuss their problems. The counselor encourages the students to look within themselves and consider alternative perspectives.
Psychologist Referrals
Referrals are made on an individual basis. Contact Bebe Jonakin for further information.