Counseling
Welcome to the SHMS Counseling Department
Counseling supports the development of the whole child by advocating for the academic, social/emotional, career and postsecondary needs and strives to develop life-long learners and productive citizens.
The counseling program in Adams 12 Five Star Schools works collaboratively with parents, community members and educators to empower every child, regardless of individual differences or obstacles, to ensure all students are prepared for meaningful, productive learning through a data-driven comprehensive K-12 school counseling program. It is our privilege and our passion to support and assist students and their families in ways that promote student achievement, success, and growth and that build and bridge relationships that connect us as a community.
We are so excited to be working with our students and are looking forward to an amazing year at Silver Hills!
Counseling During the Remote Learning Period
Hello from your Counselors!
We know that these are strange times and we are all adjusting to our SHMS routines during this time of remote learning. All of us counselors wanted to ensure that you know that we are still here for you, even if we aren’t under the same roof at the moment. Below we have created a few new methods that students and families may utilize to get into contact with us. Know that we are here to help and support however we can!Request a Meeting
Using the forms below students and parents/guardians may sign up for a time slot for a video counseling session via Google Hangouts or via traditional phone call. Students can discuss any topic for which they would typically sign up to see us (academic, social/emotional, college/career, family, friends, etc.). Students and families are also more than welcome to send an email or call us with any questions/concerns if they’d prefer to not talk via video chat or phone.Sara Bloom | 6th Grade Counselor | Student Request a Meeting Parent/Guardian Request a Meeting Solicitud del Padre/Tutor para Reunirse con la Consejera |
Sarah Myers | 7th Grade Counselor | Student Request for Meeting Parent/Guardian Request for Meeting Solicitud del Padre/Tutor para Reunirse con la Consejera |
Anita McKiernan | 8th Grade Counselor | Student Request for Meeting Parent/Guardian Request for Meeting Solicitud del Padre/Tutor para Reunirse con la Consejera |
Amy Bills | Counselor | Student Request for Meeting Parent/Guardian Request for Meeting Solicitud del Padre/Tutor para Reunirse con la Consejera |
Office Hours
Our office hours are a structured time during which the counselors will be available for immediate communication. Please reference our contact information below. Outside of these hours we will still make every effort to return parent/guardian/student communication within one business day. You may contact us via phone or email outside of these contact hours, however we will be upholding our 24-hour response time during the school week.Sara Bloom | 6th Grade Counselor | M,T,Th, F: Wed |
Sarah Myers | 7th Grade Counselor | M,T,Th, F: Wed |
Anita McKiernan | 8th Grade Counselor | M,T,Th, F: Wed |
Amy Bills | Counselor | MTWThF: |
Contact Us Directly
Our SHMS Counseling Team will be accessible via email or through Google Voice. We will also be able to receive voicemails made to our office phones, though will be returning phone calls through our Google Voice numbers. The best time to reach us in this manner would be during our office hours, but we will try to make ourselves available beyond.Sara Bloom | 6th Grade Counselor | 720-972-3014 or 970-329-2979 blo021739@adams12.org |
Sarah Myers | 7th Grade Counselor | 720-972-5010 or 970-329-1044 sarah.myers@adams12.org |
Anita McKiernan | 8th Grade Counselor | 720-972-3005 anita.mckiernan@adams12.org |
Amy Bills | Counselor | 970-591-3240 bil008077@adams12.org |
(Interim) Meghan Epstein | School-Based Therapist | 720-972-3007 or 720-446-8167 0mepstein@adams12.org |
Student Safety
In the same manner that we do when we are at school, if a member of our mental health team is ever concerned about your student’s safety, we will reach out to a parent/guardian right away. Please be sure to respond to correspondence in a manner as timely as possible to help us support your student’s safety. If a parent does not answer, the mental health personnel will follow district protocol to contact an outside agency (such as law enforcement) to help us initiate a well-being check. If you become concerned about your student’s safety and/or well-being, please use the resources below to access immediate mental health support for your student. If safety is an immediate concern, contact 911 or go to your nearest emergency room.- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255; www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org
- Suicide Prevention Resource Center: www.sprc.org
- American Foundation for Suicide Prevention: www.afsp.org
- Trevor Project (LGBTQ+ youth): 1-866-488-7386; www.trevorproject.org
- Crisis Text Line: 741-741; www.crisistextline.org
- If your student is concerned about a peer please encourage them to use the Safe2Tell Button and communicate to their counselor.
Community Resources
Please take a look at the following resources to support your student’s social/emotional well-being at home.- Collection of Resources including help from the community, mental health, and academic support\
- Movies to Watch with your Child
- Inspiring TedTalks to Watch with your Child
- Staying Close During COVID
- Activities during Stay at Home
- Virus Anxiety, multiple resources
- Teens Use of Phone in Crisis
- Helping Children Cope with Changes Resulting from COVID-10
- 5 Ways to Help Teens Manage Anxiety Around the Corona Virus
- How to Talk to a Child About the Corona Virus
- Hable Con Sus Hijos Sobre el COVID-19.pdf
- Colorado Crisis Walk In Centers.pdf
- Strategies to Support Child Mental Health.pdf
- Strategies to Support Child Mental Health - Spanish.pdf
- Immigration information as it relates to Covid-19
- Supporting the Emotions of Youth During an Emergency
- Talking to Teens and Tweens about Corona Virus
- SFOP resource list
- Nutrition Services Food Plan
- Comcast free internet application site
- Article- Taking care of your mental health in the face of uncertainty
- Adams 12 Covid-19 update page with resources (both Academic and Mental Health Related)
- Hoopla- Digitally borrow movies, audiobooks, music with your public library card for free
School Based Therapist
- (Interim Therapist) Meghan Epstein
- 720-972-3007 or 720-446-8167
- 0mepstein@adams12.org
We are also very lucky to have a full-time School Based Therapist through Community Reach at our school. Our therapist helps students in need with one-on-one counseling during the school day. If you have concerns that your child needs to meet with a School Based Therapist, please contact your counselor to fill out the appropriate paperwork. You can also learn more about Community Reach through their website http://www.communityreachcenter.org/.