VG Counseling

Van Gorder Counseling Corner

Welcome to the Van Gorder Counseling Corner!

Hi. I'm Mrs. Cardona, your school counselor! I am here to support your students with their academic, emotional, and social growth. Whether it's learning how to solve problems, manage big feelings, make friends, or set goals, I'm excited to help your child succeed and thrive at school. 

This page is here to provide updates, resources, and ways to get in touch. I'm looking forward to a great year of growth and connection!

👋 About the Counselor

Meet Mrs. Cardona

I began my journey at Van Gorder as an aide in our strategies program and feel incredibly lucky to now serve as your school counselor.

I’m passionate about helping children develop confidence, empathy, and resilience. I love building relationships with students and partnering with families and staff to support student well-being.

📚 Fun Facts About Me:

I love being outdoors and hiking with my dogs 🐾

I enjoy creative projects and baking 🍪

I have been a proud member of the Van Gorder family since 2020!

🛠️ Counseling Services

My role as a school counselor includes support in these areas:

💡 Classroom Lessons

30-minute monthly lessons on topics like:

Friendship & kindness

Managing emotions

Conflict resolution

Problem-solving

Goal setting

🤝 Small Group Counseling

Short-term groups to support students with:

Friendship skills

Emotional regulation

Family changes

Grief or anxiety

🗣️ Individual Support
Brief, solution-focused check-ins for students who may need a little extra support.

Note: School counseling is not therapy. For ongoing or clinical needs, I can help connect families with outside professionals.

📥 Student Referral / Contact Me

📧 Contact Info:

(775) 425-7722 

Office Location: Just past the Van Gorder Library

Parents, teachers, or students (with permission) are welcome to reach out at any time!

📚 Parent & Student Resources

Here are some helpful tools for Families:

🏡 Resources for Families:

Mrs. Cardona

WCSD District Resources

Behavior Health and Management Team

Behavioral Resources

Ten Positive Behavior Support Strategies to Support Families at Home ©American Positive Behavioral Supports/APBS (PDF)

Behavioral Strategies for Home Based Learning (PDF)

Home Activities Sample ©Monte Vista RM 1/Pre-K (Word Document)

Verbal De-escalation (PDF)

Positive Behavioral Interventions (PBIS) and Supports for Family (Website)

-Offers webinars and handouts.

PBS Kids (Website)

-Your child(ren) can play online games that include topics such as feelings and teamwork.

ChildMind® Institute: Managing Child Behavior Problem Behavior at Home (Website)

-Explains the ABC's of a child's behavior and how to intervene appropriately. *If a pop-up appears asking you to sign-up, you can simply click on the ChildMind page to bypass that site request.

-Has a wide variety of articles to support behavior at home, as well as developing routines and schedules.

This particular article discusses how to teach your child to be a whole body listener, as well as games to play to teach the skill.

Provides a variety of resources and examples of creating routines and structure.

Behavior and Learning at Home

This video below is by the MTSS/SEL Behavior Health and Management Team gives 5 strategies to support student behavior in the home learning environment as well as offering contacts and resources for families to use to assist with creating a strong educational environment in the home setting.

The Family Resource Center Program is funded by a grant from the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services Office of Community Partnerships and Grants.

What is a Family Resource Center (FRC)?

A Family Resource Center is a safe and friendly place to go for many different types of resources when families need help.

Who Can Get Help? The Family Resource Center serves anyone who lives in the surrounding community. There are no income qualifications to use the Family Resource Center, although some referrals to other services may be limited according to income guidelines. The Family Resource Center serves children, teens, parents, single adults, and seniors.

What services does the Family Resource Center offer?

Resources/Referrals: All of the Family Resource Center sites offer resource and referral services. Individuals may call the Family Resource Center for information and referrals to resources in the community which may be able to help meet basic needs or provide other forms of assistance. Staff is available to assist families with identifying needs and to help them locate the resources to potentially meet those needs. Families with minor or school aged children can enroll in the Family Success Program.

Family Success Program: The Family Success Program is a voluntary program that consists of an initial discussion to determine the needs of the family and then links the family with appropriate community and government resources. A plan is made with the family to help set goals and action steps necessary to meet those goals. The plan is tailored to address the unique needs of the family and will likely require additional appointments. Families who are taking action and making progress towards attaining their goals may be eligible for additional services.

On-going Support: Staff members of the Family Resource Center provide on-going support to families. They are available to help with budgeting, goal setting, and problem solving. They are also available to assist you in obtaining services through advocacy and interventions with other community agencies.