Letter from Our School Counselor

    Dear Dufief Elementary School Parents,

    Hello. My name is Suzanne Pape and I am DuFief's School Counselor. I look forward to working with all your wonderful children this year. 

    I graduated from University of Delaware with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and then from Wilmington College with a Masters in School Counseling. After graduate school, I worked as an outpatient Drug/Alcohol Counselor for a year and a half. I then went on to work as a Needs Assessment Counselor in a Psychiatric Hospital for another year and a half. In August of 2000, I began my work as a School Counselor. I was employed for four years as a middle school counselor and then went on to become an elementary counselor. Over the next three years, I was employed with Prince William county schools in Woodbridge, Virginia. This is my fifteenth year at DuFief ES.

    Throughout my career, I have had the opportunity to work with many diverse populations in several different settings. I look forward to utilizing my experiences to help your children succeed both academically and emotionally. Please check the website or principal’s newsletter for more info. Please check the Website, Principals Update, and Parent Information board for counseling information throughout the year. I can also be contacted at 301-279-4980 with any questions or concerns.

    Sincerely,
    Mrs. Suzanne Pape
    School Counselor

    School Counseling Program

    DuFief ES has a Comprehensive School Counseling Program which serves all students, parents and teachers at the school. Major areas of focus include:

    Classroom Guidance lessons in every classroom throughout the school year. Lessons are focused on personal, interpersonal, academic, career and healthy development.

    Group Counseling for students based on need.

    Lunch bunches for students

    Individual Counseling is available to students on a short-term basis. Referrals to outside therapists are available upon request if more long-term help is indicated.

    DuFief is a Bucket Filling School.  Each classroom has a bucket and students can write compliments to each other.  Teachers can write compliments to students. This program helps to promote kindness in our school.

    DuFief students are taught and encouraged to use the De-bugging steps when they are having a conflict or someone is "bugging" them. These steps are:

    1. Ignore.
    2. Walk or move away.
    3. Talk friendly.
    4. Talk firmly.
    5. Get adult help.

    Bullying, harassment, or intimidation are serious and will not be tolerated.

    If you suspect your child is being bullied, please contact Mr. Baron, Principal, Mrs. Pape, School Counselor, or the classroom teacher first to share your concerns. We will immediately get involved to support the child. Contact the school for additional information or assistance at any time.

    Coming up:

    • New Student Lunches: I will be having lunches outside beginning the 1st week of school with all new 1st-5th grade students

    • Class Counseling lessons will begin the week after Labor Day.