Penny Williams, coordinator of testing and counseling for the Selma City School System, said the role of school counselor goes largely unnoticed by parents and students.

Too often, she said, counselors are considered as someone who makes class schedules, while their real work-providing resources, referrals and advice that can help students achieve in school-is not being taken advantage of.

This week the school system’s counselors are working together to make their presence known by taking part in National School Counseling Week.

“We are doing things to show parents what services we offer and how we can help,” Williams said.

On Wednesday, counselors from every school in the system will be taking part in a parent call-in.

From 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., counselors will be stationed at a phone bank at Selma Middle CHAT Academy to answer calls from parents.

“We want people to call in if they have a question about our services or our referrals,” Williams said.

The number to call on Wednesday for the counselor consultations is 874-1675.

Along with the parent-call in, Williams said counselors will hold a system-wide Tsunami Relief drive and a canned food drive for the local food bank.

“Each counselor will also being doing some specific activities at the schools,” Williams said.

Wanda Young, counselor at Byrd and Knox elementary schools, said she is combining National Counselor Week with activities related to Black History Month.

“We are going to have activities that teach kids about compassion and tolerance,” Young said. “We’re going to have trivia questions and kids are going to watch a video related to Black History on Friday.”

Sadie Moss, counselor at Sophia P. Kingston Elementary School, said she is going to be giving students treats and organize a skit based on Black History Month.

At Edgewood Elementary, Counselor Leslie King said she has created posters highlighting National Counseling Week and is sending out newsletters to parents.

Faye Green, the 10th grade counselor at Selma High, said she will be continuing her work of offering individual and small group guidance, communicating with outside resources and counsel parents.

“Our main goal this week is just to let parents know that we are helpers, rather than just do schedule changes,” Williams said. “We work with children to try to lead them in the right direction.”