School Counselors

Counselors periodically teach classroom lessons based on the needs of the students. These lessons cover various topics such as listening skills, understanding feelings, practicing manners, embracing responsibility, and building friendships. During the lessons, counselors typically read an age-appropriate story and engage the students in a discussion about what we learned and how we can apply it in our daily lives. To reinforce the topic, we may also participate in a follow-up activity, such as a game or an art project that relates to the lesson.

Most groups are formed to address common needs or issues that students are facing. A small group consists of 4 to 12 students who share similar situations. Common themes for these groups include self-esteem, social skills, family changes, anger management, and making new friends. Groups typically meet once a week during lunch or recess and generally last between 4 to 7 weeks. Students are recommended for group counseling by their teachers or parents.

Benefits of Small Groups

Small groups provide children with the opportunity to learn about challenging issues together and discuss coping skills and strategies that can help. These groups can be particularly beneficial because students realize they are not alone in their experiences, and they can practice their new skills with one another. For example, they might learn to use good manners, develop friendship skills, or discuss appropriate ways to handle strong emotions. 

If your child is invited to join a group, we sincerely hope you will consider giving your consent for their participation. We have seen numerous positive outcomes for students who have gained invaluable skills through group counseling. A small group experience equips a child with the tools they need to solve problems independently and provides a supportive environment in which they can work toward improvement.

We offer individual counseling for students in one-on-one sessions. Typically, counselors meet with students referred by parents, teachers, or principals. Students can also request an appointment with counselors directly.

Counselors collaborate with teachers and parents to identify and address academic and social or emotional concerns that hinder learning.If you have specific concerns or are trying to implement a new behavior plan at home, we can serve as a liaison between you and the teac her. My goal is to ensure that we are collaborating effectively. If we’re unable to assist you, we can connect you with community resources and agencies that can provide further support.

School counselors conduct attendance check-ins with families when a student has excessive absences to help identify any underlying issues and offer support. They work collaboratively with families to understand the reasons for the absences, provide resources as needed, and develop a plan to improve attendance and ensure the student stays on track academically and socially.

School counselors play a key role in connecting students and families with additional mental health support through referrals to our partnering counseling agencies. These partnerships allow students to access professional counseling services either during the school day or after school hours. Counselors help identify students in need, coordinate with families, and facilitate the referral process to ensure timely and appropriate support from trusted community providers.

We organize and collaborate with our students and the PTA to collect donations for the Thanksgiving Clothing Drive and the Winter Food Drive. Instilling a sense of philanthropy in our young students is very important to me. If a family needs assistance with resources outside of the school—such as food, clothing, financial help, medical support, counseling, utilities, etc.—we can provide them with the contact information for community agencies. Additionally, I coordinate events and seminars for our parents and families.

Our school counselors support PBIS initiatives by helping to coordinate classroom and whole-school rewards that recognize and celebrate students for following school-wide expectations. They work alongside staff to plan and implement positive reinforcement activities, ensuring students feel encouraged and motivated to maintain respectful, responsible, and safe behavior throughout the school day.