small Groups

As part of Blair Community Schools’ Comprehensive School Counseling Program, students may have the opportunity to participate in a short-term small group lessons with our school counselor during the school year. These groups are a way for students to receive additional instruction, practice, and support with social-emotional skills in a small, comfortable setting.

Small groups with the school counselor are similar to other small-group learning opportunities at school. Students participate in age-appropriate lessons, activities, discussions, games, and practice related to a specific topic. Groups may focus on skills such as:

• Building friendships and positive relationships

• Communication and social skills

• Managing emotions and handling big feelings

• Building confidence and self-esteem

• Organization and executive functioning skills

• Coping with everyday challenges

• Problem-solving and decision-making

• Sportsmanship and working with others

• Other age-appropriate social-emotional skills

The goal is to give students another opportunity to learn, practice, and strengthen skills that can help them feel successful at school, at home, and with peers.

Students may be invited to participate based on a skill that would benefit from some additional practice or instruction. A teacher, administrator, parent or guardian, or school counselor may recommend a student for a group. At times, students may also be invited because they demonstrate strengths that could make them positive peer role models within the group.

Small groups meet during the school day for a limited number of sessions, and are scheduled at a time that minimizes missed classroom instruction. Small group counseling is educational and skill-based and is not intended to provide therapy or replace services provided by an outside mental health professional.

If you have questions about small group counseling, the topics being offered, or whether a particular group may be a good fit for your child, please feel free to reach out. We are happy to answer questions and share more about what students will be learning. Thank you for your partnership in supporting the social, emotional, and academic growth of our students!

Opt Out 

If you would prefer that your child not participate in small group counseling, you may contact the school counselor. You may choose to opt your child out at any time.