We will visit each classroom (grades 6-8) at least bimonthly to teach lessons. One of these lessons will be MCPS mandated personal body safety lessons and Signs of Suicide. These lessons will focus on keeping students safe. The remaining lessons will focus on mindfulness, social and emotional learning, and college and career awareness. Our focus parallels the five-point social and emotional framework our county supports. These areas of competency are:

• Self-Awareness-Assessing our feelings, interests, strengths; maintaining self-confidence.

• Self-Management-Regulating emotions to handle stress, control impulses and perseverance in overcoming obstacles.

• Social Awareness-Understanding different perspectives, and empathizing with others; recognizing and appreciating similarities and differences; using family, school and community resources effectively.

• Relationship Skills-Maintaining healthy relationships based on cooperation; resisting inappropriate social pressure; preventing, managing and resolving interpersonal conflicts; seeking help when needed.

• Responsible Decision Making-Using a variety of considerations, including ethical, academic, and community related standards to make choices and decisions.

Groups are a powerful and helpful way for students to realize that other students experience similar challenges. Students listen and learn from each other and gain greater insight as a result. Additionally, groups allow students to develop friendships, social skills, and a sense of community with people across the school experiencing similar “stressers”.

• Groups will run throughout the school year on a variety of topics.

• Groups will run within or across grade levels.

• Group will run 30-45 minutes in length (target time: lunch)

• Groups will meet for approximately 6-8 weeks.

Topics are selected each year based on student needs and teacher/parent input. Potential group topics include:

• Social Skills: “Friends R Us” or “Harmony”

• Anxiety: “Worry Buster”

• Self Esteem: “Shining Stars” or “G.I.R.L.S”

• Self-Regulation: “Anger Buster” or “ZONES”

• Grief and Loss: “Good Grief”

• Study Skills: “Study Buddies”

Students can access individual short term counseling support through self-referrals, staff referrals, and/or parent or guardian referrals. Individual counseling are intended to help children solve difficult problems, make good choices and do their best which are directly related to school.

Individual counseling at school is not intended to be “therapy” or “clinical counseling”. External resource lists are available for children experiencing grief, divorce, family separation, deployment, or mental health concerns.

If your child is experiencing any type of crisis, please contact the Montgomery County Crisis Center (240-777-4000) and your child's school counselor immediately. This can include but not limited to:

1. Suicidal threat/behavior

2. Homicidal threat

3. Bullying (chronic pattern) [internal/external]

4. Self-injurious behaviors

5. Sexual Abuse or Neglect

We are available to have meetings with teachers, administrators, and/or parents to discuss the needs of students. We are here for all students and want to ensure that your child has a productive and positive school year. Please feel free to contact your child's school counselor to set up a meeting.

At Forest Oak, students are given the opportunity to increase their knowledge and understanding of higher education through college and career exploration activities such as taking interest inventories, matching skills to careers, listening to interactive college and career presentations, touring a college campus and trade school (in-person or virtually), and sharing information about academic offerings and campus life. Student’s can also research college, career, trade, apprenticeship and military services information; allowing them to explore their post-secondary options.

School Wide Programs are aligned with Be Well 365 to ensure that students have the necessary skills to become positive members of the community, manage their emotions, build academic and social resilience, identify and access support for themselves/others, peacefully resolve conflict, and make positive decisions. The following school wide programs are offered at Forest Oak Middle School: