Elementary School Counseling
Elementary School Counseling
I am in my fifth year as the elementary school counselor in Milbank and my 21st year overall as a school counselor. I had the opportunity to be a school counselor in Hawarden, Iowa and Sioux Falls before moving back to the area in 2020.
I grew up on a farm outside of Corona and graduated from Wilmot High School. I earned my Bachelor's of Science in Psychology and Master's of Science in Counseling and Student Affairs from Minnesota State University Moorhead. I am a professionally certified counselor and was honored with the School Counselor of the Year in South Dakota in 2016. I have two sons who attend school in Milbank. We love being back in a small town and being part of a family-focused community.
A.C.E.S. Class
Individual Counseling
Formally called "Guidance," A.C.E.S. is a class for ALL students pre-school through 5th grade that focuses on the five Social and Emotional Learning Competences: Self-Awareness, Self-Management, Social Awareness, Developing Healthy Relationships, and Positive Decision-Making. The key learning objectives in ACES reinforce the attitude, behavior, and learning skills needed to be successful academically and beyond the classroom as a successful, productive citizen of the world.
The A.C.E.S. class utilizes a lot of discussions about how our brain works and strategies we can use to improve our learning and our behavior.
A.C.E.S. is located in the shared space of the library and is taught to each classroom once a week.
Learning objectives* for each grade level can be located under the grade level tabs or clicking the link below.
*The objectives listed are the basic outline for the year. Objectives are added as needed for each class.
The counselor is available on a limited bases to provide professional counseling sessions during the school day to individual students who are experiencing challenges that interfere with their ability to focus on getting their best education.
Counseling sessions are confidential between the student and the school counselor, however, with the student’s permission every effort will be made to include and/or inform the family and appropriate school staff when disclosure would support the student’s social and/or emotional growth. Students may self-refer, be referred by a staff member, or be referred by a family member. Because students can self-refer or drop-in for support, advanced family permission will not be possible in these situations. This type of support is part of the overall educational support offered to ALL students. When students, staff, or families are requesting on-going multiple sessions to focus on a specific challenge, communication will be made with the family by the school counselor.
If you believe your child would benefit from some individual sessions with the school counselor, please contact Ms. Hendricks or Mr. Graf to discuss.