PUSD elementary counseling program is preventative in nature, thus we provide different counseling services to meet the needs of all students. All students, staff and parents have access to me throughout the week (M-F).
SMALL GROUP COUNSELING
Students are selected for groups based on need, and referral. While teachers and administration most commonly make referrals for counseling support, parents may refer their students and students may request to work with the school counselor. With positive parent permission, students are placed into small groups (2-5 students). Groups are designed to build skills that a student will need to be successful in the classroom and beyond. Typically groups meet once a week for 30 minutes and run for 8-12 weeks during the school day. Group topics may include:
self-esteem
friendship skills
social skills
grief
family changes
managing emotions
anger management
worry/anxiety
self-control/impulsivity
Please click here to make a request for counseling support.
CLASSROOM GUIDANCE LESSONS:
Throughout the year, all students will have access to counseling curriculum through counseling guidance lessons. A communication will always be sent home to let parents know that the counselor has visited their child's classroom. The communication home will include information about the lesson that was presented, as well as some follow up steps that might be helpful for at home. Teachers may also request additional lessons based on a classroom's specific needs. Some topics may include: Tattling, joking vs. teasing, respecting each other as learners, respecting differences, how to join in and play, character development, and inclusion (anti-bullying).
Students at all grade levels (TK-5) will get a welcome lesson from the counselor during the first few weeks of school and an age appropriate social and emotional development lesson, academic lesson, and a college and career readiness lesson, per the PUSD’s Counseling Master Plan (CMP) throughout the year.