GCS Counseling Department

Welcome to the GCS Counseling Department! We are here to support students throughout their K–8 experience. We work with students through classroom lessons, small groups and individual support, while also collaborating with families, teachers and other members of our school community.

Whether your child is navigating friendships, managing big feelings, adjusting to a change, building confidence or simply going through a hard time, we are here to help.

October: Tier 1 Focus

October: Responsibility, Digital Citizenship, and Bullying Prevention

During October, students at GCS will be participating in school counseling lessons connected to responsibility, accountability, and digital citizenship. In kindergarten and first grade, these ideas are supported through Kimochis, and some Kimochis language and concepts are also woven into second grade.

October is also National Bullying Prevention Month, which gives us an opportunity to expand on the important schoolwide work we began in September around belonging, community, and being upstanders.

As part of this month’s Tier 1 support, GCS will also recognize Unity Day on October 21. On Unity Day, students and staff are encouraged to wear orange as a visible way to stand together against bullying and promote kindness, acceptance, and inclusion across our school community.

Throughout the month, students will continue building skills that help them:

make responsible choices
take ownership of their actions
use technology in safe and respectful ways
contribute to a kind and inclusive school community
recognize how to be an upstander when someone needs support

Family Resource

Families looking for more information can visit PACER’s parent bullying resource page, which includes support on understanding bullying, helping your child, working with the school, and mobile and online safety.【turn662004view0†L83-L110】

Parent Resource: PACER – What Parents Should Know About Bullying

The Booklet From Above

Archived September: Start With Hello

Sept 21-Sept 25

Start With Hello Week at GCS

This week, students across GCS are participating in Start With Hello Week, a schoolwide initiative focused on connection, belonging, kindness, and reducing social isolation.

Throughout the week, students are being encouraged to notice others, reach out, include someone new, and help create a school community where everyone feels seen and valued. Each day includes a simple schoolwide challenge connected to these themes.

We will finish the week by filling GCS with positive messages. Our middle school student mentors will partner with younger students to write encouraging and welcoming chalk messages around the school, helping us create a visible reminder that everyone belongs at GCS.

Start With Hello is part of our Tier 1 school counseling and prevention programming, meaning these lessons and activities are designed to support the social and emotional well-being of all students.