K-4 Counseling 

Regular social-emotional learning for every student

Tier 1: Support for Everyone
Classroom counseling and schoolwide prevention programming form the foundation of my K–4 counseling program and provide social-emotional learning and skill-building opportunities for every student.

Classroom counseling is an important part of my K–4 counseling program. Throughout the school year, students participate in regular social-emotional learning lessons as part of their school experience. 

Lessons are designed to grow with students throughout the elementary years. In the younger grades, we build foundational skills such as identifying and communicating feelings, friendship skills, problem-solving and managing big emotions. As students grow, we build on those foundations with topics such as coping skills, confidence, communication, relationships, conflict resolution, decision-making and growing independence.

Classroom counseling is preventative and developmental. My goal is not to wait until students are struggling, but to give every student opportunities to learn and practice skills that support their relationships, emotional well-being and success at school.

Opportunities to practice skills in a smaller setting

Small groups give students an opportunity to learn and practice social-emotional skills in a smaller setting with their school counselor and a few peers.

Groups are typically short-term and skill-based. Topics may include friendship skills, confidence, coping strategies, emotional regulation, problem-solving, communication or other areas based on the needs of students at a particular grade level.

One of the benefits of small groups is that students get to practice alongside other kids. They have opportunities to talk, problem-solve, learn from one another and discover that many of the things they are working on are things other kids are learning too.

Small groups are one part of our layered approach to supporting students at GCS. They may be offered when students would benefit from some additional practice beyond classroom counseling, but do not necessarily need individualized support.

Families may be contacted when their child is being considered for or participating in a small group, particularly when additional information or collaboration would be helpful.

Additional support based on individual student needs

Students sometimes need a little more individual support during the school day. This might be a brief check-in after a difficult morning, help working through a friendship problem, support during a family change, or a place to practice strategies for managing feelings, worries or other challenges that may be affecting them at school.

For some students, individual support may be more structured. As part of our MTSS-B system, students who need additional support may work regularly with their school counselor on specific goals. When appropriate, counselors may monitor progress over time and collaborate with families, teachers and other members of the school team to make thoughtful decisions about a student's ongoing support needs.

Individual school counseling is generally short-term and focused on helping students be successful within the school setting. It is not a replacement for ongoing therapy or clinical mental health treatment.

When a student needs support beyond what can appropriately be provided at school, school counselors can work with families and collaborate with outside therapists or other providers to help create continuity between home, school and community supports.

Programs and activities that help create a safe, connected school community

School counseling at GCS extends beyond classroom lessons, small groups and individual support. Throughout the year, counselors help coordinate and participate in schoolwide prevention and community-building activities designed to strengthen connection, belonging, safety and kindness across our school.

Examples of our schoolwide programming include:

HELLO Week
Early in the school year, students participate in activities focused on connection, inclusion and helping every student feel that they belong at GCS.

Bullying Prevention & Unity Day
Students learn about bullying prevention, digital safety, inclusion, kindness and the role each of us plays in creating a safe and welcoming school community.

Kindness Week
Each February, our school community takes time to intentionally celebrate and practice kindness, connection and caring for others.

HAVEN Prevention Education
GCS partners with HAVEN to provide annual, developmentally appropriate K–8 prevention education focused on personal safety and healthy relationships 

Our prevention and social-emotional learning themes are also reinforced throughout the school environment. The counseling bulletin board changes throughout the year to connect with what students are learning and, at times, gives students an interactive way to participate in the message or theme.

Counselors also collaborate with teachers and other members of the school community on additional lessons, activities and prevention efforts throughout the year based on the developmental needs of our students.

Our goal is to create a school community where students feel connected, know how to ask for help and understand that taking care of ourselves and one another is something we practice all year long.