The Counseling Advisory Committee (CAC) meets four times a year to review data in October, December, February, and April/May

Chairperson:  Emily Mennsfield, Counselor

Members: April Kenely, Principal

Kaleigh Malone, Assistant Principal

Amanda Sharpe, Kindergarten Teacher

Katie McGinnis, 1st Grade Teacher

Lauren Tipton, 2nd Grade Teacher, GRE Parent

Samantha Dure, 3rd Grade Teacher

Kristi Cade, 4th Grade Teacher

Sarah Cornell, 5th Grade Teacher

Brenda Jacobs, Physical Education Teacher

Tiffani Garcia, Special Education Teacher, GRE Parent

Saralyn Johnson, Parent Representative, Community Member

Student Representatives:  GRE Student Council Officers and Kindness Ambassadors

At the first meeting of the school year, the CAC reviewed the needs assessment filled out by teachers along with the Campus Improvement Plan (CIP) and Prevention and Wellness Systemic Program (PAWS) plan and worked together to design counseling initiatives for the year. One item discussed was the need for reinforcing concepts taught during our daily social-emotional learning time in class in small group format and even providing an in-home option for parents to be able to support using the same resources and a common language.  Our school was awarded with a grant at the end of the 2021-22 school year to purchase a variety of picture books to use for such an endeavor.  We set up the Garden Ridge Counseling Library in the counseling office closet space and launched it out to staff at one of our first meetings.  Mrs. Mennsfield also sent emails to parents via weekly Skylert highlighting different character traits and emotional regulation strategies with matching read-alouds.  The CAC and school counselor set a goal for the number of books to be checked out from the SEL library and plan to add to the library using campus and district funds in future years.

In addition, the CAC discussed our campus-based kindness initiatives and use of Student Council and Kindness Ambassadors as student leaders in these activities. We also reviewed our campus-wide social emotional learning expectations, curriculum, and kindness weeks to help our Gators excel in the classroom and community.