Our guidance curriculum is centered around the four content areas as identified in the Texas Model for comprehensive school counseling programs: interpersonal effectiveness, intrapersonal effectiveness, personal health and safety, and post-secondary education and career readiness.  Each of these is systematically and intentionally planned through monthly guidance lessons during the school year which is one of the program's goals- to meet with each class monthly for a guidance lesson. During the month of October, we focus on personal health and safety and post-secondary education and career readiness by utilizing ChildBuilder's Stand Strong Stay Safe lessons as well as celebrating Red Ribbon Week and Career Day. 

The CharacterStrong curriculum enables us to focus on interpersonal and intrapersonal effectiveness with students. Through the constant use of data (needs assessments, anecdotal notes, parent/teacher conferences) the lessons are designed to meet the specific needs of each class while focusing on our monthly character trait which connects to our district mission to empower students to reach their fullest potential by providing necessary social/emotional skills. In addition to the monthly guidance lesson, students also have a morning meeting created by the counselor which is centered around the monthly character trait. Our character trait for the month of December was Empathy. Below is a sample third grade Empathy lesson. Before the lesson, 27% of students knew the meaning of empathy and 22% were aware of emotional cues of others. At the end of the lesson, 95% students knew the meaning of empathy and 90% were aware of other's emotional cues- highlighted below.

Understanding the definition of empathy:

Being aware of other's emotional cues:

To ensure the needs of all students, staff and the community are being met, there is consistent and constant collaboration with all stakeholders to develop, implement and evaluate the school counseling program for our campus. Providing opportunities to partner with families through our weekly newsletters, family nights, career day, and other activities is key to building and maintaining relationships which we believe is the foundation of success for students. In each of the weekly newsletters, resources and information is shared based on the guidance curriculum and ideas to implement at home to further understanding of the monthly character trait. Through the newsletter, morning announcements, morning meetings and guidance lessons, the monthly character trait is reinforced continually. There is a partnership of all stakeholders who work together to support student success in a safe and positive environment.