WHITE OAKS ELEMENTARY

SCHOOL COUNSELING PROGRAM

Mission

The mission of the White Oaks elementary counseling department is to provide proactive, developmentally appropriate programs which foster academic growth, career exploration and social-emotional learning. Through leadership, advocacy and collaboration with other staff members, parents, and community partners, we work to promote equity, compassion, and an inclusive school environment.

Vision

The comprehensive school counseling program at White Oaks Elementary School will help students to develop the 21^st century skills included in the FCPS Portrait of a Graduate: Communicator, Collaborator, Ethical/Global Citizen, Creative/Critical Thinker, Goal-Directed/Resilient.

The foundation of the school counseling program is made up of the 4 Cs:

• Counseling (Individual and group)

• Coordination

• Consultation

• Classroom Lessons

School counselors help students to become mindful learners, develop decision-making and problem-solving skills, encourage pro-social interactions, foster resilience, and practice self-regulation skills and empathy.

School counselors help parents communicate with teachers to advocate for their child. They can provide parents information about developmental stages and needs, inform parents of school services and community agencies.

We work together with school staff to ensure that students develop Social Emotional Learning Competencies. These include :

Self-awareness: The ability to accurately recognize one’s emotions and thoughts and their influence on behavior. This includes accurately assessing one’s strengths and limitations and possessing a well-grounded sense of confidence and optimism.

Self-management: The ability to regulate one’s emotions, thoughts, and behaviors effectively in different situations. This includes managing stress, controlling impulses, motivating oneself, and setting and working toward achieving personal and academic goals.

Social awareness: The ability to take the perspective of and empathize with others from diverse backgrounds and cultures, to understand social and ethical norms for behavior, and to recognize family, school, and community resources and supports.

Relationship skills: The ability to establish and maintain healthy and rewarding relationships with diverse individuals and groups. This includes communicating clearly, listening actively, cooperating, resisting inappropriate social pressure, negotiating conflict constructively, and seeking and offering help when needed.

Responsible decision-making: The ability to make constructive and respectful choices about personal behavior and social interactions based on consideration of ethical standards, safety concerns, social norms, the realistic evaluation of consequences of various actions, and the well-being of self and others