ES Counseling Program

The Elementary School (ES) counselor interacts with students and shares information in various ways:

Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Curriculum: Consists of structured lessons designed to help students attain the desired competencies and to provide all students with the knowledge, attitudes, and skills appropriate for their development level. The (SEL) curriculum is infused throughout the school's overall curriculum and is systematically presented by the ES school counselor in collaboration with other professional educators in KG-G5 classroom activities. In the ES, Second Step Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Program is used.

Personal Safety Program: Focuses on Safe & Unsafe Touch. Lessons are taught to alternate grades, starting in KG by the school nurse and ES counselor. The curriculum will teach students about safe, unsafe and unwanted touches. During classroom lessons, the children will learn more about The Touching Rule, private body parts and the three Safety Rules.

Responsive Services: Designed to meet students' immediate needs and concerns, responsive services may include counseling in individual or small-group settings or crisis response. The ES counselor may meet with students individually and/or in small groups throughout the school year to address issues and provide skill-building opportunities. Topics may include: social-skills, grief and loss, friendship issues, conflict resolution, and transition. The ES counselor can provide individual short term counseling as needed and determine whether further counseling/therapy, to be conducted outside of school, is necessary. In most cases, the ES counselor will partner with parents to gain their support and work as a team.

Transition Programs: In order to facilitate smooth transitions as students move from one school to another, activities and programs are held for students moving from Elementary School to Middle School.

Indirect Student Services: The ES counselor serves as a link between school and community resources by providing appropriate referrals based on student needs. These indirect services are provided on behalf of students as a result of the ES counselor's interactions with others including referrals for additional assistance, consultation and collaboration with parents, teachers, other educators and community organizations.