Our Elementary Counseling Program is a three-tiered approach to social-emotional learning.
The Elementary Counseling program helps students develop the five social emotional competencies: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills and responsible decision-making. It responds to the needs that are developmentally characteristic of our students as well as to the needs that arise from life circumstances. The program responds to needs identified by teachers, parents and students.
Through bimonthly storybook-based mini lessons, students in 1st through 4th grade have the opportunity to learn developmentally appropriate social-emotional skills such as making and keeping friends, developing empathy and compassion, self-regulation, among others. These lessons address American School Counselor Association Standards for Students and follow CASEL guidelines on Social Emotional Competencies
Some students participate in focused groups such as new student groups, Girls in Real Life Situations groups and others as needed. Students also have the opportunity to participate in peer mediation meetings, where students communicate with each other about a problem and reach agreements that are part of the solution to the problem.
Through individual meetings, students establish personal goals and learn problem-solving skills to manage day to day interactions that might be temporarily interfering with their learning.
The counseling program recognizes that the partnership between, school, parents and student is vital to student success. Escuela Para Padres meetings throughout the year provide tools for parents on how to support their children.