School Counseling

School Counseling is a process of helping individuals by assisting them in making decisions and changing behavior.  School Counselors work with all students, school staff, families and members of the community as an integral part of the education program.  School counseling programs promote school success through a focus on academic achievement, prevention and intervention activities, advocacy and social/emotional and career development.

SECOND STEP PROGRAM

Dear Family,
 
We want your child to be as successful as possible at school. Success in school is not just about reading and math. It is also about knowing how to learn and how to get along with others. We will be using the Second Step program in K-4th grade classrooms to teach these critical skills.
 
The Second Step program teaches skills in the following four areas:
1. Skills for Learning: Students gain skills to help themselves learn, including how
    to focus their attention, listen carefully, use self-talk to stay on task, and be
    assertive when asking for help with schoolwork.
2. Empathy: Students learn to identify and understand their own and others’
    feelings. Students also learn how to take another’s perspective and how to
    show compassion.
3. Emotion Management: Students learn specific skills for calming down when
    experiencing strong feelings, such as anxiety or anger.
4. Problem Solving: Students learn a process for solving problems with others in a
    positive way.
5. Bullying Prevention: Students will develop specific skills for preventing and dealing with bullying situations.
 
Your child will be learning a lot this year—and he or she will need your help! Throughout the year, your child will be bringing home Home Links that go with several of the Second Step lessons. Home Links are simple, fun activities for you and your child to complete together. They are a great way for you to understand what your child is learning and for your child to show you what he or she knows.
 
If you have any questions about the Second Step program, please do not hesitate to contact Kelly Morehouse at 593-5510 Ext. 1140 for more information. Thank you for supporting your child in learning the skills that lead to success in school and in life.

Make sure to join www.secondstep.org with the following activation keys to watch videos about the Second Step program and get information about what your student is learning.

Social Emotional Program                                                  Bullying Program
K - SSPK FAMI LY70                                                           K - BPUK FAMI LY00
1st - SSP1 FAMI LY71                                                         1st - BPU1 FAMI LY010
2nd - SSP2 FAMI LY72                                                        2nd - BPU2 FAMI LY02
3rd - SSP3 FAMI LY73                                                         3rd - BPU3 FAMI LY03
4th - SSP4 FAMI LY74                                                         4th - BPU4 FAMI LY04

Second Step Website

Why Try is a social-emotional curriculum for middle and high school students.  It provides simple, hands-on strategies and resources to help motivate the unmotivated student, support students with trauma, improve engagement, and increase academic success.  Why try builds competencies that are key to teaching resilience to all students, such as; improving decision making, dealing with peer pressure, impulse control, obeying laws and rules, valuing hard work, plugging in to support systems, and having a future vision.  

Sample Lesson - The Reality Ride

Sample Lesson - The Motivation Formula