PRIMARY SCHOOL

WHY SCHOOLS NEED A COUNSELING PROGRAM

You may be wondering why schools implement a comprehensive school counseling program. A comprehensive school counseling program is a holistic educational plan that is designed to provide ALL students with more effective resources and services to achieve success within their academic, career, and social/emotional domains. Additionally, a comprehensive program provides a systematic, collaborative, developmental, and preventative approach that is integrated into the school’s mission and philosophy. 

FOR STUDENTS

• Children learn best when they feel good about themselves and their relationships with others
• Children who understand their feelings are better able to control their behavior
• We know that stress can affect focus and learning, but its impact can be reduced with proven self-regulation strategies
• Schools, parents, and communities that communicate and collaborate provide the most effective support to children
• Attitudes formed during elementary school shape future attitudes towards learning, self, and society
   

FOR PARENTS AND GUARDIANS

• Encourages input from parents and guardians through advisory groups and surveys
• Provides support regarding children’s’ academic and social/emotional development
• Presents parents and guardians with information about offered resources
   

FOR TEACHERS

• Contributes to a group effort to improve students’ performance 
• Encourages teacher input and ideas
• Includes related curriculum ideas for classroom guidance activities
   

OUR PROGRAM

The school counseling program at the Primary is based on the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) Model and our district standards. It includes a variety of services for ALL students and is designed to assist with interests and issues related to the stages of student growth in the areas of academic, career, personal, and social/emotional development.

The following services are offered as a part of our Primary School counseling program:
 

• Classroom lessons on topics such as emotions, coping skills, friendship, conflict resolution, communication skills, diversity, teamwork, mindset, and career awareness
• ​Individual counseling with students on a short-term basis to meet social, emotional, or behavioral goals  
• ​Small group counseling with parent permission, for students dealing with divorce, grief, friendship, coping skills, anger management, etc

ESSENTIAL LEARNING OUTCOMES

Academic Development Grades K-1

• Students will apply skills needed for educational achievement.
  • Identify and follow classroom and school routines
  • Identify and practice the steps for completing classroom assignments and activities.
  • Identify, develop, and practice work habits necessary for school success.
• Students will apply the skills of transitioning between educational levels.
  • Identify increased school expectations, and how they are different from home, day-care, or pre-school.
• Students will develop and monitor personal plans of study.
  • Identify and demonstrate the skills needed to be a successful learner.

Career Development Grades K-1

• Students will apply career exploration and planning skills in the achievement of life career goals.
  • Identify likes and dislikes at home and school.
  • Identify strengths and interests at home and school.
  • Identify workers in the school and local community related to the six career paths.
  • Recognize and explain the importance of work and jobs in the family and school.
• Students will know where and how to obtain information about the world of work and post-secondary training/education.
• Identify roles and responsibilities of family members in the world of work.
  • Identify and compare roles and responsibilities of workers within the school.
• Students will apply skills for career readiness and success.
  • Identify personal and ethical skills needed to work cooperatively with others in a group at school.
  • Identify and develop personal, ethical, and work habit skills needed for school success
  • Identify helper jobs that are available in the classroom, and understand how helper jobs are assigned in the classroom.

Social/Emotional Development Grades K-1

• Students will develop an understanding of self as an individual and as a member.
  • Identify a variety of feelings.
  • Identify personal roles in the family and in the school.
  • Recognize personal character traits and Identify character traits needed for different situations.
• Students will practice interacting with others in ways that respect individual and group differences.
  • Demonstrate how to be a friend.
  • Identify similarities and differences between self and others, and among students within the school community.
  • Identify feelings of others and express feelings effectively, both verbally and non-verbally.
• Students will explore and practice personal safety skills and coping strategies for managing life changes or events.
  • Identify safe and healthy choices at home and school, and identify steps of problem solving and decision making for personal safety.
  • Identify safe/unsafe situations.
  • Identify personal safety strategies.
  • Identify different life changes or events, and recognize the effects of life changes or events related to self.