School Counseling Office

Comprehensive School Counseling Program

Our Comprehensive School Counseling Program is proactive and preventative in its focus. It assists students in acquiring and using lifelong learning skills. More specifically, the Elementary School Counseling Program employs strategies to enhance academics, encourage self-awareness, foster interpersonal communication skills, and provide career awareness.

The Counseling Program is based on the American School Counselor Association's Behaviors and Mindsets, as well as the Wisconsin Comprehensive School Counseling Model. School Counseling standards integrate academic, career, and personal/social development.

It is delivered through a direct service program consisting of the following components:

School Counseling Curriculum
Individual Planning
Responsive Services
System Support

The program is systematic, equitable, sequential, clearly defined, and accountable.

Classroom Counseling Lessons

In our school counseling classroom lessons, students learn a variety of skills that help promote academic success, social/emotional well-being, and career readiness.

All students in grades JK-4 receive a 30-minute classroom lesson every other week.

Content Topic Themes

Specific lesson topics vary by grade level, but include:

Exploring Feelings and Emotions
Emotion Regulation and Coping Skills
Zones of Regulation
Growth Mindset
Expected/Unexpected Behavior
Personal Safety
Cybersafety (Intermediate Grades)
Friendship/Kindness
Bullying Prevention
Conflict Resolution
Career Readiness
Diversity
Self-Esteem

Individual Counseling

Individual counseling services provide the counselor the opportunity to meet one on one with students who may be experiencing some form of personal/social/emotional or academic difficulty. Individual counseling services are intended to be short-term. If the student is needing further counseling support, the School Counselor will help connect the family with outside mental health or behavioral support.

Small Group Counseling

Small group counseling sessions may be created for students who need extra help or support with skills related to academic success or social/emotional well-being. These sessions are typically scheduled for once a week for approximately 4-6 weeks and are created on an as needed basis. Students may be referred for small group counseling by both teachers and parents. Parents and guardians will always be consulted prior to small group participation.

Character Traits

The Three B's

Be Respectful
Be Responsible
Be Safe

Character Traits are embedded within our universal instruction. Check out our Character Traits by Month with our Themes! Each month, we will have a dress up day to celebrate our theme!

September - Kindness

October - Self-Control

November - Gratitude

December - Empathy

January - Growth Mindset

February - Friendship

March - Leadership

April - Honesty

Mantra: I am truthful. I am fair.

Theme Day: Disney Day on Tuesday, April 26th.

May - Grit

June - Joy

Second Step Program

The Second Step program is used to teach self-discipline and responsibility to students - including positive communication and conflict resolution skills. This program teaches social and emotional skills for violence prevention.

The program is research-based, has a parent-education component, and focuses on the following skills:

Empathy
Impulse Control
Anger Management
Problem Solving

By understanding their emotions and how to respond to them, young students are able to remain focused on academics.

For more information on the Second Step program and to view the family video, please contact your child's teacher or myself. More information regarding the program is available at

Committee for Children

What To Do With a Strong Feeling?

Stop and Think!

How Does My Body Feel?

Calm Down
Take Three Deep Breaths
- Count Slowly
- Think Calming Thoughts (Happy Place)
- Talk to Yourself
  (tell yourself to calm down)
Think How to Solve the Problem (Use the Problem-Solving Steps)
Think About it Later