School Counseling at Highland School

Dear Parents,

Elementary school counseling at Highland uses a proactive approach, designed to reach all students and to prepare them for learning. Our aim is to promote academic achievement through the development of self-confidence, self-control, communication, and problem solving skills. We achieve this goal through teaching classroom lessons, facilitating group and individual counseling services, organizing special programs, and consulting and collaborating with teachers, parents, administrators, and outside service providers.

We look forward to supporting every student at Highland School as we work together to provide an environment where each child can thrive academically, socially, and personally, and achieve to his or her full potential.

 

Our Role…

Parent Collaboration

The counselors collaborate with parents and are available for:

• Informal conferences

• Parent/Teacher/Counselor conferences

• Parent education programs

Group Counseling

Small group counseling allows children with similar experiences an opportunity to come together to tackle common challenges. Through this group interaction, children are helped to develop positive coping skills, enabling them to achieve both in and outside of school.

Group topics include:

• New students to Highland school

• Friendships/Social skills

• Family Changes

• Grief and loss

• Study skills

• Problem solving/Conflict resolution

Individual Counseling

The counselors meet with individual students as needed. Referrals may be initiated by teachers, parents, administration, or students.

Topics include but are not limited to:

• Friendships

• Family transitions

• Time management/Organization

• Homework/Study skills

• Anger/Stress management

• Building self-esteem

• Problem solving/Conflict resolution

Developmental School Counseling Curriculum

The school counselors visit each classroom a minimum of three times per year to deliver lessons. These lessons teach children the skills they need in order to be successful in school and in life. The lessons also provide an opportunity for each student to get to know their counselor.

This instruction, which is skill-based and developmentally appropriate, covers the following areas:

Grade	Lesson 1	Lesson 2	Lesson 3
K	Identifying and Expressing Feelings	Anger and Stress Management	Friendship Skills          Empathy
1	Appreciating Differences	Empathy; Responding to Others' Feelings	Handling Bullying Behaviors
2	Handling Bullying Behaviors	Problem Solving	Self Confidence Peer Pressure
3	Anger and Stress Management	Growth Mindset	Empathy; Perspective Taking
4	Respect; Kindness	Cooperation	Empathy
5	Handling Bullying	Study Skills	Decision Making
6	Handling Bullying	Goal Setting / Naviance	Career Exploration

 

Individual Planning

The counselors provide ongoing activities and services to help all students in developing, monitoring, and evaluating their own academic, personal, and career goals. Our 6th graders will be introduced to a software tool called Naviance. They will begin the creation of an online personal portfolio that will remain with them through high school.

School counselors teach students at all grade levels to:

• RESPECT themselves, others and property.

• DEMONSTRATE effective communication and conflict resolution skills

• APPLY responsible decision-making in their daily lives

• SET REALISTIC GOALS for their future and to then attain them

• LEARN SKILLS necessary for academic and personal success

• UNDERSTAND how academics lead to life success

• LEARN about the relationship between school and work

Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us with any questions or concerns that you may have about your child(ren).

 

Sincerely,

Kathleen Scully, School Counselor

Mike Asal, School Counselor

Jennifer Calvo, School Psychologist

 

Highland Elementary School

490 Highland Avenue

Cheshire, CT. 06410

203.272.0335