School Counselor | Noun | /sk-ul/ . /c-oun-se-llor/:
A school leader that provide support for all students, helping students achieve academic success, gain career awareness, & aid social/emotional development so that they can become productive, well-regulated adolescents/future adults.

School Counseling Mission Statement:
The mission of the CGS comprehensive school counseling program is to serve all students via data-driven classroom counseling, individual counseling, & small-group counseling to equip them to become leaders in & outside of their classrooms. The comprehensive school counseling program provides evidence-based practices that cultivate academic, college/career, & social/emotional knowledge for ALL students.

School Counseling Vision:
By actively participating in the comprehensive school counseling program services, students will become well-regulated, kind, & hard-working leaders who serve their school, local, & global communities. All students are empowered with knowledge & skills to be leaders of their own academic & college/career choices/planning; & will develop/utilize compassion for self & empathy for others that yield emotional self-regulation & meaningful interactions with others.

School Counseling Beliefs:

• The professional school counselor is an advocate for EVERY student in the building.

• The professional school counselor adheres to the American School Counselor Association's (ASCA) code of ethics.

• The professional school counselor implements classroom & small-group counseling via a data-driven approach, ensuring that what is taught/modeled is relevant & evidence-based.

• All students are unique leaders.

• All students have the potential to succeed with the appropriate educational supports.

• Students should be provided a safe learning environment in which they can develop their best selves.

• Educational instruction should be student-centered, kind, & enthusiastic.

• Education is an ongoing, collaborative process that should include all stakeholders (i.e., educators, parents/guardians, community members, & fellow life-long learners).

Hello, Wildcat Family!

I am asking for your input into the holistic needs of your CGS student(s) as I begin brainstorming the elementary school counseling program curriculum for the 2022-2023 school year. In an attempt to make sure that classroom lessons & small-groups are relevant, I am in constant collaboration with teachers & your student(s) to plan lessons/activities that adequately address the academic, social/emotional, & post-secondary awareness/exploration needs of each grade level. For the upcoming school year, I'd like to add another layer of data to drive the classroom lesson/small-group foci by gathering your responses to the questions below. I anticipate that this survey should take you 10 minutes or less to complete per student. If you have more than one elementary student at CGS, please submit a separate response for each student.

Once the survey closes on May 1st, 2022, I will soon after share a snapshot of results with the CGS community alongside a school counseling action plan for the 2022-2023 school year. Thank you for your support as I strive to support the holistic development of the students within my circle of influence!

https://forms.gle/isrUbpsnZiV6yNXK9

The elementary years are a time when students begin to develop their self-concept and confidence based on academic, social, and emotional experiences. They are beginning to develop decision-making, communication, and life skills, as well as character values. It is also a time when students develop and acquire attitudes toward school, self, peers, social groups, and family. Elementary school counselors are educators uniquely trained in child development, learning strategies, self-management and social skills, who understand and promote success for today’s diverse students. School counselors implement a comprehensive* school counseling program according to the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) to support students through this important developmental period. The proactive counseling program teaches the knowledge, attitudes, and skills students need to gain in academic, career, and social/emotional development, which serves as the foundation for future success. School counselors collaborate with administrators, community members, family members, and teachers to promote the holistic well-being of each child. By providing education, prevention, and early identification/intervention of potential barriers to academic and emotional growth, elementary school counselors help their students achieve academic success, develop an awareness of career opportunities, and develop social/emotional skills in response to issues they face.

Middle school students are characterized by rapid physical growth, curiosity about their world and an emerging self-identity. Middle school counselors have an impact on these years by implementing a school counseling program and collaborating with school staff, parents and the community to create a safe, respectful learning environment whereby young adolescents can maximize personal and academic achievement, while also starting to explore & plan career aspirations. Middle school counselors enhance the learning process and promote academic, career and social/emotional development through classroom lessons, small-groups (for both social/emotional and academic needs), career development activities, and academic advisement. School counseling services are essential for students to achieve optimal personal growth, acquire positive social skills and values, set informed career goals and realize full academic potential to become productive, contributing members of their community.

*Comprehensive:

School counselors define and focus the comprehensive school counseling program based on the school's academic, attendance, and behavioral data. Identifying student needs through this data and consulting with administrators directs the program development. The end result of of this work is reflected in improvement in academic, attendance, and behavioral outcomes related to academic development, college and career readiness, and social/emotional development.

(This description is adopted from the American School Counselor Association [ASCA], revised 2017.)

Services Provided:

• Classroom/whole-group counseling (Lessons are based on academic, career, and social/emotional needs of elementary & middle school students).

• Small-group counseling (These groups vary in topic [i.e., study skills, anxiety, divorce, self-esteem, friendship, etc.] and occur periodically throughout the school year based on students' needs.).

• Individual counseling (Offered for all students, at any time, and can start from teacher, student, or parent/guardian referrals).

• Parent/guardian consultation and referrals to community resources.

• 504 Accommodation plans in accordance with section-504 of the American's with Disabilities Act (contact Mrs. Grigg to discuss).