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Counselor Page » Welcome to the Counselors Page

Welcome to the Counselors Page

SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING
 
During the 2022-2023 school year, we will continue with Volume 3 of our scriptures based Social Emotional Learning curriculum, Friendzy! Lessons will be fully implemented on grades 1st through 5th. It will be integrated to our Religion curriculum and virtues program. The School Counselor's lessons are designed to support the spiritual and social emotional learning of our students.  In Saint Theresa Catholic School, social emotional learning (SEL) is an additional way to teach and practice our Catholic faith.
 
"Social and emotional learning (SEL) is the process through which children and adults understand and manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions."
https://casel.org/what-is-sel/
 

Mission Statement:

Saint Theresa Catholic School counseling services are centered on the commitment to assist the students with their academic, social-emotional, spiritual and vocational needs, focusing on the students' specific strengths and abilities. These four domains encompass our view of the whole child. We recognize each student as an individual with unique gifts and talents, and will assist him/her in focusing on developing their potential. Services are available for all students, not just those with identified academic or social-emotional needs.

School Counseling Goal:

The school Counselor’s goal is to support, facilitate and provide the student the necessary tools to achieve his/her full potential and be successful in school. This is possible when parents, school, and students, work together as a team towards the achievement of this goal.                                                                                                          

Intellectual, social-emotional and academic issues are addressed. Academic responsibility is taught, encouraged and reinforced. The school counselor assists the student to become more aware of alternatives to his/her situation, and supports the development f more effective problem solving and decision making skills.

**The Diocese of Arlington Catholic Schools Counselors Handbook stipulates the following:  “At the elementary level, it is advisable to seek parental permission to continue counseling sessions beyond two to three sessions on the same topic.” (page 24)                                  

Parents, if you do not wish your child to meet with the school counselor without your permission, please notify the School Counselor, Elsa I. Figueroa in writing via email.

How can the school counselor help your child?                                             

Individual Counseling:                                                                                                                 

  Sessions will focus on a student's specific social, emotional, or academic needs. Students may request to see the counselor.  Referrals can also come from parents, teachers, administrators and staff.

Classroom Lessons:                                                                                                                                     

  • Classroom Leadership and Social-Emotional Lessons: lessons relevant to the groups’ age and specific needs. Some of the topics are: growth mindset, bullying, friendship/peer relations, character education, conflict resolution, stress management, problem solving, etc.
  • Career:  Classroom lessons for grades K-8 on important skills necessary to be successful in the future. The school holds an annual Career Day early in the spring with the participation of students from 4th through 8th grade.

                                                                                                                                                                               

Small Group Counseling:                                                                                                                               

Groups focused on learning a specific skill or coping with a specific situation. These groups require previous parental consent.

Mediation: The counselor serves as facilitator in the process of conflict resolution within a group of students when their efforts to resolve the conflict independently have not been successful.