School Counselors

What Does a School Counselor Do? 

Our School Counseling Program is delivered through Classroom Curriculum, Individual Student Planning, Responsive Services and System Support. We provide structured Social Emotional Learning (SEL) lessons for all students in classrooms K-2 40 minutes every week. This year, we started using a new curriculum called Second Step. Our goal is to teach knowledge and skills to support our students with developing the necessary skills to be able to handle day to day social and academic challenges while also forming positive relationships with others and a positive view of self. We also work with students in small groups, often over lunch, to review the skills that we teach in the classrooms. We support students individually as well, offering student check-ins, participation in Child Study Meetings and overseeing 504 Accommodation Plans. We believe that children do well if they can, learn best when they feel good about self and their relationships with others and are capable of making responsible choices.

October

October was National Bullying Prevention Month, and our school counseling team has been leading activities focused on creating a safe and inclusive school community where every student feels seen, heard, and respected.

The Second Step program is an integral part of our comprehensive approach to bullying prevention. It teaches students vital social-emotional skills, including empathy, problem-solving and emotion management.

During our October lessons, students have been learning:

• What bullying is and isn’t — understanding the difference between conflict, mean behavior, and bullying.
• How to be an Upstander — practicing how to safely speak up, support peers, and report bullying to trusted adults.
• Building Empathy — through stories, discussions, and role-playing, students explore how others feel and why kindness matters

Respond assertively and seek help instead of reacting aggressively toward others.

You can support our bullying prevention work at home by:

• Talking about kindness and respect — ask your child how they can help others feel included.
• Encouraging open communication — remind them they can always come to you or a trusted adult if they see or experience bullying.
• Modeling empathy — show how to listen, share, and stand up for others in daily life.
• Together, we can empower our students to make our school a place where everyone belongs.

Additionally, the counseling team will begin our small group work with students. Group work is designed to continue to build on the student's social-emotional strengths by providing a space where students may practice skills such as self-management, responsible decision-making, and optimistic thinking with their peers.

Be on the lookout for Second Step Homelink opportunities which will be coming home with your child(ren). The Home Links provide an opportunity for parents and guardians to reinforce key topics, skills, and activities to encourage continued learning. Please reach out if you have any questions or concerns about bullying prevention or the Second Step program.

September

Ms. Smith and Mrs. Williams, our School Counselors, have been busy teaching Social Emotional Learning (SEL) every week in all K-2 classrooms using the Second Step curriculum. "Skills for Learning", the first unit, will assist your child in gaining skills to help themselves learn, including how to focus their attention, listen carefully, use self-talk to stay on task, and be assertive when they may need help with their schoolwork. Throughout the year, your child will be bringing home Home Links, simple and fun activities for you and your child to complete together. They are a great way for your child to show you what he or she is learning! When you see a Home Link, we encourage you to complete it with your child and have them return it to their classroom teacher.

Whether it's the first days of September or the end of the school year, the stressful challenge of getting your kids out the door on time is a universal challenge! Read on to learn some of morning routine hacks to set the stage for better mornings.

9 Morning Routines to Help Getting to School on Time

Five Keys to Successful Social and Emotional Learning

Nurturing Kindness in Young Children

What is Morning Meeting?

Our mission is to prepare all students to be "Future Ready," by encouraging them to acquire the knowledge, skills, and experiences needed to succeed academically, professionally, and as productive citizens in our community and society.  Nantucket school counselors are committed to delivering a developmentally comprehensive school counseling program to all students. We strive to serve as advocates for students, allies with teachers, and liaisons with parents and community.