Guidance

Elementary School Counseling Program

Your Elementary School Counselor is

Mrs. Marie Wurtz

What is an Elementary School Counselor?

The School Counselor promotes career awareness, personal and social/emotional support, and enhances academic skills that are necessary to be successful. The School Counselor emphasizes self-understanding, responsible decision-making, coping strategies, and career development.

A School Counselor is a certified professional:

All School Counselors in New York are certified professionals who must have a master's degree and meet other certification requirements defined by the state.

Services provided by your school counselor:

Individual Counseling

Group Counseling

Classroom Programming

Parent and Teacher Consultation

Referrals to community agencies, as needed

Programs, Lessons and Groups offered to students

Second-Step Program

Personal Safety Unit

Kelso's Choices for Conflict Management

Banana Splits Groups

(A group for kids from "split" families of any kind, grades 1-5)

Lunch Bunch Groups

Second-Step Bullying Prevention Unit

Social Skills Groups

Career Portfolio Unit

*Other lessons and groups are scheduled throughout the year based on student needs

Program Overview

A comprehensive developmental school counseling program provides opportunities and experiences that address three central student-development areas: learning to live (social/emotional), learning to learn (academic), and learning to work (career). It includes activities designed to address the needs of all students by helping them acquire competencies in the knowledge of self and others, in identifying their educational goals, and in their own career development. The program is implemented in each school by New York State certified school counselors with the support of the teachers, administrators, students, and parents.

Program Goals

Academic Achievement Goals:

Students will acquire the attitudes, knowledge and skills that contribute to effective learning in school and across the life span.
Students will complete school with academic preparation essential to choose from a wide variety of substantial post-secondary options, including college.
Students will understand the relationship of academics to the world or work and to life at home and in the community.

Career Development Goals:

Students will acquire the skills to investigate the world of work in relation to knowledge of self and to make informed career decisions.
Students will employ strategies to achieve future career goals with success and satisfaction.
Students will understand the relationship between personal qualities, education, training and the world or work.

Personal/Social Development Goals:

Students will acquire the knowledge, attitudes and interpersonal skills to help them understand and respect self and others.
Students will make decisions, set goals and take necessary action to achieve goals.
Students will understand safety and survival skills.