Cardinal School Counseling Program

The School Counselor’s Role 

School counselors design and deliver school counseling programs that improve student outcomes. They lead, advocate and collaborate to promote equity and access for all students by connecting their school counseling program to the school’s academic mission and school action plan. They uphold the ethical and professional standards of ASCA and promote the development of the school counseling program based on the following areas of the ASCA National Model: define, deliver, manage and assess.

The Essential Role of Elementary School Counselors

SEL Classroom Lessons (taught biweekly or monthly)

Lessons are developmentally appropriate for ALL students in grades K-5. Classroom lessons help promote the Cardinal moto CHIRP (cooperation, honesty, including others, respect, & perseverance).  Cardinal uses the Harmony and Second Step Curricula to teach Virginia counseling standards.

The lessons cover:

• Developing Empathy
• Emotion management
• Communication skills
• Problem solving skills
• Bully prevention schoolwide unit
• Child safety & sexual abuse prevention
• Career exploration
• Mental health awareness
• Transition to middle school (5th grade only)
• Substance abuse prevention (4th & 5th grade only)

Classroom lessons often include books, videos, music, or special projects to engage students.

Individual Counseling Support

Short term, solution focused counseling to help students better understand themselves, have positive interpersonal relationships, and resolve problems that might interfere with learning.  Individual counseling maybe initiated by parents, students, teachers or school counselors and lasts no more than 6-8 sessions.  Parent/guardian permission is required for individual counseling.

Small Group Counseling Support

Students with similar concerns meet and practice skills in communicating, problem solving, and interacting with others.  Common group topics include: friendship, attendance, emotion management, and coping with life changes, such as family sickness, divorce or grief/loss.  Groups typically last 6-8 sessions.  Parent/guardian permission is required for group counseling.

*The Cardinal  School Counseling Program has been recognized as an American School Counselor Association (ASCA)  Model Program 2021  

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