Elementary Counseling - Randolph Township School District

According to the American School Counselor Association, the elementary school years set the foundation for developing the knowledge, attitudes and skills necessary for children to become healthy, competent and confident learners. Elementary 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 and respectful learning environment. By providing education, prevention, early identification and intervention, elementary school counselors help their students achieve academic success and develop social/emotional skills in response to issues they face.

Elementary school counselors hold a master’s degree and required state certification in school counseling. Maintaining certification includes ongoing professional development to stay current with education reform and challenges facing today’s students. Professional association membership enhances the school counselor’s knowledge and effectiveness. In Randolph, our elementary counselors promote an environment of personal inquiry and growth, social responsibility and academic success. Our counselors partner with school administrators, teachers and parents/guardians to promote healthy student development in a safe and nurturing learning environment. Counseling lessons are designed to allow all students to explore their interests, embrace their individuality and enhance their knowledge of themselves.

Randolph has two elementary counselors working within our four elementary schools which are led by a K-12 Supervisor of School Counseling.

Our Elementary Counseling Team

Colleen Huguenin

K-12 Supervisor

Email

Megan Sciara

Center Grove & Ironia

973-361-7835 ext. 1211

973-584-8588 ext. 3211

Email

Debra Hessels

Fernbrook & Shongum

973-361-0660 ext. 2229

973-895-2322 ext. 4211

Email

American School Counselor Association Standards

Our elementary counselors follow the "ASCA National Model" for the creation and implementation of our school counseling program. Research shows the implementation of a school counseling program, as outlined by “The ASCA National Model: A Framework for School Counseling Programs,” has a positive impact on student achievement. The development and implementation of these programs requires leadership from our well-trained, highly competent elementary school counselors and includes a collaborative effort with school administrators, classroom teachers, school staff and community stakeholders.

About The ASCA National Model

The ASCA National Model guides school counselors in the development of school counseling programs that:

are based on data-informed decision making
are delivered to all students systematically
include a developmentally appropriate curriculum focused on the mindsets and behaviors all students need for post-secondary readiness and success
close achievement and opportunity gaps
result in improved student achievement, attendance and discipline

Effectiveness of the National Asca Model

Elementary Student Developmental Needs

The elementary years are a time when students begin to develop their academic self-concept and feelings of competence and confidence as learners. 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.

Developing an Elementary Counseling Program

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. They implement a school counseling program to support students through this important developmental period. The program provides education, prevention and intervention activities, which are integrated into all aspects of children’s lives. The program teaches knowledge, attitudes and skills students need to acquire in academic, career and social/emotional development, which serve as the foundation for future success.

Elementary school counselors do not work in isolation; rather they are integral to the total educational program. They provide a proactive program that engages students and includes leader- ship, advocacy and collaboration with school staff, administration and community/family members in the delivery of programs and activities to help students achieve success. Elementary school counselors also collaborate with teachers and parents on early identification and intervention of children’s academic and social/emotional needs, which is essential in removing barriers to learning and developing skills and behaviors critical for academic achievement.

The work of elementary school counselors aligns with the school’s mission to support all students’ academic achievement as they prepare for the ever changing world of the 21st century. This alignment is accomplished through the design, development, implementation and evaluation of a school counseling program. The tools guiding this work are the ASCA Mindsets & Behaviors for Student Success, which address students’ academic, career and social/emotional development, and the ASCA National Model, with its data-informed, results based focus. Research demonstrating the effectiveness of school counseling programs continues to grow, and there is evidence of the positive impact these programs have on academic and social/emotional development.

Implementing an Elementary Counseling Program

Elementary school counselors define and focus the school counseling program based on the school’s academic, attendance and discipline data. Identifying student needs through this data and consulting with administrators directs the program development. Elementary school counselors balance their program by addressing students’ academic, career and social/emotional development in addition to balancing the delivery methods, recognizing that students learn in multiple ways. The end result of this work is reflected in improvement in academic, attendance and discipline out- comes related to academic development, college and career readiness and social/ emotional development.

The ASCA National Model provides a flexible framework elementary school counselors use to develop a school counseling program designed to meet their students’ unique needs. The delivery of this program includes:

Direct Student Services

Instruction – teaching the school counseling curriculum to students focused through the lens of selected student standards from the ASCA Mindsets & Behaviors for Student Success.

Appraisal and Advisement – assessing student abilities, interests and achievement to help them make decisions about their future.

Counseling – providing professional assistance and support to a student or small group of students during times of transition, heightened stress, critical change or other situations impeding student success. School counselors do not provide therapy or long-term counseling in schools. However, school counselors are prepared to recognize and respond to student mental health needs and assist students and families seeking resources.

Indirect Student Services

Consultation – share strategies supporting student achievement with parents, teachers, other educators and community organizations.

Collaboration – work with other educators, parents and the community to support student achievement.

Referrals – support for students and families to school or community resources for additional assistance and information.

Counseling

Individual

Small Group

School Counselors work with students in small groups. Groups are established by the counseling team based on student need and input is accepted from teachers, support staff and administration. Often the group process is a very effective way to support students needing assistance with topics such as:

Changing families
Social skills
Conflict mediation
Conflict resolution
Self-Awareness

Groups are typically run with no more than five or six students and last for six to eight weeks. All groups are discussed with building level administration and monitored by the K-12 Supervisor of School Counseling. Written parental permission is required for children to participate in a small group and summary records are reviewed annually to enhance group opportunities in the future for all students.

Classroom Lessons

School Counselors teach classroom lessons monthly with all classes in grades K-5. While some lessons are proactive in nature, some are responsive and address topics of more immediate need. Elementary school counselors will lead students in lessons such as:

Feelings - Identification of feelings and how to appropriately express them
Coping Skills - How to cope with feelings
Conflict Resolution - Resolving conflicts with peers
Growth Mindset - Growth Mindset vs. Fixed Mindset
Acceptance - Understanding and accepting personal differences
Kindness - How to be kind and how it feels to be kind
Self-Control - What we can control and what we cannot control
Friendship - How to make and keep friends
Personal Space – Identifying and respecting everyone’s personal space
Empathy – What it is, why it’s important and how to show empathy
Peer Pressure – What it is and how to deal with it appropriately
Gratitude – Having an attitude of gratitude

Academics

K - 2 Curriculum

3 - 5 Curriculum

Elementary Education

Mental Health & School Counseling

The school counselor’s role in student mental health development is to recognize and respond to the need for mental health intervention and to provide services that promote access to wellness for all students. School counselors are prepared to help families maximize student success in school. Through the school counseling curriculum, our counselors offer prevention and short-term crisis intervention until a student is connected with available community resources.

School counselors play a critical role in assisting students and parents seeking to coordinate with community resources for additional assistance. These referrals will assist families in treating mental health issues such as suicidal ideation, violence, abuse and depression.

Finding a Professional Counselor

While our counselors do not endorse a specific external counselor or therapist, our school counseling and child study teams have a list of professional counselors, social workers, psychologists and psychiatrists that have worked well with Randolph students. Any one of these staff members could assist with making a referral for mental health services.

In addition, Psychology Today provides a Therapist Finder search engine on their website:

Find a Therapist

The search engine helps individuals find therapists by filtering specific information such as insurance carrier, location, specialties, gender of therapist, therapeutic issues as well as a host of other needs that someone may want to consider when choosing a therapist.

PerformCare

When a child is facing challenges to their functioning and well-being, finding the right services and support can be overwhelming. PerformCare provides behavioral health services, intellectual and developmental disabilities services, and substance use services. To reach PerformCare, you can call 24 hours a day 7 days per week at 1-877-652-7624. To learn more about their services, please visit their website below:

Performcare

NJ 2-1-1

NJ 2-1-1 is a place to turn when you need to find state or local health and human service resources to address urgent needs or everyday concerns. Services are free, confidential, and multilingual. NJ 2-1-1 is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Basic Human Needs: Contact 2-1-1 when you need help finding food banks, clothing closets, shelters, rental assistance, utility assistance, and more.
Support for Children, Youth and Families: Reach out to NJ 2-1-1 to learn about resources for childcare, after school programs, Kids Care (health insurance programs), family resource centers, summer camps and recreation programs, mentoring, tutoring, protective services, and more.
Physical and Mental Health Resources: NJ 2-1-1 will help you find health insurance programs, medicaid and medicare, maternal healthcare, children’s health insurance, medical information lines, crisis intervention services, support groups, counseling, drug and alcohol intervention and rehabilitation services.

To learn more about NJ 2-1-1, visit their website in the link below:

NJ 2-1-1