Counseling and Wellness

The Counseling and Wellness staff members visits each elementary school with a small group of 6th grade students in May for a middle school orientation.  Each 5th grade class will learn about the 6th grade academic teachers, extra-curricular activities, sports, student schedules, and trips.  Following this orientation, each elementary school will visit the middle school in June.  Each school visits the middle school building for a morning orientation program where students will:

• Meet the Principal and Assistant Principal
• Learn more about schedules, sports, and clubs
• Tour the building
• Learn helpful study tips 
• Question & Answer session  

*Incoming 6th grade Parent evening orientation in Spring*

Once a month your child’s guidance counselor and/or social worker or psychologist will be visiting 6th and 7th grade classes, for educational presentations using the evidence-based, award-winning Second Step program.  This program has proven to be effective at improving students' social and emotional knowledge and skills, prosocial attitudes, and behavior.  As a program for all students, it provides a foundation for creating a safe, respectful learning environment.  The five themes in the Second Step Program are:

• Empathy and Communication
• Bullying prevention
• Emotion management and Coping
• Problem solving, decision making, and goal setting
• Substance Abuse prevention
• Career Exploration (7th grade)

Social and emotional learning (SEL) supports academic achievement by helping students focus on their schoolwork, manage emotions, behave in classrooms, and build connections in school through improved relations with their peers and teachers.  Teaching social and emotional skills supports our school's mission to build students who are academically and socially successful. 

 *Incoming 7th grade Parent evening orientation in Spring*