Counseling & Wellness

Life Skills classes are built into students' schedules in Kindergarten-8th grade. The classes practice mindfulness, foster the development of empathy, practice feeling recognition and healthy expression and promote proactive social-emotional skill building through discussions at age appropriate levels. 

The objectives of Life Skills are as follows:

• To further encourage the development of self-esteem and self-confidence
• To promote an inclusive, respectful and positive school atmosphere
• To reduce the likelihood of negative risk-taking behaviors and develop the courage and confidence to take positive risks
• To promote the social and emotional growth of students, thereby helping develop healthy contributing St. George’s Citizens and members of society

St. George’s program is created by integrating a variety of social skills programs to create a unique-to-StG blend that meets the needs of our learners. Life Skills includes information that is important and relevant to our students’ lives in each grade level. The overall objectives are considered within each specific unit. The StG Life Skills program aligns with the CASEL SEL framework and core competence areas.  

Kindergarten Units

• Encouraging a welcoming and respectful school environment
• Appreciation and celebration of differences
• Character development (focused on St. George’s citizenship and our four core values)
• Social skills development (focused on feelings recognition and expression, friendship and conflict resolution)

First Grade Units

• Encouraging a welcoming and respectful school environment

• Feelings recognition and expression

• Social thinking skills

• Friendship skills

• Appreciation and celebration of similarities and differences

• Telling or Reporting Versus "Tattling" (knowing when to ask for help)

• Anger Management and Positive Problem Solving

• Self-esteem development

Second Grade Units

• Citizenship: Compassion, Integrity, Perseverance & Respect and how this contributes to a welcoming and respectful school environment

• Feelings recognition and expression

• Empathy

• Getting along

• Problem solving

• Telling or reporting versus tattling (knowing when to ask for help)

• Health

• Friendship

• Self-esteem development

Third Grade Units

• Encouraging a welcoming and respectful school environment

• Bullying behaviors, teasing and speaking up

• Social thinking 

• Coping skills for successfully dealing with challenging situations

• Problem solving

• Empathy

• Appreciation and celebration of differences

• Introduction to setting goals and future career interests

Fourth Grade Units

• Encouraging a welcoming and respectful school environment

• Citizenship and character development

• Mendez 4th grade "Too Good for Drugs" Program  (presented by CADA – the Council on Alcohol Drug Abuse Prevention)

• Empathy

• Self-esteem development and making healthy decisions

• Coping skills

Fifth Grade Units

• Encouraging a welcoming and respectful school environment

• Adjustment to middle school

• Stress

• Time management

• Communication

• Friendship and conflict resolution

• Digital citizenship and safe technology use (in coordination with Technology Class)

Sixth Grade Units

• Encouraging a welcoming and respectful school environment

• Overall health and wellness, including physical health and nutrition

• Changes of adolescence and puberty

• Self-esteem development

• Developing social awareness and decision making

Seventh Grade Units

• Encouraging a welcoming and respectful school environment

• Drug prevention education (presented by CADA – the Council on Alcohol & Drug Abuse Prevention)

• Body image and eating disorders 

• Media literacy, advertising, and the impact of gender stereotypes 

• Understanding and managing feelings

• Peer pressure, popularity and friendship

• Human sexuality, healthy relationships and responsibility

Eighth Grade Units

• Setting a positive example and encouraging St. George’s citizenship with a welcoming and peacebuilding environment
• Peer aggression and harassment, including sexual harassment
• Communication, including high school interview preparation
• Depression and suicide prevention
• Self-esteem development
• Preparing for high school with friendship development and peer pressure navigation
• Responsible behaviors

Age 1 through Pre-K4 students participate in a weekly Kindness Class with Mrs. Lili Maki, our Early Childhood School Counselor. Kindness Class follows a set of lessons and practices in which students learn the ABC's of mental health: Attention, Breath and Body and Caring.

The class is inspired by research from the University of Wisconsin-Madison's Center for Healthy Minds. Researchers designed a curriculum meant to explicitly teach mindfulness, empathy and compassion to students in early childhood and early elementary school. StG's implementation of the program has led to more harmonious classrooms and mindsets within our youngest students. Curriculum incorporates children's books, music, movement and other activities to teach and instill concepts related to kindness and compassion.

Students from Pre-K4 through 8th grade participate in the StG Buddy Program. Seventh and 8th graders pair up with the Pre-K4 and Kindergarten students for activities, outings and art projects throughout the year. First and 4th graders, 2nd and 5th graders and 3rd and 6th graders keep their paired buddy until the 1st graders become 4th graders themselves. Activities are planned for all buddy pairs periodically throughout the year to further enhance St. George's sense of community.

The Middle School advisory program broadens student perspective through regularly-scheduled small group discussion with faculty.  Faculty members each have one group of 5th - 8th grade students to advise, whom they meet with daily. The Director of Counseling and Wellness provides one weekly discussion topic to guide conversation toward the development of integrity, perseverance, compassion and respect.  

Advisory leaders are an additional support for their advisees with discipline challenges. Leaders will check in and check out daily with their advisee student as needed based on the Middle School Tier discipline system.

St. George's is annually recognized as a "No Place for Hate School" by the Anti-Defamation League for our efforts to keep our school a respectful environment for all.

Each October, 8th grade students lead our annual Peace Rally, a school-wide gathering during which we are reminded of our Peace Pledge. Student leaders perform skits that help younger students identify behaviors that do or do not promote peace on campus.

St. George’s Citizens Demonstrate: Compassion, Integrity, Perseverance & Respect 

To keep our school safe, friendly and peaceful, we will do our part to:

1. Speak up. Say what you want to stop, and ask for help from a trusted adult when needed.
2. Reach out. Be a buddy, upstander, and peace builder for everyone.
3. Choose kindness. Be respectful and friendly with your words and actions. Celebrate and appreciate each other and our differences!

 

Counseling services are part of a comprehensive education and personal growth program at St. George’s for all students. In all divisions, students may be referred by administration, faculty, parents or by the student themselves to meet with one of the counselors (Director of Counseling and Wellness and Early Childhood School Counselor). The school counselors are available to assist students who may be experiencing emotional, social, developmental or situational difficulties. We may meet with students individually and in small groups.

Students in need of ongoing therapy are referred to an outside professional by the counseling department.

The counselors are available as a resource for families, faculty and administrators, as well. 

Dr. Krystal Vaughn

St. George's partners with Dr. Krystal Vaughn of Vaughn Therapeutic Collective to provide mental health consultation services in Early Childhood through Kindergarten. Dr. Vaughn is on campus once weekly, supporting our teachers in their efforts to nurture your children as they develop and learn. She also provide professional development to teachers.

Dr. Vaughn’s role at St. George’s does not include providing individual mental health treatment to children. However, she is available to discuss any concerns you may have about your child and may be able to help you find services in the community if you would like her assistance. If you are interested in talking with Dr. Vaughn, please contact Lili Maki.