Counseling
Elementary School Counseling
The Elementary School Counselors work with all elementary students and families in grades PK through grade 5 to address personal/social, developmental, and academic issues. Throughout the year, the counselors facilitate social and emotional learning lessons within each homeroom, offer support for all parents with workshops, and work closely with teachers to ensure students are receiving the support that is needed.
At ISK we believe the elementary years are a time when students begin to develop their self-concept and their feelings of competence and confidence as learners. They are beginning to develop decision-making, communication, and life skills, as well as character values. Students are developing and acquiring attitudes toward school, self, peers, social groups and family. Because of this, we offer comprehensive guidance and support in our school with a student-centered approach.
Specific services include but are not limited to:
- Teaching guidance classes with research-based curriculum that reinforces skills for learning, empathy and compassion, emotion management, problem solving, and child protection
- Leading small counseling groups to support specific needs of students
- Offering support to students and families while they transition into or out of ISK
- Helping students as they transition into middle school
- Facilitating parent workshops to help support the needs of students
- Advocating for students who need additional support
- Referring students and families for outside counseling
- Offering resources for parents for additional support
Middle School Counseling
In keeping with our ISK Middle School Philosophy, the Middle School Counseling Program is dedicated to meeting the unique physical, cognitive, social, and emotional needs of students as they transition from childhood to adolescence.
Our Middle School is a safe and nurturing environment with an ethos of caring and compassion. Relationships are of primary importance to middle level learners, as peers begin to have a much bigger influence than parents and teachers. We recognize this critical part of adolescent development and have structures in place to support positive peer relationships. Our Middle School is organized into grade level teams where individual student needs and concerns are brought to the table, and plans are created to address those needs. Our advisory program also provides our students with an adult advocate, guide, and mentor.
The Middle School Counselor works with individual students and groups to address personal/social, developmental, and academic issues. The counselor also facilitates Social and Emotional Learning lessons during advisory sessions throughout the school year.
Specific services include but are not limited to:
- Administering counseling services that address the personal, social, developmental, emotional, and academic needs of the students
- Assisting students and parents during transitions: moving to and from Kenya; moving from elementary school into middle school and from Middle School to High School
- Facilitating Middle School parent teas
- Liaising with teachers to discuss student concerns
- Delivering Social Emotional Learning lessons which support the advisory program
- Consulting with parents to help guide parents dealing with the adolescent issues
- Providing referrals to outside community agencies and counselors as needed
- Scheduling students
High School Counseling
The High School counselors serve as advocates for and support students in the areas of academic achievement, personal/social development, and assist with exploring post-secondary opportunities.
Counseling Services in the High School
Academic
- Individual student academic program planning
- Advocating for students
- Schedule classes and advise on course selection
- Mediate between students, teachers and parents
- Analyze data from student achievement, student surveys and various assessments
- Refer students for student support services
Personal/Social Development
- Providing individual and small group counseling services to students
- Help the principals identify and resolve student issues
- Crisis response
- Refer students for outside services
- Monitor student behavioral interventions
- Help design advisory sessions focused on drug/alcohol, child protection and personal/social development issues
College Planning/Career
- Organize parent and student meetings for college/university planning
- Coordinate college admissions visits to campus
- Organize and administer the PSAT and SAT testing
- Interpret the standardized test scores with students and parents
- Support students through the college application process
General/Other
- Review admissions files and make recommendations regarding academic fit and planning
- Assist students with transitions into and out of the school parent and student meetings for college/university planning