Personal, Social and Academic Counseling

Elementary Counseling Overview

The Elementary School Counselors work with all elementary students and families in grades Pre-K 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 receive the needed support.

Transitions

• Many students go through different transitions while in an international school. We help students new to or leaving school and Grade 5 students as they transition from Elementary to Middle School.
• Moving is also common within our international community and we have gathered resources to help families as they transition into not only a new school, but also a new country.

Classroom Guidance Lessons

At ISK, the elementary years are when students begin to develop their self-concept and feelings of competence and confidence as learners. They are beginning to develop decision-making, communication, life skills, and character values. Students develop and acquire 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.

Listed below are some of the curriculums we use with our guidance lessons, which are research-based and reinforce skills for learning, empathy and compassion, emotion management, problem-solving, and safeguarding skills.

• Second Step Curriculum
• Kelso’s Choices
• Protect Yourself Rules
• Talking about Touching    

Middle School Counseling Overview

In keeping with our ISK Middle School Philosophy, the Middle School Counseling Program is dedicated to meeting students' unique physical, cognitive, social, and emotional needs 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 have a much bigger influence than parents and teachers. We recognize this critical part of adolescent development and have structures 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 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.

• Transitions
• Social Emotional Support individually and through Advisory Program
• Decision Making Skills
• Communication and conflict resolution

• Highlight how we help students process their problems and plan goals and action, fostering an environment of self-awareness, acceptance, and diversity

• Individual & Group counseling
• Parent workshops/ presentations/ book clubs

High School Counseling Overview

The High School counselors serve as advocates for and support students in academic achievement and personal/social development, and they assist with exploring post-secondary opportunities. The ISK High School counseling team consists of 3 counselors for Grades 9 to 12 and one administrative assistant. Two counselors focus on academic and university counseling in addition to supporting students' educational, social, and emotional needs. The third counselor works to meet the well-being needs of all our students. All counselors partner with families, faculty, administration, and outside resources to support students in achieving their goals.