Counseling Support

Students visit the counselor's office for all kinds of reasons that are not emergencies or major concerns:

• Conflict with a peer.
• Assistance with regulating emotions (calming down, processing an event, etc.).
• Lunch Bunch.
• Student has asked for support for a particular topic.

If your child visits the counselor frequently or is in crisis, we will contact families and include them in our support planning.

School counselors are NOT disciplinarians. We support school rules and our administrators, but coming to the counselor's office does not means someone is in trouble.

*School counselors may reach out in an emergency if the principal is not in the building.

Please reach out via phone or email to your school counselor if you have questions or concerns.

No! School counselors are providing short-term support to help your child(ren) be successful at school. Our goal is to help problem-solve and skill build so that your child(ren) can get back into the classroom and focus on learning.

School counselors can help with referrals for more long-term interventions and help you connect to resources in the community.

School counselors utilize other mental health supports within school communities like Mental Health Advocates or the School Psychologist, if appropriate.

School Counselors are licensed educators who specialize in the social, emotional and academic development of ALL children. Through the Multi-Tiered System of Supports, we provide more targeted and intensive help for students who need it -- both academically and social/emotionally. Multi-tiered System of Supports (MTSS) can be anything from Positive Behavior and Intervention Supports (PBIS) to Student Support Teams (SST).

School counselors provide:

• Safety
• Social Emotional Learning (SEL)
• Support
• Collaboration

• Tier One - Universal/Whole Classroom Lessons
  • We strive to support all students with universal programming.
• Tier Two - Targeted/Small Groups (grief/loss, friendship skills, leadership, anxiety, family changes)
  • When a student is struggling, our teachers, school counselors and psychologists give more targeted help.
  • Parents will be notified via written passive consent.
• Tier Three - Intensive/Individual Counseling
  • If targeted support does not work or a student is in crisis our educators employ more intensive interventions. Meeting with students 1:1 to develop strategies to remove barriers to academic success (crisis counseling, peer conflict, skills for learning).
  • Parents will be notified if ongoing.

• Indirect Service - Consultation, Collaboration, and Referrals
  • School counselors work closely with all stakeholders to support students.

What your child says in session with the school counselor stays in the room unless:

• Someone is hurting your child.
• Your child wants to hurt someone.
• Your child wants to hurt themselves.
• Your child gives me permission to share with a trusted adult.

***Mandatory reports are confidential, staff can not share information from a mandatory report with families.

• I would reach out to you if your child has made a threat, or your child has been threatened.
  • I would tell you facts about the event.
  • I would share a support plan for your student.
• I would reach out to you if your child is having suicidal thoughts.
  • I would share information about ideation.
  • I would share the school support plan.
  • I would share information about additional outside resources.
• I would reach out to you if a Think Sheet is sent home.
• I would reach out to you if I am meeting with your child on a regular basis.
  • I would share information pertinent to collaborative support.
• I would reach out if your child has been selected by the teacher for a small group.
  • I would share the small group topic content.
• I would reach out if there was a discipline event that may require social/emotional support.
  • I would share what support your child will receive.

Bullying (BVSD and State of Colorado definition):

Any written text or image, or verbal expression, or physical or electronic act or gesture, or a pattern thereof, that is intended to coerce, intimidate, or cause any physical, mental, or emotional harm to any student.

• Intended to harm.
• Hurts your body or your feelings.
• Imbalance of power.
• Happens over and over.
• You ask them to stop and they do not.

At Birch Elementary, we have many practices in place to prevent bullying.

• Create a safe and respectful school climate.
  • Positive Behavior and Intervention Supports (PBIS)
  • Paraeducator trainings
  • Clime survey data analysis
  • Regular SEL lessons
    • Zones of Regulation
    • Sources of Strength
    • Second Step
• Bullying prevention education at each grade level.
  • Monthly meetings with each team
  • 5 Second Steps lessons specifically about bully prevention.
• Bullying Prevention Team
  • Meets monthly, analyzes data to raise awareness and lead prevention efforts.
  • Supports additional prevention programing such as assemblies, student voice committee, and staff mentor program.
• Bullying policy and procedures for reporting and investigating (JDHB).
  • Reports can be made directly to school staff, via our website, or on Safe2tell.
• Supportive services for students experiencing, witnessing, and responsible for bullying behaviors.
  • Preventative Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) lessons
  • Small groups
  • Individual support plans
  • Restorative justice
  • Mental health support
  • Connection to outside resources
  • Think sheets
• Building family, school, and community partnerships.
  • Family education

Reports can be made directly to school staff, via our reporting website, or on Safe2Tell.