K-12 Program
K-12 Program
- K-12 Counseling Program
- Elementary School Counseling Program
- Middle School Counseling Program
- High School Counseling Program
- 9th Grade program
- 10th Grade Program
- 11th Grade Program
- 12th Grade Program
Elementary School Counseling Program
The Elementary School Counseling Program is a model that incorporates classroom guidance, individual and group counseling, consulting and coordination of services with teachers and administrators. There are approximately 650 students in the elementary school and currently there is one counselor. Although it is challenging, the counselor makes an effort to get to know each child personally.
The classroom guidance program in the elementary school is called “Magic Circle”. In the kindergarten through second grades, students participate in Magic Circle on a weekly basis, while children in grades three and four rotate with eight week units. During Magic Circle time, students discuss affective topics that impact their lives, practice socialization skills and improve listening skills. It is also a time to resolve any classroom, lunch and/or recess issues that challenge our students. Magic Circle topics vary by grade level and include the following:
Introduction of the School Counselor
Building New Friendships
Communicating Feelings
Learning from Mistakes
Accepting and Respecting Differences
Basic Study Skills
Responsibility
Making Good Choices
Maintaining Friendships
Complimenting Others
Handling Emotions
Bullying Prevention
More Bullying Prevention
Conflict Resolution
Common classroom guidance topics for all grades include character education themes such as respect, fairness, trustworthiness and citizenship. Students also discuss career awareness, stranger safety, sexual abuse prevention and drug awareness.
The Drug Abuse Resistance Program (DARE) taught by a Rye Brook Police Officer
The counselor is available for short term individual counseling sessions with students for personal, academic, social, and emotional issues. Students can seek counseling on their own, or parents and teachers can refer students.
The counselor also facilitates friendship groups, family change groups and other special topic groups for students benefiting from a small group experience. All kindergarten and new students to the district visit with the counselor at least once in a small group to become familiar with the counselor and the guidance program.
The elementary school counselor consults with teachers, parents, and other support staff to address the needs of the student population in a collaborative effort to promote school success. The counselor also makes referrals to outside therapists and agencies when necessary.
The counselor coordinates and participates in the Instructional Support Team for teachers. The counselor also coordinates the DARE program with the Rye Brook police department, the incoming kindergarten visitation, tutoring contacts for students when necessary, and the Character education committee.
Finally, the elementary school counselor is available to mediate recess conflicts between students, perform classroom and recess observations, and provide crisis intervention when appropriate.
Middle School Counseling Program
The goal of the Middle School Guidance and Counseling Program is to work with students throughout the school year to insure that every student has an opportunity to grow both in their academics and in their community life in school. This is accomplished by engaging students both in individual counseling and in group guidance classes. In addition, the counselor acts as an academic and personal/social resource for parents, teachers and administrators. The goal of the middle school counselor is always to advocate for the students and help them access the many opportunities availed to them in the middle school. The following is a timeline of the services and programs offered by the middle school counseling team. Please note that this is a fluid schedule and is subject to change based upon the students’ needs.
The middle school is staffed by two certified school counselors. Currently, one counselor acts as the 7th and 8th grade counselor. The other counselor acts as the 6th grade counselor, teaches the 6th grade seminar and is responsible for the development of the master schedule for the building.
Month |
School Counselor Services and Interventions |
Summer |
Finalization of master schedule and individual student schedules by counseling department. Review of individual student schedules. New student orientation. |
Marking Period 1 |
Orientation, first day of school, grades 6, 7 and 8. Lunch meetings with students who are new to our district. Review student schedules to ensure proper placement. Articulation with 5th and 9th grade counselors. This refers to meetings between counselors to help with the transition of all students in need. 6th Grade Guidance Seminar, Topics to include:
The counselor meets individually with every 7th grader. 6th, 7th and 8th Grades, review progress reports for all students and meet with students to develop plans for improvements. 8th grade students who have had academic, social and/or emotional difficulties will meet with their counselor to develop a plan for the upcoming school year. Team meetings: review students who have social/emotional/ academic concerns. Review 504s and IEPs with faculty. Schedule Child Study Team Meetings. |
Marking Period 2 |
7th Grade, continue individual meetings with students. 6th Grade Seminar Topics:
6th, 7th and 8th Grades review report cards and meet with students to develop plans for improvement. 8th Grade small group meetings with students regarding social, emotional and academic issues. Scheduling surveys are distributed to teachers in preparation for the development of the next year’s master schedule. Begin developing the master schedule for the upcoming school year. 6th, 7th and 8th Grades: review 1st Quarter report cards and meet with students to develop plans for improvement. 8th Grade: small group meetings with students regarding social, emotional and academic issues. 6th, 7th and 8th Grades: review 2nd Quarter progress reports and meet with students to develop plans for improvement. Scheduling process begins with the 8th graders. |
Marking Period 3 |
6th Grade Seminar Topics:
6th, 7th and 8th Grades: review 2nd Quarter report cards and meet with students to develop plans for improvement. Work on the master schedule and the 8th grade course requests continue. 5th grade students sign up for foreign language and music course. 6th, 7th and 8th Grades: review 3rd Quarter report cards/progress reports and meet with students to develop plans for improvement. Work with 8th grade students on resolving conflicts with high school master schedule. Continued work on the master schedule for the middle school. Begin meeting with the 5th graders to develop a transition plan to the middle school. |
Marking Period 4 |
6th Grade Seminar ends. 6th, 7th and 8th Grades: review 4th Quarter report cards/progress reports and meet with students to develop plans for improvement. Review with teachers those students who are in danger of failing a subject for the year and notify parents. Continued work with 8th graders and their families on high school course requests and schedule. Continued work on the master schedule. Attend CSE and 504 Annual Reviews. Begin meeting with the 5th graders to develop a transition plan to the middle school. Articulation (communication between professionals to facilitate the transition) with 5th grade teachers and counselor. Articulation with 9th grade counselors. 6th Grade Orientation and visit for 5th graders and their parents. Work with students on their final grades and notify students and families of failure and summer school options. Continued articulation with the elementary and high school. |
A day in the life of a middle school counselor:
- Meeting with teachers and students regarding the academic and social/emotional concerns of students.
- Meetings, e-mails and phone calls with parents.
- Facilitate meetings between students, parents and teachers, which at times require conflict mediation.
- Confliction mediation between students.
- Working with students on attendance and discipline issues.
- Collaborate with administration and other pupil personnel professionals to provide a supportive environment for the students.
- Coordinate private and peer tutoring for students in need.
- Contact and collaboration with outside mental health practitioners.
- Help monitor student progress above and beyond the progress and quarterly report cards.
- Attend Child Study Team (team of school practitioners that look to work with students at psychological or social risk).
- Participate in Threat Assessment Team and Crisis Intervention Teams to ensure all students safety.
- Develop student activities to cultivate a positive academic and social environment.
- 6th Grade Counselor develops lessons and activities for the 6th Grade Seminar Class.
- Being a good listener to students who are having a difficult time in school or at home.
High School Counseling Highlights
Every student at Blind Brook High School is assigned to a school counselor upon entering ninth grade. Counselors work with students, both individually and in groups, on many issues, including the transition to high school, personal/social growth, self-advocacy, course selection and programming, and post-secondary school planning. We work very hard to cultivate a relationship with our students, one that empowers them to be successful in school and graduate with a plan of action that helps them achieve their goals and dreams.
Freshman Year
- Meet and greet at Freshman Orientation (August).
- Facilitate a group counseling program in the beginning of the year to introduce students to their counselor and assist with their transition to high school (October).
- Students and parents receive their Naviance registration information. Naviance is a comprehensive K-12 college and career readiness platform (November).
- Push-in Freshman seminar program discussing how to manage stress and anxiety. (December).
- Conduct individual student meetings to discuss and choose courses for 10th grade (February and March).
- Assistant Director of Pupil Services will complete SDD Student Registration – application for testing accommodations with the College Board (May-August).
- Resolve scheduling conflicts (June).
Sophomore Year
- Conduct lunch groups touching upon transition, stress and goals (September).
- Registration and administration of the PSAT Exam (September and October).
- Push-in Sophomore seminar program regarding career planning (January).
- Individual student meetings to discuss and choose courses for 11th grade (February and March).
- Facilitate individual counseling as needed.
- For students interested in taking an SAT Subject exam, register with the College Board. Please refer to https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat-subject-tests for further information (February-June).
- Resolve scheduling conflicts (June).
Junior Year
- Registration and administration of the PSAT Exam (September and October).
- Student registers for ACT and SAT Examinations. For students with accommodations that plan to take the ACT, after you submit your online registration at www.act.org please connect with the Assistant Director of Pupil Services.
- College Kickoff Night evening program for students and parents (January).
- Parents and students will contact colleges and universities to register for tours and information sessions.
- Individual student meetings to discuss and choose courses for 12th grade (February and March).
- Student schedules an individual meeting with their counselor to discuss their post-secondary plans and/or college process (March-June).
- Parent and student contacts counselor to schedule a junior college meeting (April-June).
- Administration of the AP Examinations (May).
- For students interested in taking an SAT Subject exams, register with the College Board. Please refer to https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat-subject-tests for further information (February-June).
- Resolve scheduling conflicts (June).
Senior Year
- Students work on their college applications including all components of the process (August-December).
- Individual counseling regarding college applications, testing, scholarships, admissions, essays, recommendation letters and deadlines (September-December).
- Parents should attend Financial Aid Night (September).
- Students should continue to contact colleges and universities to register for tours and information sessions.
- Students should meet with college representatives that visit BBHS, for schools that interest them (September-December).
- Student registers for ACT and SAT Examinations, if necessary.
- Counselors submit Mid-Year transcripts (February).
- Students should update their counselor on all college admission decisions.