School Climate
School counselors are highly involved in creating a safe and supportive school climate, as well as helping to meet the requirements of the Dignity for All Students Act. LPES was recognized as a Mix It Up Model School for 2014-15 for our varied efforts to create a safe and supportive school climate, including our Positive Behavioral Interventions & Supports (PBIS) program, participation in Mix It Up At Lunch Events, celebrating No Name Calling Week, and much more. In June of 2014, the students of LPES worked with the school counselor to create and install a Buddy Bench.  You can read about the launch of the Buddy Bench by clicking on the link.  
http://buddybench.org/2014/07/09/lake-placid-elementary-school/

Classroom Guidance Lessons
At LPES, all students participate in classroom guidance lessons led by the school counselor.  Lessons are planned in collaboration with the teaching staff and are integrated into the standard curriculum. Parents receive an information letter at the start of each classroom guidance unit detailing what is to be covered. These lessons meet the requirements of New York’s Dignity for All Students Act, Guidelines for Social-Emotional Learning and Development, and the NYS Commissioner’s Regulations on School Counseling Programs.   and the NYS Commissioner’s Regulations on School Counseling Programs.  All classroom guidance lessons comply with current recommendations of the American School Counselor Association national standards for school counseling programs and the New York State School Counselor Association standards for school counseling programs.
For more on Social-Emotional Development and Learning:  http://www.p12.nysed.gov/sss/sedl/

College & Career Awareness
All students participate in College & Career Week, as well as additional school and classroom activities.  In 2014, LPCSD renewed its partnership with CFES Brilliant Pathways, and is working to create a college-going culture throughout our district. This includes increasing knowledge of college and career pathways, developing "Essential Skills", and involving students in mentoring.  
Follow this link to the CFES Brilliant Pathways website for more information: 
brilliantpathways.org

Leadership Skills Development
At LPES, we are committed to providing our 4th and 5th grade students with leadership skills and opportunities to use them.  Our students are called upon to serve their school in a variety of ways, including helping students start their day on a positive note, leading our school in the Pledge of Allegiance, planning school-wide events such as No Name Calling Week and Mix It Up At Lunch events, staffing our School Store (supervised by Mrs. Kirchner, Speech & Language Pathologist), and serving as role models in our hallways and assemblies. 

Transition Assistance
The School Counselor is available to provide support to students during transitions, such as changing grades, changing buildings, changing school districts, family changes, loss of a loved one, etc. LPES has many activities designed to help our 5th grade students make a smooth transition to the middle school.
 
Parent Support, Parent Workshops, & Parent Resource Library
Assistance is available to parents regarding their child’s academic, social-emotional, or career development, and anything that might interfere with a child’s ability to be successful at school. Workshops are offered on a variety of topics relevant to parents of elementary students. Our library houses a Parent Resource Section that has hundreds of books for parents, including books designed to be read to children on topics such as behavior, feelings, diversity, grief, learning, family changes, and more.  

Mentoring
There are many forms of mentoring happening at LPES – some are coordinated by the School Counselor, but not all. We have several classrooms that work together to pair older students with younger students on an ongoing basis for reading and other activities.  We also recruit 5th grade students to help younger students by greeting them at the door and helping them get settled in their classrooms. Additionally, we have 3 formal mentoring programs for our students:
·      Teachers Leading Children (TLC) matches staff members who mentor students throughout the year for academic and/or social support.
·      Stepping Forward pairs National Honor Society members to serve as mentors for 5th grade students. Participants meet weekly afterschool for 10 weeks, supervised by the Elementary School Psychologist (Mel Frazer) and the Elementary Speech & Language Pathologist (Vicki Kirchner).
·      CFES Mentoring involves 8th grade students serving as mentors for 4th grade students.  Participants meet weekly for 6-8 weeks, supervised by the Elementary School Counselor and the Middle School Counselor.

Primary Project & Playroom Plus Program
The Primary Project is an evidence-based early intervention based on child-led play that assists students in their social-emotional development and making positive connections at school.  Our Playroom Plus Program is similar to the Primary Project in that both programs target students in grades K-3 and take place in our playroom with a trained Child Associate.  However, the Playroom Plus Program serves a wider variety of students.

Developmental Lunch Groups
A variety of lunch groups are offered throughout the year.  Each group typically meets weekly during the students’ lunch period for 5-10 weeks.  Lunch groups focus on various aspects of positive youth development, including leadership, peer helping, problem solving, social skills, etc.

Individual & Group Counseling
The School Counselor and the School Psychologist provide individual and group counseling to students exhibiting difficulties in the school setting.  Information and referral is provided for students when counseling services outside of school are recommended. While parental consent is required for longer-term counseling (typically 5 or more consecutive sessions), short-term supportive counseling is available to all students on an as-needed basis without parental consent.

LPES Nature Trail
sites.google.com/lakeplacidcsd.net/lpestrails/home

Bomber Pride School-Wide Behavior Program
sites.google.com/d/1eGNgVFabTzPyEgZD3Wdp30cUe3IqZv60/p/1sJ7xM_Cnnag13WiB4hKYP76B-T4E-ulv/edit