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. Our school-wide positive behavior program is called Bomber Pride. Each month we focus on a particular skill or theme. We teach and reteach how to use the skill, and celebrate moments when we catch someone demonstrating the skill of the month. 
The link below provides more details and teaching resources for each month's theme. 
sites.google.com/d/1eGNgVFabTzPyEgZD3Wdp30cUe3IqZv60/p/1sJ7xM_Cnnag13WiB4hKYP76B-T4E-ulv/edit

Classroom Lessons - Wellness Workshops
At LPES, all students participate in classroom lessons led by the school counselor designed to help all students develop skills for social-emotional learning. Skills include listening, focusing attention, respecting others, self-control, assertiveness, empathy, kindness, gratitude, problem-solving, coping skills, calming down, positive self-talk, mental health awareness, and the importance of reporting safety concerns to an adult.  Lessons are taught outside as much as possible, and integrate experiential and play-based learning. 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.

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.

Support for Families
Assistance is available to parents/guardians 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.

Individual & Group Counseling
The School Counselor, the School Social Worker, 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. Written 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 Trails & Outdoor Classrooms
The School Counselor has worked in collaboration with students, staff, families, and community members to create and maintain nature trails and outdoor classrooms at LPES. A wealth of research shows the many benefits of movement, fresh air, direct sunlight, and time in nature on the mental health and acedemic development of people of all ages. Here is a link to our Nature Trails website with more information: 
sites.google.com/lakeplacidcsd.net/lpestrails/home