Health and wellness

Student Wellbeing at Sant Bani School

As your school counselor, it’s my privilege to partner with parents and staff to help students learn and grow at Sant Bani School. The knowledge, attitudes and skills students acquire during the elementary years in the areas of academic, career and personal/social development serve as the foundation for future success. Counselors provide individual consultation for students, teachers & parents, classroom counseling lessons and support throughout the school to help students learn the skills and attitudes to be successful learners and productive citizens.

The SBS Counseling Corner website is a resource for information on counseling topics, school programs and parenting.

I am always available for parent support should you have concerns, questions or need assistance accessing school or community resources. It is my pleasure to spend this year learning and growing at Sant Bani School.

Counseling Services

Individual and Group Counseling are provided for Sant Bani School students who are in a state of transition and in need of support. Students may be referred for counseling by a parent, a teacher, or themselves. Typically, individual school counseling is short-term with a problem solving focus. Issues that a counselor might address with students include peer relations, school performance, anxiety, family change, grief, self-esteem, anger management, conflict resolution, or middle and high school transition.

Many times, students will request a visit with the counselor regarding a situation at school and we will meet briefly to try to resolve the situation, particularly if there has been a problem with another student(s). These types of visits do not require prior permission from a parent, however, students are encouraged to go home and share with their family that we spoke and explain why we met. If a student requires on-going counseling, the counselor will contact the parent to discuss the issue(s) at hand.

Group Counseling is an effective part of the guidance program for some children who have specialized needs but their concerns are similar to those of other students. These children come together to work through their common concerns. These groups require parental permission and groups are formed based on student need. Students may be referred by teachers and parents who see a need.

Parent FAQ's

Should I be concerned if my child says "I saw Lissa today"?

There is no need to worry. I spend a significant amount of time working with students in their classrooms, at recess and lunch, hallways, advisory meetings and throughout the school setting. During weekly counseling lessons I partner with teachers to make the school a great place for your child to learn. But remember, sometimes kids like to see the counselor for little things. If a student has a problem they need help solving, has a conflict with another student or wants to share a special accomplishment they might ask to see me. However, I always encourage students to go home and share with parents when and why we met. If there is an ongoing issue or major concern, I always call or e-mail parents.

Who refers students to the School Counselor?

Parents often ask “Who refers a child to the school counselor?” Sometimes kids self-refer by asking their teacher, or asking their parent to call or e-mail Lissa. Sometimes parents call Lissa or teachers let them know of a concern or just that a student needs time to talk.. Sometimes teachers, school leaders, or the Nurse may ask Lissa to meet with students if there is a specific concern or they think a student may need time to process or reflect something in a more private space with the counselor.

What are some reasons a student might talk to the Counselor?

“I’m feeling upset and I need help understanding why and what to do.”
“My best friend isn’t talking to me and it’s making me really sad.”
“I want to show you what I just made in art. I’m very proud of it.”
“I’m new to this school and I’m really nervous!”
“I did some great work and I’m so excited to tell someone!”
“I’m having trouble in a certain topic or subject and I need to know how to ask my teacher for help.”
“Another student and I had a problem at recess. Can you help us work it out?”

Why might parents refer to the Counselor?

“My daughter doesn’t want to go to school in the mornings.”
“I’m concerned because my son keeps telling me that he doesn’t have any friends.”
“We recently had a death in the family, and I’m not sure how to tell my child.”
“We’re going through a divorce and think our kids need someone to talk to about it.”
“My son seems to get really frustrated doing his homework and nothing seems to help.”

When might a teacher utilize the Counselor?

“I need some ideas to help my student develop relationships with peers in our classroom.”
“My student has difficulty focusing on lessons in the classroom.”
“X” is absent a lot and is having difficulty academically and socially because of this.”
“My student is new to this school and needs some special attention.”
“I’ve noticed that my student seems (anxious, worried, down, not themselves) lately.”
“My student is very shy and doesn’t seem comfortable asking others to play. Can she be in a Friendship Group?”

Does the Counselor ever become involved with student discipline?

No. If the problem situation a student sees the Counselor for resulted in some type of consequence, the student will meet with the focus facilitator or Head of School. The counselor does not see students for discipline, but rather to assist in conflict resolution so that the student may return to class and have productive work time.

Confidentiality

Confidentiality is an important part of small group work, but it can be a difficult concept for kids. In order to avoid the problems that arise when students go home and tell their parents they can’t share anything about group because “it’s a secret,” I usually explain it like this: each student can feel free to share what the topic was in group or what he or she said in group but not what other students have shared. Small groups are for sharing and problem-solving and all students should feel safe in their group.

EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS