Ms. Lauren Siegel

THE ROLE OF A GUIDANCE COUNSELOR

School guidance counselors are highly trained educators who are required to successfully complete advanced-degree coursework and are required to uphold ethical and professional standards.  Elementary school counselors have a challenging task as these are the years that set the tone for developing healthy, competent and confident learners.  Guidance counselors have the opportunity in shaping our young learners by creating a caring climate and atmosphere with the help of the school faculty, parents and the community.  Together, our goal is to help students begin to develop their academic feelings of competence and confidence as learners.  They will begin to develop decision making skills, communication skills, life skills, as well as character values.  As these skills are developed they begin to form attitudes toward self, peers, social groups, and families.  Through a structured student- centered developmental program, school counselors will provide education, prevention, and intervention opportunities to all students. 

Our main goal is to help student’s knowledge, attitudes and skills that students acquire to strengthen their academic, career and personal/social development during these elementary foundation years for future success.  These goals are enhanced with different opportunities offered at our school.

CLASSROOM  GUIDANCE

Bi-monthly, students will have the opportunity to actively discuss, interact, and ponder many situations that may occur during today’s increasingly diverse socioeconomic world and expanding opportunities.  These topics discussed will include hands-on activities, literature, and open discussions that children face in all spectrums of their lives.  Character traits are the focus through these activities as students learn how to apply their skills based on these character traits.  These character traits include respect, perseverance, caring, courage, citizenship, trustworthiness, cooperation, and fairness. 

INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING

Students are made aware at their first guidance lesson that guidance counselors are available to them whenever they need to discuss a problem or just need a safe person to speak with.  They are made aware of confidentiality laws and the part they play in that.  Every student at Trinity is allowed to meet with the guidance counselor regarding academics, goal setting, decision-making, and discuss conflicts that may arise in their daily lives.  The goal is to make sure that students feel as if they always have a person they can count on at the school.

SMALL GROUP COUNSELING

Counselors also sometimes meet students in groups.  Group meetings can really help people who are dealing with similar issues, such as divorce.  In these group settings, people can share their feelings and learn coping skills.  Ideas are discovered and it helps students to know that there are other people who are experiencing the same thing they are and they are understood by the others in the group.