School Counselor and LGPC
PROJECTS
"ROCHAMBEAU UNPLUGGED" BINGO
I created a bingo board activity to include younger students in the school's "Unplugged" (screen-free) Day and to offer them screen-free alternative activities to consider during spring break. Activities included writing a story, creating a dance, trying a new food, and playing card games.
BUDDY BENCH / BANC D L'AMITE
To help students with the grieving process and to honor the memory of colleague who passed away, I organized the creation of a "Buddy Bench." The colleague had created a bench like this at the school's previous campus, and we incorporated her original sign into the new bench. For the project, I contacted the families of students who had this teacher, offering counseling support and inviting them to take part in the project. In collaboration with other colleagues, we met with the students to gather their ideas for the bench and worked with them in small groups to paint it. The Buddy Bench now stays at the recess court. Students who do not have someone to play with can sit on the bench and other students come to invite them to play.
WELLNESS WEDNESDAYS
In collaboration with the Communications department, Nurses and School Counselors, "Wellness Wednesdays" was a weekly social media campaign that shared health and wellness tips with the community, including how to manage stress, eat healthy, resolve conflicts, and get enough sleep.
KELSO'S CHOICES
To support students' developing social and problem solving skills, I introduced Kelso's Choices at the elementary level (1st - 5th grade). I modeled for teachers at two professional developments about how to present Kelso's Choices to students. I also collaborated with admin to supply each classroom with Kelso's Choices posters and compile bilingual resources that teachers can use to reinforce the 9 skills with their classes.
PEN PAL
To support connectedness for students during the COVID-19 pandemic, I collaborated with the secondary school counselor to implement a pen pal exchange project between students in 5th and 6th grade. This project provides 6th grade students the chance to reflect on their new role as middle school students and 5th grade students the chance to ask questions in preparation for their upcoming transition to middle school.
MOOD METERS
Based on the RULER intervention created by CASEL at Yale, I adapted the Mood Meter tool to each grade (1st - 5th). During back-to-school week, my department presented the tool to teachers and explained the research behind the RULER approach (Recognizing Understanding Labeling Expressing and Regulating emotions). We encouraged them to use this tool daily with their classes to establish a positive class atmosphere.
FLAT JEFF / PERSONNAGE APLATI(E)
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, my department and I introduced the Flat Jeff project to promote a continued sense of school belongingness despite distance learning. Based on the Flat Stanley Project, students in grades 1 - 3 designed their own paper person and introduced them to their class. Each week, students are given a different prompt covering topics such as what they are looking forward to and what they have learned during the time at home.
WEEKLY TIPS NEWSLETTER
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, my department and I developed weekly newsletters for families. Topics included Adjusting to Change, Stress and Anxiety, Frustration, Communication and Conflict, Self-Care, Managing Uncertainty, and Staying Connected. Click the image above for a sample newsletter.
STAFF SHOUT-OUT WALL
To support teacher morale during the new year, I set up a "shout out wall" where teachers could post encouragements or thank yous (anonymously or not) to other staff members
MEDIATION SHEETS (3RD - 5TH GRADE)
I use these mediation sheets with older students to help support communication during arguments or conflicts. Click the image above for the full document.
MEDIATION SHEETS (1ST - 2ND GRADE)
I created these mediation sheets for younger students to help support communication during arguments or conflicts. Click the image above for the full document.
GRADUATEÂ WORK
CAPSTONE PROJECT
Spring 2019
As part of my capstone course, I designed a complete school counseling program rooted in the ASCA (American School Counselor Association) model for a hypothetical school that I designed. The project discusses my program vision, mission, beliefs, goals, interventions, and data and includes Foundation, Management, Delivery, and Accountability components that would be necessary to apply for RAMP (Recognized ASCA Model Program) status. Many of the groups and interventions discussed in the program were ones that I have already implemented in schools.
Note: This is a very large document. A summary can be found below in the next section.
CAPSTONE SUMMARY
Spring 2019
Click the image above to see an infographic poster summarizing my capstone project.
Note: In order to protect the schools and students that I worked with, some data has been fabricated or altered and does not reflect that of any one school.
ADVOCACY PROJECT
Fall 2018
As part of my internship at Greenbelt Elementary, I conducted a data-driven advocacy project to close the achievement gap between white and minority students at the school. I obtained both standardized test and grade data and conducted a three-part intervention to contribute to closing that gap via study skills small groups, a parent program on growth mindset, and a 4th grade pilot study buddies program.
ADVOCACY PROPOSAL
Spring 2018
As part of my multicultural course, I proposed an advocacy program designed to benefit students struggling with anxiety within my practicum site. As a high school known for their rigorous Science and Tech program, the school's population includes many students who are struggling with anxiety both outwardly and in silence. The proposed hypothetical intervention was a program to be rolled out over a four-year period via classroom lessons, teacher and parent workshops, small groups, and a peer counselor program. The purpose of the program would be to educate the school population on anxiety and coping skills, as well as create an accepting cultural that normalizes living and coping with anxiety.