How Counselors Support Academics, Behavior, and Character Development

• Classroom Lessons:  The Counselor teaches a minimum of ten counseling lessons in each classroom. Lessons are developmentally appropriate and align with the Virginia Standards of Learning, American School Counselor Association (ASCA) standards and APS Social/Emotional Learning Curriculum guidelines. Topics include character development, bullying, social skills, emotion regulation, safety, and career development.
• Individual and Group Counseling:  Students who need social and/or emotional support in order to achieve at school are referred by teachers and/or parents for individual or group counseling. Counseling sessions are scheduled in conjunction with teachers and ATS school-wide schedules throughout the school year. Sessions are typically 30-minutes on a weekly basis for 6-12 weeks based on student needs and objectives. Parent permission is required for participation. Topics include (but are not limited to) social skill building/friendship; self-esteem; coping skills for anxiety, anger, or attention.
• Responsive Services: By teacher or student request, students meet with counselors in response to social, emotional, behavioral, or academic challenges at school. Counselors support in emotion regulation, conflict resolution, bullying reports, coping strategies, and executive functioning skills in accordance with the ABCs of Success.
• Consultation: Counselors consult and collaborate with faculty and staff, parents/guardians, and other mental health professionals to provide supports and resources to students and families in order that they may thrive.
• Middle School Transition: (February-April) Students register academic programs at the Middle School during February. Later in the year all 5th graders visit Middle Schools for orientation meetings. Counselors provide guidance to students and parents and assist with transition meetings with Middle School Counselors (including IEPs and 504s).
• Pillars of Character Brag Tags: At ATS we want to see Character in action. Counselors support this by distributing “Caught With Character” stickers to students who demonstrate one of our six pillars of character to reinforce acting with Respect, Responsibility, Trustworthiness, Caring, Citizenship, and Fairness.