School Counseling
Elementary School Counselors
Lynne Gallagher- School Counselor for grades K-3 x 4116, lgallagher@trinityhillers.net
My role is to support students regardless of need. Some of the services I provide include individual check-ins, group counseling, classroom lessons, and connecting students to school-based and community resources.
Elementary School Counseling Service Overview
Classroom Lessons
The school counseling classroom lessons are planned instruction that is delivered to students in each grade level. They are comprehensive in scope, preventative and responsive in nature, and developmental in design, aligned with the school counseling program's vision, mission and goals. The lessons are used to teach knowledge, attitudes and skills based on the ASCA Mindsets and Behaviors standards within the three domains of academic, career and social/emotional development.
Groups
School counselors offer small groups to positively impact student achievement, attendance and behavior. Small-group instruction is provided as a short-term intervention and includes a minimum of four sessions. If you are interested in having your child participate in a group, please complete and return the permission form sent home before the group starts OR email your child’s school counselor. Groups may include: Anger, Grief/loss, Friendship, Divorce, Worry/Anxiety.
Resources
SPHS Care Center
24 Hour Crisis Hotline
Phone: 724-225-3584
Text: 724-715-3584
24/7 Walk-In Crisis Services
852 Henderson Avenue, Washington
Student Assistance Program
The Student Assistance Program is a systematic team process used to mobilize school resources to remove barriers to learning. Students can be referred by parents, teachers, and staff members for academic, health, attendance, or behavior concerns.
A SAP referral would be appropriate for a student who is:
- Withdrawing from family, friends, and/or school
- Changing friends; no longer spending time with old friends
- Unexplained physical injuries
- Talking about suicide or thoughts of hurting themselves
- Depressed
- Defying authority both at home and school
- Acting aggressively
- Frequently lying
- Needing money without an explanation
- Sudden drop in grades
- Experimenting with drugs or alcohol
- Missing school consistently
- Or if you’re concerned about your child’s reaction to:
- Recent death of a loved one
- Divorce or separation
- Family relocation
- A relationship problem
- Other traumatic event
Please fill out a SAP referral here: https://pareporting.hibster.com/Pages/NewReferral.aspx?Id=266&referralType=SAP
Participation in the SAP program is voluntary and parent permission is required. If you have questions or feel that your child needs help, contact your student’s counselor.
SAP team members consist of:
- Courtney LeViere(Principal)
- Lynne Gallagher (School Counselor K-3)
- Anna Beck-Lee (School Social Worker)
- Maggie Drezewski (School Nurse)
- Christine Wagner (Kindergarten teacher)
- Allie McGowan (1st Grade teacher)
- Stephanie Johnson (2nd Grade teacher)
PBIS
Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) is an evidence-based, tiered framework for supporting students’ behavioral, academic, social, emotional, and mental health. When implemented with fidelity, PBIS improves social emotional competence, academic success, and school climate. It also improves teacher health and wellbeing. It is a way to create positive, predictable, equitable and safe learning environments where everyone thrives. For more information, see: https://www.pbis.org/pbis/what-is-pbis
Career Artifacts
Students complete career artifacts that align with Pennsylvania’s Academic Standards for Career Education and Work. Career Education and Work Standards describe what students should know and be able to do by the end of 3rd grade. The career assignments are completed and uploaded into the Naviance management system.
The assignments are:
3rd grade
1. Career interview reflection: student interviews an adult about their profession and writes a reflection
2. Career fair reflection: student attends the 5th grade career fair and write about a career that interested them and why
For further information about the career and work standards, please see the PA website: https://www.stateboard.education.pa.gov/Documents/Regulations%20and%20Statements/State%20Academic%20Standards/Career%20Education%20and%20Work%20Standards.pdf
Additional information:
- The Essential Role of Elementary School Counselors: https://www.schoolcounselor.org/getmedia/1691fcb1-2dbf-49fc-9629-278610aedeaa/Why-Elem.pdf
- Empirical Research Studies Supporting the Value of School Counseling: https://www.schoolcounselor.org/getmedia/7d00dcff-40a6-4316-ab6c-8f3ffd7941c2/Effectiveness.pdf
- Ethical Standards for School Counselors: https://www.schoolcounselor.org/getmedia/44f30280-ffe8-4b41-9ad8-f15909c3d164/EthicalStandards.pdf
- Mindsets and Behaviors for Student Success: https://www.schoolcounselor.org/getmedia/7428a787-a452-4abb-afec-d78ec77870cd/mindsets-behaviors.pdf
- School Counselor Professional Standards and Competencies: https://www.schoolcounselor.org/getmedia/a8d59c2c-51de-4ec3-a565-a3235f3b93c3/SC-Competencies.pdf