Elementary School

Elementary school counselors are professional educators with at least a masters' degree and an understanding of the unique challenges presented to today’s children.

They align their work (e.g. classroom guidance, small group counseling, individual counseling, parent conferencing, referrals) to support the growth and development of all students as they prepare for the 21st century.

For more information, contact your school counselor.
The Role of the School Counselor - ASCA

Contact Information
Cheri Girtman
Elementary School Counseling Program Planner

Skills for Learning & Life

What is Skills for Learning & Life (SLL)?

Skills for Learning & Life (SLL) lead to youth and adults achieving academic, post-secondary, career and life success. SLL strengthens teaching and learning of academic content, builds confidence, supports mental health, and enables youth and adults to overcome challenges.

The School District of Palm Beach County's SLL Framework is based upon required Health Instruction as outlined in Florida State Statute 1003.42(n)(4) and involves acquiring and effectively applying knowledge, attitudes, and skills of self-awareness and self-management, responsible decision-making, resiliency, relationship skills (including conflict resolution), and social awareness (including understanding and respecting other viewpoints and backgrounds).

SLL Competencies

School Programs that support SLL:
• Safe School Ambassadors
• Peer Mediation
• Morning Meeting
• Community Circles
• We Dine Together
• Safety Patrols
• Kindness Matters

The School District of Palm Beach County realizes the importance of a safe and supportive school climate. Successful implementation of SLL curriculum and programming is essential for student success as it allows for students to practice life skills throughout their school experience.
Academic Achievement - Skills for Learning

The development of certain skills, attitudes, and strategies is essential to a student’s academic success. The University of Chicago Consortium on Chicago School Research has identified five competency areas that lead to student academic success: academic behaviors, academic perseverance, academic mindsets, learning strategies, and social skills. The most successful students know how to set and track their progress towards attaining goals, know how to use memory and study strategies, know how to manage academic stress and frustration, and have a growth mindset.

Elementary school counselors implement strategies and activities to support a student’s ability to learn.
College-Career Aspirations - Skills for Earning

The road to college and career readiness begins in elementary school. Developing mindsets, learning skills, social skills, and self-management skills in elementary school better prepares students for rigorous middle and high school courses. Subsequently, these students are better prepared to pursue a career, college, and university options after high school.

Elementary school counselors help students to understand the connection between their school work and the world of work. They also guide students and their families through key transitions (kindergarten, grade 3, and grade 5).
Attendance
DID YOU KNOW?

Starting in kindergarten, too many absences can cause children to fall behind in school.

Missing 10 percent (or about 18 days) can make it harder to learn to read.

Students can still fall behind if they miss just a day or two days every few weeks.
Being late to school may lead to poor attendance.

Absences can affect the whole classroom if the teacher has to slow down learning to help children catch up.

Attending school regularly helps children feel better about school—and themselves. Start building this habit in preschool so they learn right away that going to school on time, every day, is important. Good attendance will help children do well in high school, college, and at work.

Source: attendanceworks.org, Help your child succeed in school: Build the habit of good attendance early.
Your School Counselor

Elementary school counselors are professional educators with at least a masters' degree and an understanding of the unique challenges presented to today’s children.

They align their work (e.g. classroom guidance, small group counseling, individual counseling, parent conferencing, referrals) to support the growth and development of all students as they prepare for the 21st century.

For more information, contact your school counselor.

Elementary School

Skills for Learning & Life

Academic Achievement - Skills for Learning

College-Career Aspirations - Skills for Earning

Attendance

Your School Counselor