All students in grades K through 4 are involved in the guidance program at St. Henry Elementary School.  Students meet with the counselor one day a week with the rest of their class.  Classes are designed to meet the student skills of the Mercer County Guidance Curriculum:

  Students can gain self-awareness.

  Students can set educational and career goals.

  Students can control and direct feelings.

  Students can develop effective relationships with others.

  Students can practice strategies for resisting alcohol and other drugs.

  Students can make effective decisions.

  Students can resolve conflicts.

  Students can appropriately manage stress.

  Student can develop organizational and study skills.

 Parents are welcome to view the materials used in the guidance classes at any time and to ask questions about the material being discussed.

Kindergarten classes begin addressing how to get along with others following the Developing Understanding of Self and Others program and augmented with videos on dealing with anger.  DUSO is the hand puppet introduced.  He “guides” them through a variety of situations involving other animals and people.  The goal of this program is to introduce and reinforce our feelings and how to appropriately handle them.

First Grade classes are based on several book series designed to help students handle uncomfortable situations and make decisions appropriately.  Much of this is designed to help students gain self-awareness, assess relationships with others, and control and direct feelings.

Second Grade classes are again based on the Developing Understanding of Self and Others program.  At the second grade level, students attempt to learn to view situations from different points of view and to make decisions based upon our understanding of the situation and consequences.  Students are encouraged to apply new understandings to events in their own lives.  In addition students view videos that reinforce the need to make good decisions and begin problem solving/conflict management skills.

Third Grade classes follow the I Can Problem Solve program that develops the ability to problem solve by providing instruction and reinforcement for developing problem- solving skills and by giving students the opportunity to apply them.  In addition we use videos that reinforce students ability to make good decisions and get along with others.  This year I have also added basics of stress management.

Fourth Grade classes focus on a variety of skills.  The first and most important is understanding and managing stress.  Skills developed include identification of stressors, appropriate methods of handling the stressors including exercise, rest, diet, and relaxation, and consequences of not appropriately handling stress.  Included in this is dealing with test anxiety.  In addition we refine students abilities to resolve conflict appropriately and recognize bullying behaviors/harassment.

At all grade levels information concerning decision-making about drug and alcohol, safety issues, and career decision-making is provided.  As much as possible, we attempt to practice skills so students become comfortable with them and to attempt to apply them to students’ own lives and experiences.  We reinforce the importance of all of the people in the student’s life as valuable sources of information and support.