At The École, we adopt a holistic approach to support the social, emotional, and academic development of every student.

The École team offers a range of direct and indirect services, customizing our approach to meet the unique needs of each individual. The support offered to students is structured into two key departments: a STRIVE Department and a Counseling Department, which includes a special unit called EST Educational Support Team.

The Counseling Department

The Counseling Department consists of a school counselor and a French psychologist. The team provides French or English counseling for individual students or groups. The international team is multiculturally competent to respond to the needs of The École’s diverse community. The Counseling Department’s mission centers on social-emotional learning. Social-emotional learning (SEL) is a soft skill that teaches children how to regulate their emotions by developing self-control, fostering positive peer interactions, and strengthening their focus on academic development and achievement. Social-emotional learning is measured by specific attainable goals and can be taught by one-on-one counseling, group counseling, guidance lessons, and advisory classes. 

Our counselors’ doors are always open, and they are a visible presence in all grades, from Pre-Nursery through 8th Grade. A crucial role that our counselors play is in providing the space, support, and guidance to enable our students to resolve conflicts in a healthy, productive, and respectful manner. 

Counseling

  • “Short-term, solutions-focused” counseling, which aims to provide the appropriate support required so that the child may return to the classroom feeling supported, at peace, restored, and ready to learn. 
  • “Longer-term” counseling, whose objective is to create consistency in the support we provide, as needed and at the pace of the child in question, so that they can develop the tools to confront the issues they are facing. Should any learning or social-emotional challenge arise that is beyond the school’s scope, we can make referrals to outside providers.
  • Crisis counseling: Crisis counseling at school provides immediate support to students and staff following traumatic events, such as the death of a community member, natural disasters, or violence. The goal is to help individuals cope with their emotions, reduce stress, and regain a sense of stability. Counselors offer emotional support, teach coping strategies, and connect individuals with additional resources when needed.
  • Conflict resolution in groups focuses on helping students navigate disagreements in a constructive and respectful way. The counseling team guides students through effective communication, active listening, and problem-solving techniques, encouraging them to understand differing perspectives and find common ground.

Counseling Department Initiatives

Guidance Lessons & Advisory

The Counseling Department also conducts regular in-class guidance lessons for students in Pre-Nursery through 5th Grade, offered in both French and English. The themes of these lessons include friendship, bullying, diversity, feelings, and kindness. 

Advisory in Middle School blends elements from both advisory and EMC (Enseignement Moral et Civique) from the French program, with a focus on fostering personal development, critical thinking, and social responsibility. It allows students to explore important topics such as ethical behavior, citizenship, safety, peer pressure, and societal concepts in a supportive environment. This dual approach encourages self-reflection while also promoting awareness of moral and civic values, ensuring students are equipped with the tools they might need to thrive in high school. Our team also conducts preventive health classes (addictions, sex education, mental health, and prevention regarding the use of screens and social media).

Lunch Bunches

Allow small groups of students to practice social skills, solidify peer relationships, and develop empathy and kindness through counselor-led games and activities during their lunch period. 

Friendly Falcons

The Friendly Falcon program pairs Middle School students with new students joining the school to ease the transition into a new school journey. This Counseling Department initiative creates a welcoming environment for new students by reflecting on the community spirit cherished at our school and promoting social-emotional learning within the school at large.

Counselor Chats

The counseling team also provides support and resource referrals to teachers and parents. Monthly parent presentations called Counselor Chats cover a variety of topics (e.g., concerns about screen use and separation anxiety). These chats are informative and serve the underlying goal of supporting the whole child.

Podcast

The Counseling Department will be launching a podcast in 2025 dedicated to exploring the vital role of social-emotional learning within our school community. The podcast will offer insightful conversations with experts and special guests.

Educational Support Team

The Educational Support Team (EST) is composed of our French-speaking psychologist, school counselor, special education teachers, administrators, and outside providers. This collaborative team meets weekly to review students who may require additional academic or social support. Together, they design and implement tailored interventions for students facing challenges, closely monitoring their progress to ensure no one is overlooked. If a need for a deeper evaluation seems necessary to support student achievements, the EST works closely with families, offering guidance and recommending private outside referrals. The team guides families and teachers throughout the entire process.

External Support – Partners Providers

The Counseling Department collaborates closely with Speech Therapist Lynn Dillon, French Orthophonist Juliette Pantic, and Occupational Therapist Lisa Taylor. Other outside providers work with our students on specific skills at the families’ discretion.