Student Well-Being
Happy minds make good learners.
At Hammond, empowering students to learn is always top of mind. We believe being successful learners is more than just strong academics. Our counseling team works closely with students to help them navigate issues and decisions that can impact teaching and learning.
School Counselor’s Role
Our counseling team works to create a future world in which students can thrive. They lead, advocate, and collaborate to promote equity and access for students, playing a vital role in fostering a safe, supportive, and inclusive environment where students can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. We collaborate with students, parents, and faculty to ensure each student reaches their full potential. From conflict resolution and stress management to self-advocacy and decision-making, we empower students with tools and skills that extend far beyond the classroom, preparing them for lifelong success.
Services
- Individual Counseling
Provide individual counseling to students that request to speak with us or students that are referred by a teacher, staff, or parent. This service will be provided on a short-term basis.
- Small Group Counseling
Small group counseling will be offered to students who may benefit from spending extra time developing academic, social, or emotional skills alongside their peers who are coping with similar life situations.
- Classroom Lessons
- Provide Parent Education Speakers and Sessions
| LOWER SCHOOL |
- Social-emotional learning (SEL) in lower school refers to the process by which young students learn to understand and manage their emotions, establish positive relationships, and make responsible decisions. It's about helping them develop key skills like self-awareness, self-regulation, social awareness, relationship building, and responsible decision-making.
- SEL is often integrated into daily classroom activities and interactions. Our Director of Lower School Guidance uses stories, role-playing, games, or discussions to teach students how to recognize and express feelings, empathize with others, and solve. The goal is to build a foundation for emotional intelligence that can help students navigate social situations, handle conflicts, and build resilience.
- By incorporating SEL, students learn not only academic content, but also learn to interact respectfully and compassionately with others, an essential component to their overall development and well-being.
- Working with students to promote self- awareness skills, self-management skills, social awareness skills, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making skills.
- Whole Group Guidance lessons
- Weekly Social Emotional Lessons (SEL)
- Working with Students in Small Groups
- Lunch Bunch Meetings
- Working with Children One-on-One
- Provide Parent Education Tips
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| MIDDLE SCHOOL |
- Counselors meet individually with new students to help these students smoothly transition to Hammond.
- Lunch Bunch groups are proactive in helping build relationships with students.
- In addition to working with students individually, our Middle School Counselor teaches HAWK (Health, Academics, Wellness, Knowledge, Skills) class, a wellness class for 5th and 6th graders. The goal of HAWKS is to equip students with the tools and strategies they need to thrive in all areas of life. Through engaging activities and games, daily journaling, interactive discussion, and real-life world applications, students will develop essential skills for personal growth, emotional well-being, and positive relationships. Students learn about the importance of self-awareness and identify strengths and areas of growth within themselves while also identifying emotions.
- Advisory Program
Builds relationships that fosters a climate of support for interpersonal and academic wellness.
Topics covered: kindness, empathy, social media, healthy choice, nutrition, quarterly grade reflection, relationship building, problem solving, decision-making.
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| UPPER SCHOOL |
The upper school counselor provides support to students with social, emotional, and academic needs. The upper school counseling program provides education, prevention, and intervention activities, which are integrated into all aspects of students’ lives. The program teaches knowledge, attitudes, and skills students need to acquire in academic, career, and social/emotional development.
- Advocacy and collaboration with school staff, administration, and community/family members in the delivery of programs and activities to help students achieve success.
- Collaboration with teachers and parents on early identification of children’s academic and social/emotional needs
Indirect student services:
- Consultation – share strategies supporting student achievement with all relevant stakeholders.
- Collaboration – work with other educators, parents, and the community to support student achievement.
- Referrals – support for students and families to school or community resources for additional assistance and information.
- Parent programs
Direct student services:
- Appraisal and advisement – assessing student abilities, interests, and achievement to help them make decisions about their future.
- Counseling – providing professional assistance and support to a student or small group of students during times of transition, heightened stress, critical change, or other situations impeding student success. Prepared to recognize and respond to student mental health needs and to assist students and families seeking resources.
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| HAMMOND WELLNESS TEAM |
- The Hammond Wellness Team meets monthly to create initiatives that promote the overall wellness of students, parents, and staff. The team consists of members from our athletic department, school counselors, nurses, college counselors, and academic support in order provide a diverse group with different perspectives to best meet the needs of our community.
- Wellness may be defined differently for everyone and is often based on values and priorities Overall, wellness refers to physical, mental, and emotional health where one feels at peace. Most commonly, wellness is created through healthy habits and a balanced lifestyle.
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