ISBSCHOOLCOUNSELLING PROGRAMME
At ISB, the mission of our School Counselling Programme is to guide and support each student’sjourney Ourteamofdedicatedschoolcounsellorsworksacrosseverysectionof ourschool,offeringacomprehensiveprogrammethatempowersacademic,personal,social, career, and global development. This is accomplished through classroom lessons, small groups,andindividualcounselling
Participants: Petal Jaffrey (Counsellor, ECC), Carla John-Nagel (Counsellor, ES), Sandie Pergallini(GuidanceCounsellor,MS),CadenceScharff(Counsellor,MS),KatieCherry(Social &EmotionalCounsellor,HS),CatherineIrvine(HeadofHSCounselling).
WhatistheISBSchoolCounsellingProgramme?
Petal:AtISB,ourCounsellingServiceisbuiltaroundhelpingstudentsthriveineveryaspectof theirschoollife.Ourapproachisbothproactiveandsupportive,tailoredtotheuniqueneeds ofeachagegroupIntheEarlyChildhoodCentre,Iworkcloselywitheachteachertoconduct monthlyclassroomlessonsthatfostersocialandemotionalgrowth,helpingchildrenbuild importantinterpersonalskillsandencouragingtheBig4values:kindness,safety,fairness, andrespectForthosestudentsneedingmore,Ioffersmallgroupandindividualsupport
Carla: ElementarySchoolcontinuestobuildonthisintegrativeapproachbyprovidinga programme that is embedded throughout the classes and students, through a shared languageandlearningexperiences.Therearevariouswaysexploredthroughclasses,group sessions,one-to-one,andcollaboratingwitheducatorsandfamilies Thispromotesstudent learningandwellbeingacademically,emotionally,andsocially
Cady: Middle School brings new challenges, and our School Counselling Programme is designedtohelpstudentsnavigatethetransitionfromchildhoodtoadolescence Througha combinationofone-on-onesessions,groupcounselling,andparentconsultations,wecreate an environment for students to feel supported during these new experiences, leading to growthacademically,socially,andemotionally.
Katie:InHighSchool,wehelpstudentsfindabalancebetweentheirpresentlifeandtheir futureplansafterISB Ourcounsellorshelpstudentsdefinegoals,planforfutureacademics andcareers,andbuildtheemotionalskillsthey’llneedastheytransitiontoadulthood.Every serviceisdesignedtoremoveobstaclestolearningandpavethewayforfuturesuccess
Whatcannewfamiliesexpectintheirfirst60daysatISB?
Petal:WerecentlysharedapresentationwithfamiliestosupporttheirtransitionintoISB,to helpfamiliesunderstandthetransitioncycle,andtohelpthemrecognisewheretheyarein the cycle. New students are closely monitored to ensure that they are settling well and makingfriends.Learningconferencesarethetimeformetoconnectwithfamilieswhoare interestedintalkingmoreabouttheirchild’stransitiontoISBandwhenIcanofferresources specifictotheirfamily’sneeds.
Carla:Transitioncanbeexcitingandchallengingatthesametime Ourroleistosupport familiesthroughthesechanges.Itbeginsevenbeforethefirstdaywherefamiliescanhave accesstoresourcesandstrategiestohelpsupporttheirtransition Wehaveanewstudent orientationday,followedbyasettling-inperiodwhereabuddysystemisused Thereare regularcheck-inswiththecounsellortoensurestudentsandfamiliesaresupportedintheir stageoftransition Therearealsosocialsupportsinplacesuchasfriendshiplunchesand pizzapartiestoguideformingnewfriendshipsandrelationships.
Cady:InMiddleSchool,commonchallengeswithtransitionarearoundgapsinacademics and changing friendships School counsellors help students with problem solving and comingupwithoptionsfornextsteps.Ifastudentwouldlikemoredirectassistance,wecan alsosupporttheminconversationswithateacherorintroductionswithotherstudents.We placeemphasisoncomfortandcommunitybypairingeachnewstudentwithabuddywho speakstheirhomelanguage,wheneverpossible.Fromdayone,theyreceiveaguidedtour fromastudentbuddy,meettheirteachers,andspendthefirstweekwiththeirbuddyduring breaks and lunch to ease their social transition. Regular follow-ups from the counsellors providefurthersupporttoensurethey’rethrivingandbuildingfriendships
Katie:WeunderstandtheimportanceofasmoothtransitionfornewstudentsandfamiliesIn thefirst60days,weprovidearangeofsupporttoensureeveryonefeelswelcomedand connected Beforethefirstdayofschool,HighSchoolstudentsandfamilieswillmeetwith theircounsellortoselecttheircoursesandlearnmoreaboutpathwaysandopportunitiesin theHighSchool Ontheirfirstday,studentsarepairedwithabuddyandreceiveregular check-insfromoursocial-emotionalcounsellorduringtheirfirstfewweeks.Wemonitortheir adjustmentcloselyandprovideextrasupportwheneverneeded
Howdoyouproactivelysupportstudentstonavigatechallengesspecifictotheirage group?
Carla:OurproactiveapproachatISBintegratesindividualmeetings,classroomguidance, andfamilysupporttoaddressthewholechild’sneeds.WefollowtheInternationalSchool CounsellingAssociationstandardsandregularlycommunicatewithparentstostrengthen the home-school connection, sharing ideas that reinforce skills taught in school Often, informationonthelessonisthensharedwithparentsviaourlearningplatforms,withideas onhowtheycanreinforcetheskillathome
Catherine:OurHSCounsellingteamworksfromacomprehensiveandwhole-personmodel. Weworkcloselywithstudentsandfamiliestoofferpersonalisedsupportfortheirchosen pathways.Whenstudentsarefacedwithchallengesinschoolorwithfutureplanning,we employ a two-pronged approach. Students will continue checking-in with their ComprehensiveCounsellor,butwillalsobescheduledtomeetwiththeSocialEmotional Counsellor.Thisway,weareaddressingalltheneedsofthestudentontheirjourneytowards success
Whatresourcesareavailabletoparents?
Sandie: Supporting parents is an essential part of our work. We are always available to discuss any concerns or questions, whether through in-person meetings, phone calls, or virtualsessions.Additionally,ourteamhelpsconnectthefamilieswiththelocalresources,if theywouldliketoseekexternalsupportfortheirchildorfamily
Watchourcounsellorsinactioninthevideobelow.
