School Counseling

ASM’s Lower School is staffed with two full-time school counselors. Our growing multi-tiered system of support counseling program includes:

Transition 

Welcoming new students and their parents during Orientation and supporting students’ adjustment to their new community help students to feel a sense of connection and belonging.  Being a member of the ASM community, which is also an important component of Responsive Classroom, is the foundation that we build upon to ensure each student succeeds socially, emotionally, and academically.  Counselors also support students when they depart ASM.

Classroom lessons (Tier 1)

Counselors develop and implement activities and lessons, in collaboration with classroom teachers and grade-level teams, that are consistent with students' developmental stages and identified needs.  Lessons span the domains of academic, social, and career awareness.  The Lower School counselors are working to develop a standards-based program in which they are in the classrooms on a regular basis as part of Tier 1 support for all students.  

Small Groups (Tier 2)

A variety of small group activities occur throughout the year that focuses on academic and social-emotional development. These may include topics such as friendship, transition, conflict resolution, social skills, and growth mindset. These intentional interventions are considered Tier 2.

Individual Support (Tier 3) 

 In some instances, students need individualized support in order to fully engage in and access learning at school.  School counselors strive to know each student as an individual and provide them with the skills and habits of mind that support the development of  a growth mindset. The goal of short-term counseling in schools is to help students learn and use social-emotional regulation strategies to thrive. The topics may include maintaining a positive self-image, utilizing problem solving strategies, and coping skills.

Staff consultation

Counselors collaborate with teachers and other school staff to help each child reach their academic potential in a caring and connected community. This includes Responsive Classroom practices. 
Parent presentations and workshops
The Lower School Counselors give a range of parent presentations and workshops on educational and developmental changes in order to develop a shared foundation of information, ensure parents are familiar with ASM’s programs and services, as well as to strengthen the home and school partnership.

Counseling in the MS is aimed at supporting the social, emotional and academic well-being of all students. The Counselor, with the Student Support Team,  works to identify the right classes for students, to support students making the transition to the ASM Middle School, to help problem-solve issues that can come up during these exciting but sometimes turbulent years.

In addition to supporting the Middle School Advisory program, the counselor meets with students individually or in groups when they have personal, academic, emotional or social difficulties to work through. The counselor also meets with the teachers, the learning support team and administration regularly, to maintain ongoing communication regarding students or situations of concern. The Middle School counseling program is based on a growth mindset approach - looking to students’ strengths when building strategies and interventions. 

The counseling program in High School deals with career advising, university planning, as well as academic and social and emotional support.

Our ASM college counseling team combines decades of experience with the most up-to-date information on university admissions in the United States, the UK, and Europe. Their expertise, connections, and deep understanding of the process ensure that students have the best possible resources to support them on the path to life beyond ASM.