Counseling in the Elementary School

Benjamin Franklin has two counselors, one for Elementary and Middle Schools and another for High School. Our Counselors are advocates for students as well as a liaison and resource for faculty and families. The social and emotional development of students has a direct impact on their academic success and counselors assist students in working toward reaching their full potential by monitoring academic progress and fostering social and emotional development.



ES Counseling
Written by Debora Real   

Mission

The mission of the Benjamin Franklin International School counseling program is to support students socially and emotionally in order to increase academic and personal success.  The counselors aim to help students identify obstacles in the following areas:  their success as learners, their physical and emotional wellness and safety, and their feelings of social membership.  The counselors serve as liaisons between the home, school, and community, and as such, the counseling program is one of advocacy and empowerment of our students, teachers and families.  It is our goal to allow for an environment where students feel safe, optimistic and prepared for success when they come to school each day.

The BFIS Counseling Department believes:

  • We believe all students contribute to the community.
  • We believe that students often possess the solutions to their own problems and that when they are given guidance and a chance to reflect and talk in a safe environment, they will be able to articulate their feelings and develop strategies for success.
  • We believe that challenges and failure should not be feared, but embraced and used as tools for further learning.
  • We believe that self-esteem and academic performance are intricately linked
  • We believe that good schools educate not only the mind, but the character of each student.
  • We believe counselors play a key role in helping students reflect upon and develop compassion, courtesy, curiosity, and openness to diversity en route to becoming responsible global citizens.

Counseling Department Objectives

The BFIS counselors will focus on raising community awareness in the following areas:

  • Peer relationships & Peer aggression
  • Developing self-esteem

The counseling department will also endeavor to:

  • Develop a K-12 guidance curriculum
  • Explore the possibility of an advisory program
  • Enhance the sense of community at BFIS via
    • Peer advocacy
    • Parent education
    • System Support