Social Emotional Learning

At St. Mark's, we believe that each student is unique. School counselors are trained in child development, learning strategies, self-management, and social skills, as well as how to understand and promote student success for our diverse learners. Our counselor works diligently to meet each student where they are to provide emotional and social support for their ultimate growth. Social emotional learning (SEL) lessons are taught campus-wide by our school counselor to help develop character values, decision-making, communication, emotional regulation, and life skills. Character education helps students achieve academic, career, and social/emotional development goals to become positive contributors of society. Our 6 Pillars of Good Character include trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, and good citizenship. These traits are explicitly taught throughout the campus.

Students are encouraged to reach out to the counselor for individual support, and may do so by asking their parent, teacher, advisor, or division head to make an appointment by email or phone call. Students are also encouraged to directly contact the counselor if they need to talk. 

Our school counselor does not directly counsel 8th grade students in relation to high school placement; however, she is available to assist students who request a meeting to talk through this stressful decision. 

Small group work is utilized to promote social and emotional development with students in a smaller setting. Specifically, Life 101 was created, under the leadership of the counselor, to address specific areas that middle school students face on a continual basis. Some of the themes for these groups include: social skills, personal influence, stress management, and healthy habits.

Learn about our Social-Emotional Learning Curriculum