Dear Parent(s),

During the year I offer different small groups based on the needs of the students. Many elementary students have taken part in these small groups and have found them to be helpful.

If you would like your child to take part in a small group, please use this form below to sign them up. Below is a description of the different groups. Please remember, participation in these groups is voluntary. The groups meet weekly for about 6-8 sessions and are facilitated by me. All of the groups meet during their lunch and noon recess time.

Divorce Group – Parent Referral Needed

This group is offered for students in grades 1-6 whose parents have or are going through a divorce. Students in grades 1-3 are together and students 4-6 are together. Students are able to express the various feelings they have regarding divorce through activities, discussion, books, and art.

Friendship Group – Parent or Teacher Referral Needed

This group is also divided by grade. In this group students will work on ways to make and keep friends and will learn how to communicate and treat friends with respect. We will also do self-esteem and cooperation building activities that facilitate friendship building.

Positive Choices Group – Parent or Teacher Referral Needed

This is a group designed to help 3-6^th graders learn how to make positive choices and set attainable personal and academic goals. In this group students will focus on improving self-esteem and learn decision making skills that will help them even if they are faced with situations that are not positive.

Affected Family Member Group – Parent or Student Referral

This group is designed for students in grades 4-6 who are affected by a family member’s use of alcohol or other drug. In addition to parents referring their child, students are allowed to sign themselves up for this group.

Sticks and Stones Group – Parent Permission Needed

This group is offered for students in order to address the different forms of bullying. The students will learn how to identify bullying---it is NOT ALWAYS PHYSICAL---, what to do if they or someone they know is being bullied, and what to do to stop bullying. We will be doing different activities to address these topics.

Study Skills Group – Parent Permission Needed

This group is designed for students grades 4-6 who need an extra “boost” in developing their study skills. The students will learn important skills such as incorporating good listening skills into their classroom behavior, scheduling homework assignments, balancing school work with other activities, and how to prioritize work.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to call.

Sincerely,

Courtney Quast

Guidance Counselor