Counseling Groups

"Career Awareness Day" is the culminating event of the Career Exploration Unit in the Eighth Grade Advisory Program. Initially, students complete a career inventory, which helps them think about their interests, aptitudes, and values. Upon completion of the inventory, there are group discussions regarding careers that match the students’ profiles. The goal is not to “pick” a career, but rather to have students begin the thought process that will eventually lead them to help make critical life decisions. On Career Awareness Day, parents and other speakers from various fields meet with groups of eighth grade students to discuss their individual careers and answer students’ questions.

"TeenTalk” is a group that is designed to help middle school girls build self-confidence, address real-life situations, and learn the importance of building and maintaining healthy relationships.  The group meets once a week for approximately 6-8 weeks. Members engage in a variety of activities and discussions designed to empower students on learning effective strategies and skills to achieve more positive relationships.  Through the facilitation of counselors, members of the group feel a sense of cohesiveness, unity, and are able to positively reflect on their own growth and development.

This group is intended to reach those students who have siblings with special needs.  Our goal is to provide a fun supportive opportunity for kids to connect with peers who have a commonality.  Topics will be geared towards the needs pf the group and appropriate for all middle school ages.

LCJSMS is happy to announce a new club, Students Helping Students, a club focused on bettering the Mental Health of our student population. This club is for 8th-grade students who are committed to thinking of new ideas, discussing relevant issues our students face, implementing school-wide Mental Health campaigns, fundraising for Mental Health organizations and student activities focused on these topics, and educating students on mental health disorders. For more information, please reach out to Ms. Galasso or Ms. Malysa.

Dealing with grief is never easy for anyone, but for children it is even harder. Children do not always have the tools to know how to deal with grief. Therefore, as adults, we have to educate and work with these students to help them cope.  At LCJSMS school counselors are trained in the "Rainbows" curriculum and conduct groups to help students cope with the emotions surrounding divorce, separation, or the death of a loved one.  "Rainbows" is an international, non-profit organization that fosters emotional healing for students grieving from a loss or life-altering event.  The LCJSMS "Rainbows" group meets once a week for a specified period of time.  The goal of these sessions is to help children put their feelings into words and work through their grief, to build a stronger sense of self-esteem, and to begin to accept what has taken place in their lives.