OUR LADY OF
LOURDES CATHOLIC
SCHOOL
GUIDANCE DEPARTMENT
SERVICES
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VIRTUE CLASSES
Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School has adopted the Virtue
of the Week program that was implemented by the Diocese
of Orlando for all Catholic churches in the diocese.
Collaborating with the church, the Virtue of the Week
program is presented in the classrooms throughout the
school. The guidance counselor presents a 30 minute class
to each grade once per week. The lesson emphasizes on the
virtue for that week through scripture readings, discussion,
games, song, dance, role playing, crafts & activities.
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INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING
Individual counseling is provided from the licensed and certified
school guidance counselor. Students may request a meeting or
be recommended by a parent, teacher or staff member of Our
Lady of Lourdes Catholic School or Parish. Concerns, issues or
problems regarding behavior, academics, social interactions,
expectations from home or school, emotional guidance or
spiritual support are addressed with the student. Brief
counseling is provided under the guidelines of the Diocese of
Orlando, reaffirming the faith and disciplines of the Catholic
Church. Therapeutic techniques and strategies are incorporated
in providing skills the students may need to be successful.
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SMALL GROUP INTERVENTIONS
LUNCH GROUPS
Lunch groups are an opportunity for the students to congregate in the
guidance office for lunch. These lunch groups meet in a small group
setting as a support group to discuss issues of concerns in an
informal manner and learn to be compassionate to one another as
they relate to similar issues, both at school and at home. Each day’s
group is for a different issue, including anger, sadness/loss,
impulse/self-control, girl issues, and friendship skills. The students
may sign up on their own or be referred by a teacher, staff or parent.
The lunch groups are completely voluntary and rotate halfway
through the year to provide this opportunity of support to all the
students in the school.
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SMALL GROUP INTERVENTIONS
Snack Groups
Snack groups are a voluntary group of students that want to
spend their snack break talking with their friends in a more
private setting in the guidance office. The students determine
their own participation and it is open to anyone who wants to join
during that time. Although it is hosted and monitored by the
guidance counselor, it is requested by the students and therefore
governed by them as well. Intervention by the guidance
counselor is provided on an as-needed basis.
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SMALL GROUP INTERVENTIONS
Team Building
Teachers may request for the guidance counselor to
facilitate a Team Building group for their classroom. This
group meets once a week & is designed to help encourage
and build bonds amongst the students in the class. The
students are chosen at random by the teacher in order to
provide an opportunity for all the students to have a chance
to bond with one another, resulting in a different blend of
students each week. The students may participate in
various activities, crafts, games, songs & lessons to develop
better friendship & communication skills.
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SMALL GROUP INTERVENTIONS
Conflict Resolution
Conflict resolution services may be requested by teachers, parents,
administration or self-referral by the students themselves. Typically the
student(s) may be having an ongoing issue or concern with another student(s)
that is not being resolved through their own attempts and efforts, or
intervention by a teacher. The situation may be continuing despite what has
been done or corrected, and possibly escalating. The students involved will be
invited to explain, identify, process & come to a mutual agreement of
resolution regarding the issue. The students will sign a contract of respect &
agree to return to the guidance counselor to revise if the issue continues.
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SMALL GROUP INTERVENTIONS
Group Counseling
Group counseling may be requested for students that are dealing with a
particular emotional issue that need coping strategies or techniques. The
students learn to manage their emotions in a healthy & productive way while
supporting one another throughout the school day. Facilitated by the guidance
counselor, with reference from outside resources, the groups would meet once
a week with students that are age appropriate & address the issue or concern,
identify the triggers, determine the options to cope & practice the skills to
resolve the situation in a calm, safe & positive manner.
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CLASSROOM INTERVENTIONS
Teacher and student concerns are addressed in the classroom with large
group or whole class discussion. These interventions may include topics
regarding conflict resolution, problem solving, social skill building, selfcontrol, communication skills, positive behavior reinforcements toward
one another, character development, among other topics specific to the
situation at hand. These interventions focus on reinforcing Our Lady of
Lourdes core Catholic-values as a school, church and part of the
community. The means of implementing the interventions may be
delivered via whole group or class discussion, activities, role playing, goal
setting, or daily strategy practice.
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STUDENT ACTIVITIES
The guidance department coordinates some activities for the students
throughout the year that support Our Lady of Lourdes efforts of
teaching the core Catholic values and virtues. The school body
participates as a whole to celebrate Red Ribbon Week-Drug Free
Awareness, Our Lady of Lourdes Kindness month, Unity Day, Our Lady
of Lourdes Peace Day, as well as working with the community to share
the cards, letters, placemats & bookmarks the students make to give
best wishes to those in the community.
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PARENT COLLABORATION
Parent Classes: “It’s Time to Be a Parent” Presentation
Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School & Parish collaborated with the
Brevard Sherriff’s Department to bring “It’s Time to Be a Parent Again”
for all the parents of the school, congregation & community. In two
hours, the Sherriff’s department, the attorney general, and the inmates
of Brevard County present the legal, ethical & moral responsibilities of
being a parent in today’s society.
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PARENT COLLABORATION
Parent Classes: Calm Parent University
Offered once or twice per year, Calm Parent University is a
four week program that is presented once a week for two
hours. Hosted by the guidance counselor, participants
watch a video presentation and discuss amongst their peers
regarding the ideas from the video. They receive ten
parenting skills per week that help them with the topics of:
Ways to stop the yelling, lecturing & power struggles; Ways
to discipline: Get kids to listen the first time; Ways to stop
defiance, disrespect & meltdowns; Ways to motivate kids
without crushing their spirits.
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PARENT COLLABORATION
Parent/Teacher meetings
Parent/teacher meetings are allotted twice a year on a structured
schedule set by the administration, but can be requested at any time
throughout the year. Parents may coordinate a parent/teacher
conference through the homeroom teacher, the administrative office,
student services or the guidance counselor.
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PARENT COLLABORATION
Individual Parent Consultation
Parents may request a private meeting with the guidance
counselor to discuss issues or concerns they may have regarding
their child. These consultations may involve identifying the
options available to create a support for the child’s needs,
developing a behavior or academic plan for the student at school
or home, arranging for individual counseling for the child while at
school, presenting various techniques or strategies for the parent
to implement at home or referring to outside agencies for
additional family support. The guidance counselor will maintain
communication with the teachers, staff & administration to
provide the best support for the child and the family.
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COMMUNITY RESOURCES
The Guidance Department establishes collaboration to provide Our
Lady of Lourdes Catholic School and its students and families
opportunity to work with various community agencies, organizations,
parishes, schools, missionaries & the Diocese of Orlando to spread
Catholic values. This is accomplished through encouraging volunteer
work, donations, having the students create thank you cards & letters,
celebrating OLL Kindness Month through Unity Day Bookmarks,
decorating Thanksgiving Day placemats & Christmas cards, among
other opportunities that arise.
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COMMUNITY RESOURCES
The guidance counselor may also assist parents/guardians that request
information regarding services available for support in the community.
The guidance counselor provides reliable resources and contacts that
help support the needs of the parents/guardians and family. The
guidance counselor communicates regularly with the parents/guardians
to ensure they are receiving the best care and guidance through the
community network, system & process.
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Contact
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