Nestled high in the southern rockies, seven miles from the nearest town, sits a little school district of just 385 students. The area of the San Luis Valley is where we call home and it is both rural and starkly beautiful. Our students come from many different backgrounds, both culturally and financially. Many travel over an hour a day on snowy roads and dusty lanes to attend our school. The student body is a colorful blend of personalities with endless potential for bright and successful futures.
Our bibliotherapy based elementary school counseling program, which serves 194 of the district's 385 total students, is vital in teaching our students how to build respect for themselves as well as their peers.
Students must blossom socially and emotionally in order to grow to their full academic potential. Help us continue to cultivate a culture of kindness, respect, and empathy by supporting our program.
My Project
By increasing the social and emotional well-being of all children, we strive to increase the academic performance of students through weekly counseling lessons in grades K-6th. The books we are requesting are needed to deliver these lessons. They are specifically linked to our American School Counseling Association standards and are the springboard to teaching kids skills to increase social and emotional health. As research indicates the most significant way to decrease negative behaviors (such as bullying) which are key inhibitors to school success, is by teaching kindness, empathy, respect, and tolerance along with positive ways to identify and manage emotions.
The counseling program's vision is to contribute to the vision of the district to be "the highest performing school district in the San Luis Valley and in the top 10% in the state by implementing effective and challenging academic models which inspire, create, and result in higher levels of student learning.” All students will participate in rigorous curriculum and high-quality opportunities for a self-directed personal growth supported by the comprehensive school counseling program that facilitates strategic partnerships between the school, family, and community.
Socially and emotionally sound individuals are the most effective leaders of tomorrow.
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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Mrs. Naranjo and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.