By Bethany BROWN

In a presentation on Sept. 29, Rosemont Middle School counselors highlighted the many services they offer students. The cafeteria filled with a separate group of eighth grade students each period with all students and staff adhering to mask guidelines. The seventh grade presentation is scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 13.

The presentation provided students with information on how to seek help in three areas: socially, emotionally and academically.

“When we do these presentations it’s to define what we are doing as counselors and our role to help,” counselor Paul Gillespie said. “We ask, ‘Why do you want to see us and how can we best help you?’”

Services offered in social and emotional areas include conflict resolution, appropriate communication skills, warnings regarding social media, healthy coping strategies, stress management and community referrals for further care as needed.

Allison Brown, eighth grade counselor, and Gillespie, seventh grade, emphasized their focus on emotional assistance to students as they navigate the transition back to in-person learning after learning remotely last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I have seen a big increase in the need for emotional support, a lot of it having to do with the pandemic, the isolation of remote learning, and then anxiety around returning,” Brown said.

Brown further discussed the need for an individual “toolbox” for each student in which they could use coping tools to ease the stress of adjusting to this transition period. There are a vast number of resources being offered and Rosemont counselors want to remind students where they can go to get their questions answered or get help.

“I want students to feel comfortable here … at this time my main concern isn’t on academics, it’s on social and emotional [well-being],” Gillespie said. “If students aren’t adjusted well, if they’re not comfortable being at school for whatever reason, the learning isn’t going to be taking place very well.”

Although the presentation primarily focused on social and emotional aspects due to the current concerns surrounding mental health in youth, academics were also highlighted, particularly for eighth graders.

Course placement, interventions and support meetings with teachers, tutors and parents are some of the services, among others, available to students. For eighth graders, information regarding college and career pathways, promotion requirements and A-G requirements were also discussed.

“What we really want our students to walk away with after the presentation is a sense of comfort and security and the knowledge of the services available to them,” Brown said. “We want them to know we’re always here to help them with whatever struggles they’re having or hurdles they need to get over so that learning can take place effectively.”