Counselor Corner

This week, our 9th–12th grade students officially began SEL and kicked off their first motif, Sense of Self and Overall Well-Being. Throughout this motif, students will explore practical skills that support both their personal wellness and success at school. We will focus on managing emotional responses in ways that support focus, judgment, and classroom engagement, as well as using effective coping strategies to manage academic and social stress. Students will also examine how media habits, sleep, and daily routines can affect mood, energy, focus, performance, and overall well-being. As we move through the motif, students will set personal well-being goals and identify the supports and potential barriers that may affect their ability to follow through. Our goal is to help students better understand themselves while building healthy, realistic habits they can carry into life beyond Hill School.

This week, our Lower School and Middle School students completed their first week of SEL, with High School beginning next week! We started the year by focusing on our first competency, cooperation, and the skills that help us work and interact positively with others. Students discussed mutual respect, healthy communication, boundaries, and what it means to show respect through our words and actions. These are skills students can use every day, whether they are working with classmates, navigating friendships, communicating with teachers, or interacting with family at home. As we continue our SEL lessons, students will have opportunities to practice these skills and apply them to real life situations. I encourage families to continue these conversations at home and reinforce the same language, and skills students are learning at school!

SEL Is Starting!

SEL starts next week... yay! We are so excited to kick off another year of Social-Emotional Learning with our students!

Our K–8 students will begin the year focusing on Cooperation, with each grade level exploring the topic in an age-appropriate way:

K–1: Getting to Know Others

2–3: Showing Respect Everywhere!

4–5: Thinking Beyond Yourself

6–7: Navigating the Ups and Downs of Friendships

8th Grade: Respect!

Our 9–12 students will begin with Sense of Self and Overall Well-Being, focusing on understanding themselves, building self-awareness, and supporting their overall well-being.

Keep an eye on your email! When we introduce a new topic, I will send a School-to-Home Connection with information and ideas to help families learn more about what students are working on at school and find simple ways to continue these important skills at home.

We can’t wait to get started!

The start of a new school year can bring a mix of excitement and stress for students. New routines, earlier mornings, homework, new teachers, and getting back into the rhythm of school can all take some adjustment. It’s completely normal for students to feel a little more tired, emotional, or overwhelmed during this transition.

One of the best ways to help your child adjust is to get back into a consistent sleep routine. Try moving bedtime and wake-up time earlier gradually, keeping a consistent schedule each day, and limiting screens before bedtime. A calm bedtime routine such as reading, taking a shower, or listening to quiet music can also help signal that it’s time to wind down.

Most importantly, give your child (and yourself!) some grace during these first few weeks. Changes in routine take time, and small steps can make a big difference.

I am so excited to step into my new role as Hill School’s School Counselor this year! One of my biggest goals is to continue strengthening the social-emotional support we provide our students and to make Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) an intentional part of the Hill School experience.

Our Lower School students will participate in weekly SEL lessons, while Middle School and High School students will participate in lessons every other week. Throughout the year, students will build skills around the CARES competencies:

C – Cooperation
A – Assertiveness
R – Responsibility
E – Empathy
S – Self-Control

We also want these skills to carry over beyond the school day! Parents and caregivers will receive School-to-Home Connections through email or text that share what students are learning at school, along with simple ideas for practicing and reinforcing those skills at home. Our hope is to bridge the gap between school and home and create a shared language around social-emotional growth.

Our 9th–12th grade students will also utilize a High School Toolkit designed to help prepare them for adulthood and life after Hill School. Lessons will focus on meaningful, real-world topics and skills that support independence, healthy relationships, responsible decision-making, self-awareness, and future readiness.

I am incredibly excited for the year ahead and grateful for the opportunity to support our students and families in this new role. Please never hesitate to reach out to me with questions, concerns, comments, or ideas. I value our partnership with families and look forward to working together to help every Hill School student grow academically, socially, and emotionally. - Ms. Waller