Student Support
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Congressional's care extends beyond academics.
We are committed to the comprehensive, personal development of each student -
intellectual, social, emotional and ethical.
Counselor
Even beyond parents and faculty, students have other people they can turn to
for compassionate guidance. Chief among these is Congressional's own full-time
counselor. Working closely with faculty and children, the counselor addresses
social, emotional, and academic issues. From simple manners through conflict
resolution, from daily decision-making through peer pressure, our counselor helps
students develop positive life skills as well as overcome immediate difficulties.
(The Counselor is guided by the Ethical Standards for School Counselors of the
ASCA).
Peer Mediation
The Peer Mediation Program in the Lower and Middle
Schools seeks to assist students in grades 3-8 in the resolution
of conflicts between students. It is based on the idea
that students can resolve common interpersonal conflicts
themselves by following a highly structured, yet simple
process. Peer Mediation is effective because students tend
to trust their peers, understand the types of situations
that provoke conflict within their own age groups, and
do not see each other as authority figures.
Students in grades 6-8 who desire to become peer mediators and whom classmates feel can be effective mediators are trained by the school counselor. They work in pairs to assist disputing students in the peaceful expression and resolution of their conflicts by helping them express their conflicts and find their own solutions. The mediation process is entirely voluntary (and the school counselor monitors all mediations).
Character Development
The "Campaign for Respect", modeled on the
Congressional Schools Honor Code, "RESPECT FOR OTHERS
- RESPECT FOR THE PROPERTY OF OTHERS - RESPECT FOR YOURSELF",
is a character education program that encompasses several
universally important ethical values, including responsibility,
trustworthiness, caring, fairness, good citizenship, and
respect. "Campaign for Respect" seeks to help
students to understand these values and to live by them through
the exploration of monthly themes presented in an age-appropriate
manner.
Study Skills
The Study Skills Program at Congressional is designed to
provide the skills that are necessary for academic success. The
goal of the program is to increase students' confidence in their
own ability and to teach them to approach academic challenges
with a positive attitude. Both of these goals are achievable by
equipping students with study skills that allow them to have success
with each and every homework assignment, in-class project, and
test. Through a specially designed 5-week course, students learn
efficient home study techniques, new note-taking guidelines, ideas
for memorizing information, and tips to improve reading comprehension.
Advisory Program
The key belief in middle school advisory programs is that
early adolescents need an adult at their school to serve as a
mentor, guide, and advocate - someone who knows them well and
works with them closely, in a non judgmental way, as they succeed,
fumble, and stumble through adolescence. The mission of Congressional's
program is to foster student understanding of themselves as learners
and people. By emphasizing values of citizenship, personal responsibility,
self-discipline, and respect for others, students learn how they
contribute to the overall climate of the school community. Our
hope is that the Advisory Program will help students understand
this time of rapid change in their lives.
The Advisory Program provides fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth
grade students with opportunities for regular communication with
a teacher/administrator advisor, which can include elements of their
academic, social, and emotional life. Topics typically discussed
are homework, study skills, ideas, social concerns, athletic involvement,
caring, understanding, upcoming school events, high school questions,
friendships and such. The Advisory Program is not meant to take
the place of the counselor, but to offer another avenue for support.
Nurse
A registered nurse and/or clinic aide is on campus from
8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. to address the health and safety needs
of Congressional children and to assist parents.