• Guidance Groups

    Our guidance groups are small group counseling meetings that are specifically designed to meet the needs of Happy Valley Middle School Students. Information is gathered at the end of each school year regarding the many issues that our students deal with on a daily basis. This "needs assessment" and input from teachers directly influences the groups we run through our department.

    During the 2009-2010 school year we have groups meeting regularly for...

    Anger Management: Grades 7 & 8. Have you noticed that you are angrier this year than any other year and your anger is interfering with your friendships or family? This group explores ways of expressing anger in a positive way rather than a negative one.

    Stress Management: Grades 6 & 7. This group will help students develop coping skills for dealing with the stress and pressures of school, peer relationships, and of being a pre-teen in a complicated world.

    Bully Stoppers: All grades are invited to meet during school to work on strategies to handle bullying and peer put-downs, including how and when to seek adult help. Students will also plan and implement activities to convey a school-wide anti-bullying message.

    Changing Families: All grades. This group is designed for students who are part of a step-family, divorce family, separation family, blended family, or experiencing any difficult change within the family.

    Rainbows Program: All grades. Rainbows is an international program designed for children and teens who have suffered a major loss, such as a death within the family. Students provide support for one another, guided by the counselor.

    Concerned Kids: All grades. This group discusses the consequences to students and adults who use alcohol and other drugs.

    Friendship: Grade 6. Who couldn't use another friend? This group explores differences in friendships and the skills needed to make and keep friends.

    Girls/Guys on the Go: Grades 7 & 8. Students meet separately with female/male students of the same grade level. Each group will discuss the common adolescent issues that middle school girls and boys face.

    Social Skills: All grades. The counselor will guide students in making behavioral changes in order to improve their social skills, such as respectful listening, accepting peer feedback, communicating effectively, and working as a team. Board games will often be utilized, especially chess.

    Teens with ADHD: Grades 6 & 7. This group will help students with ADHD better understand and deal with issues related to ADHD so they can feel more in control and be successful in school.

    Quit2Win: Grade 8. A voluntary teen smoking cessation support group for students who want to stop smoking. The support group meets once a week for 10 weeks.

    Conflict Mediation: All Grades. Students are trained to be conflict mediators. Students learn how to help other students on their grade level to peacefully settle disputes or disagreements.