Along with the usual services of the Counseling Office, which include counseling students, parents and teachers, the team has developed programs aimed at inspiring students, as well as improving and cultivating a positive school climate.

Reception of incoming 7th grade students
This practice, established in 2005, aims at helping 7th grade (A΄ Gymnasium) students to integrate smoothly into Junior High School.  Eighth grade (B΄ Gymnasium) and ninth grade (Γ΄ Gymnasium) students, coordinated by and under the supervision of psychologists, participate in a series of meetings to receive training in interpersonal skills.  These experiential sessions help the older students to design a reception program for the “beginners.”  Then, in collaboration with a team of teachers, the students themselves undertake the organization of welcoming activities that are held in June and Septembers.

At the beginning of each academic year, the Counseling Office monitors and supports newly admitted students (those accepted through entrance exams), in small group and/or individually, to ensure their smooth adaption to the school environment.

 Bully Busters
Since 2011, the Counseling Office, in collaboration with Ms. Vlachogiorgou (Junior High School teacher), runs an after-school club called Bully Busters. Members of the 15-member Student Council and students from all three Junior High grades collaborate to organize activities aimed at deterring school bullying.  During weekly meetings held throughout the year, the team is trained, through experiential techniques, on issues such as:

• empathy
• understanding and addressing stereotypes developed among students
• perception and acceptance of diversity
• understanding and accepting the Bully Busters’ role in creating a positive school climate
• recognizing the difference between conflict and “bullying: effective ways in dealing with and preventing school bullying

Through this process, students connect with one another, process the above, and then proceed to plan and create an enlightenment campaign and activities.  The purpose of the campaign is to raise student community awareness on the above issues, which may vary from year to year depending on the ideas and needs of the group members (e.g. videos, theatrical performances, organized discussions in Junior High classes, etc.).

Support Groups
When the need arises, small student support groups are organized in order to meet the needs of certain students who benefit from group work.  For example, a support group may be organized to give participants a chance to talk about their experiences with bullying, social exclusion, conflicts, self-esteem, etc., and to learn ways to deal with these issues.

Cooperation with elected class section representatives (5-member Councils)
At the request of students and/or the section’s Teacher-Advisor, meetings are organized with the 5-member section council to discuss class climate. The goal of this effort is:

• to provide a forum to discuss issues that are of concern with regard to class climate and the section’s needs
• to drive council members to reflect  on their in the section and how it can affect climate (leadership skills)  
• to resolve conflicts in the classroom
• to communicate and cooperate with the section’s Teacher-Advisor regarding issues beyond the classroom

 

Social Life – MYP: Affective Skills
Creation and organization of activities for Social Life period across the board, in cooperation with the ATL Skills Coordinator and the Teacher-Advisors of sections.  The aim is to help students develop socio-emotional skills.  Through activities, we help students gain self-awareness,and interpersonal skills, as well learn ways to manage their relationships with respect.

Other actions
In cooperation with the Parents’ Association, the Counseling Office organizes seminars on a variety of topics, such as the transition to Junior High School, communication with adolescents, learning differences and psycho-emotional needs of adolescents.  Recently, webinars were organized on the challenges facing students, parents and teachers in the midst of the pandemic.

In collaboration with the Administration and Faculty Association, seminars are organized on topics related to students’ psycho-emotional and learning needs.

Learning Support Office Practices

The Learning Support Office provides academic counseling and support services to students, teachers, and parents. It also manages information and incidents involving students who have been screened and diagnosed with learning difficulties by a public entity.

In particular, following individual meetings with students who either have already been diagnosed with learning difficulties or for those seeking to investigate their learner profile, the Learning Support Office conducts an initial screening of their needs and refers them for further evaluation accordingly. 

It monitors the comportment of students who have been identified with learning difficulties both inside and outside the classroom, communicates with specialists who support these students, and, when required, adapts student testing in accordance with the students’ diagnoses and in collaboration with their teachers.

The Office works with students who need to strengthen their learning skills by providing sessions to work on strategies, motivation and programming.

1.   Social Life - ΜΥΡ/ Learning Skills
In collaboration with the ATL Skills Coordinator and each section’s Teacher-Advisor, it contributes to the creation and organization of activities for Social Life that aim to cultivate learning / organization skills across all three Junior High School grades. 

2.   Seminars
In cooperation with the Parents’ Association, it organizes seminars related to students’ transition to Junior High School, communication with adolescents, and, more recently, webinars on the challenges facing families in the midst of the pandemic.             

In collaboration with the Administration and Faculty Association, it organizes seminars on topics related to students’ psycho-emotional and learning needs, and, recently, on the needs of teachers in the midst of the pandemic.

The Learning Support Office provides academic counseling and support services to students, teachers, and parents. It also manages information and incidents involving students who have been screened and diagnosed with learning difficulties by a public entity.

In particular, following individual meetings with students who have already been diagnosed with learning difficulties, the Learning Support Office conducts an initial screening both inside and outside the classroom, communicates with specialists who support the students, and, coordinates their management by school educators.

The Office works with each student separately and aims to strengthen their learning skills by providing sessions to work on strategies, motivation and programming.

Social Life - ΜΥΡ/ Learning Skills

In collaboration with the ATL Skills Coordinator and each section’s Teacher Advisor, it contributes to the creation and organization of activities for Social Life that aim to cultivate learning skills across all three Junior High School grades. These skills relate to organization, learning profile, testing and time management, studying techniques and test preparation.

Seminars

In cooperation with the Parents’ Association, it organizes seminars related to students’ transition to Junior High School, communication with adolescents, and, more recently, webinars on the challenges facing families in the midst of the pandemic.             

In collaboration with the Administration and Faculty Association, it organizes seminars on topics related to students’ psycho-emotional and learning needs, and, recently, on the needs of teachers in the midst of the pandemic.