School Counseling at Olympic Hills

Our school counselor, Counselor Keri, works with students from Kindergarten through fifth grade in their classrooms, in small groups, and in one-on-one settings to support their social-emotional growth.

Social-Emotional Curriculum

Social Emotional Learning (SEL) is a priority at Olympic Hills. Teachers and staff are regularly teaching a reinforcing skills that help students build social awareness and emotional awareness.

We use RULER (Recognizing, Understanding, Labeling, Expressing, and Regulating emotions) to teach common language for emotions and managing emotions. You can learn more about RULER here.

Second Step is another curriculum that we use to teach students how to manage their emotions, build positive relationships, solve problems, demonstrate empathy for others, and make responsible choices. You can learn more about Second Step here.

SEL helps students to feel a sense of belonging at school. This is done through creating an environment and structures that emphasis and values healthy, safe, supported, challenged, and engaged students.  

Counselor Keri also collaborates with Classroom Teachers to teach SEL lessons that cover three domains: 

Academic Development 

• Executive functioning skills. 
• Organizational skills. 
• Self-management skills.  
• Strategies that can benefit cognitive thinking and memory skills. 

Social-Emotional Development 

• Understanding how the brain works. 
• Mindfulness. 
• Self-Awareness through Exploring feelings and our thoughts, body actions, sensations. 
• Recognizing, Understanding, Labeling, Expressing, and Regulating emotions. 
• Restorative Practices and Conflict Resolution. 

Career Development 

• Exposure to different types of colleges, post-secondary options and different types of careers. 
• Creating connections to the places we live. 
• Self-interests explorations through identifying students interests and careers. 
• Helping students understand the path to reach their goals. 

Individual Counseling Supports

All students have access to check-in with Counselor Keri to get support with conflict with peers, uncomfortable emotions, or family stressors outside of school. Students may request to talk with Counselor Keri by asking their Classroom Teacher or Counselor Keri. Families and teachers may also reach out about specific concerns. While she is unable to provide long-term counseling, she can offer 6-8 problem-solving sessions with a student. Below you’ll find a list of outside agencies and play groups, if you believe your child would benefit from an outside therapist.

Counselor Keri can also help connect you with resources in our community. Please reach out if you are needing confidential support for any of the following:

• Self-harm or suicidal thinking
• Community counseling or social supports
• Transgender and LGBTQ resources
• Housing, food and finances
• Family stress or violence

Community Resources

Please note that this is a resource list and none of the providers are affiliated with or endorsed by Seattle Public Schools.

Social Skills Groups

• Aspiring Youth
• Game to grow – Groups
• Peers Play
• Spotlight Social Skills
• Sparkle Spot Learning

NE Seattle Counselors and Psychologists

• Ryther Child Institute
  • Main: 206-525-5050
  • Lake City location
  • Accepts Medicaid, Apple
• ABCD
  • Multidisciplinary Practice for Child Behavior/Development
  • James Baldwin location
  • 206-361-6884
• Seattle Psychology
  • 206-420-4701
  • Wallingford location
• Sound Mental Health
  • James Baldwin Location
  • 206-302-1900
  • Accepts Medicaid, Apple
• Community Psychiatric Clinic
  • 206-461-4544
  • James Baldwin, Lake City, and Wallingford locations
  • Accepts Apple, Medicaid
• University of Washington Psychotherapy Clinic
  • University District location
  • Provides mental health services to children, adults and families
  • 2nd Year PhD Graduate Students
  • Affordable Sliding Scale
  • 206-543-6511
• Center for Human Services
  • Shoreline location
  • 206-362-7282
  • Accepts Apple, Medicaid

Why might families contact the Counselor?

There are many common challenges that students experience as they make their way through elementary school. Our School Counselor aims to assist with these issues and to alleviate the struggle that kids undergo. The following are some reasons families might contact the counselor:

• Difficulty making friends
• Academic concerns
• Family changes (moving, death, divorce, etc.)
• Home stress
• Bullying
• Resources or referrals to community agencies
• To discuss special needs for your child
• If you are homeless
• Crisis
• Behavior concerns

Emergency Contacts

If you are in need of help and it is after school hours, you can use the following resources:

Crisis Line: 206-461-3222

Child Protective/Family Reconciliation Services:
Day: 1-800-609-8764
Night: 1-800-562-5624

Other Types of Assistance Such as Food, Shelter, Clothing, and Healthcare:
Dial: 211 or 206-461-3200