Guidance Office
Bishop Walsh Guidance Office
Life Skills/Social Emotional Learning Classes Social Emotional learning and getting along well with others is critical to students success in school and goes hand in hand with learning.
Pre-K-5
Bishop Walsh School provides weekly Life Skills classes for grades Pre-K through 5. The Choose Love Curriculum underlies many of the social emotional learning lessons with underlying themes of courage, gratitude, forgiveness and compassion in action. Students in each grade learn about developmentally appropriate topics ranging from how to be a good friend, bullying prevention, identifying and managing strong feelings to effective coping skills to manage stress including various mindfulness strategies and stress reduction tools like yoga. Additionally, many of the lessons include a creative activity that engages the students and reinforces the lesson through role play, art or self reflection. The five Core Competencies as defined by CASEL (Self-Awareness, Self-Management, Social Awareness, Relationship Skills, and Responsible Decision Making Skills) are addressed through this curriculum. As well, new lessons from the Social Institute will be integrated into the curriculum for grades 3-5. These lessons focus on trending issues relevant to this age group and utilize technology in the classroom to reinforce these topics. All weekly lessons are posted on your student’s Google Classroom Life Skills page on Sunday evening, so parents and teachers can be aware of our weekly lessons and reinforce them with their students.
Grades 6-8
Middle School students receive a class in Study Skills/Life Skills monthly. The SOAR Study Skills program is taught along with tips and tricks for students with specific learning needs. The Choose Love Curriculum is used as a basis for their social emotional learning lessons along with current trending lessons from the Social Institute. The Social Institute engages students with technology addressing current issues such as what are the most essential study techniques for preparing for standardized tests and exams to how to manage group chats and social media. Students can see and respond to their peers in real time and see how others throughout the world view these same issues. This provides for great discussion points on themes relevant to their age group. Yoga and mindfulness activities are also integrated into the Middle School lessons to help students learn to manage stress with healthy coping strategies. All monthly lessons are posted on your student’s Google Classroom Life Skills page on Sunday evening before their monthly class, so parents and teachers can be aware of our upcoming lessons and reinforce them with their students.
Grades 9-12
Students in grades 9-12 will engage in monthly lessons developed by The Social Institute, a program designed to empower students to "navigate their social world - in the classroom and beyond, online and offline - in healthy, high-character ways." These lessons will cover a range of important topics, including time and stress management, polishing one's online presence, and effective communication.
The Guidance Department also manages the peer tutoring program. National Honor Society members are paired with middle and fellow high school students to provide informal support with homework, test preparation, and project completion. Tutoring sessions are held during homeroom.
Additionally, students can schedule individual meetings with a school counselor for academic and personal support as needed. Comprehensive advising is available for high school and dual enrollment course selection, as well as for college planning and the application process.
Individual Counseling
Our Guidance Office offers individual counseling sessions as needed to address any student concerns that may range from learning difficulties in the classroom, peer related issues, attention or behavioral concerns in the classroom, and individual needs that arise such as difficulty with anxiety, issues related to grief and loss, family changes, or other mental health related concerns.
Group Counseling
We offer the Rainbows Group, for all students each year who are interested in this. This group is for students who have experienced a significant loss or separation or divorce in the family.
The Unstuck Program is a 14 week evidence-based curriculum designed to improve flexibility in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and ADHD. We offer this as needed to students.
Groups with themes can be provided, as well. These groups may vary from year to year for instance; New Friends/New School Group, Growing Healthy Friendships Group, and Social Skills Group.
Outside speakers are invited bi-annually to address current social-emotional topics with our Middle School and HIgh School students and when age appropriate with our Elementary students. These engaging speakers have come from agencies such as; The University of Maryland Extension Program, Western Maryland Health System-UPMC, The Allegany County Health Department, Kickmasters Karate School, and the Ed Lally Foundation.
Bi-annual Speakers have addressed topics such as; Drug and Alchohol Education, Vaping and Tobacoo Use, Suicide Prevention, Mindfulness, Healthy Eating and Exercise Habits, and Being the Best You can Be-good citizenship and ideals from Kickmasters Karate.
SCHOOL COUNSELORS: (Full-Time)
Mrs. Mariah Morin, High School Counselor, Mrs. Morin received her Masters of Arts in Teaching from the University of Pittsburgh. In addition to English, she teaches a senior religion class about Christian vocations. She has co-led staff and student retreats, and serves on the PBIS, Student Accommodations Team, and Academic Council.
Mrs. Jill DiNola, LCSW-C Elementary and Middle School Counselor. Mrs. DiNola has been a School Counselor at Bishop Walsh for five years. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and holds her Professional Eligibility Certificate in School Psychology. Mrs. DiNola has extensive experience with students with emotional, behavioral, and learning needs. She has training in Early Childhood Montessori, Orton-Gillingham Reading Intervention, Trauma Certification, and Yoga Education and Mindfulness. Mrs. DiNola enjoys teaching Life Skills/Social Emotional Learning classes and is available to meet with students for individual counseling or in small groups as needed.
VISITING SCHOOL THERAPISTS: (Wednesdays and Friday afternoons)
Mrs. Laura Miller Lewis, LCSW-C Laura Miller Lewis has been a parent at Bishop Walsh since 2011. With over 20 years of experience as a Clinical Social Worker, she has worked in the fields of mental health, grief, foster care, and adoption. She is currently in private practice, at Agape' Counseling and Consultation. Laura is honored to give back to the school that has been such a blessing to her children.
Mrs. Susan Nallin, LCSW-C Susan Nallin Has been a Licensed Clinical Social since 1987. She served as the Elementary Guidance Counselor at Bishop Walsh School for 15 years. (2002-2017 ) She has been a therapist at Covenant Counseling Ministries for 15 years where she specializes in working with children, adolescents and families, in addition to adults. Susan is happy to serve the students of Bishop Walsh School whenever she is needed.