Student Services System of Support

Student Services Mission

Following a Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) structure, our goal is to provide all students with opportunities to achieve their highest potential, providing support to enhance academic performance and social/emotional well-being as students learn to become proud, confident, and lifelong learners in a continually changing global society.

The ISM Assistant Principal for Culture and Community works with students, teachers, interventionists, parents, the school counselor, and special education team to provide a safe, caring environment and offers information, guidance, and support to:

• Assist students in developing positive and caring attitudes toward all individuals, while teaching students to highlight and appreciate their personal attributes
• Provide education and guidance in the areas of self-awareness, self-empowerment, and prevention
• Help students make conscious, responsible, and healthy decisions through interactive learning in communication and interpersonal skills, conflict resolutions, coping strategies, and academic and organizational skills.
• Provide guidance lessons to promote academic excellence and social/emotional well-being. 
• Collaborate with students, parents, and teachers to identify support needs that may enhance academic performance and social/personal well-being.
• Provide transition support.
• Help students, parents, and staff recognize and focus on Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) at all times.
   

Student Services Interventions

Tier 1: PBIS and Social Emotional Health ~ Collaboration with teachers, parents, and students to implement and maintain an active focus on positive behavior supports.  These plans focus on building school-wide community events, empowering everyone to follow school-wide expectations, and providing class-based lessons on positive community building, which includes anti-bullying, anti-bias, and inclusion approaches.

Tier 2: Student Support Teams (SST) ~ Collaboration with teachers, parents, and students (depending on grade/age) to develop student support plans.  These plans focus on one or more of the following areas: academic, behavioral, and/ or social-emotional. Intervention Specialists assist students and teachers to implement and monitor SST plans.

Tier 2 and Tier 3: Special Education Services (SPED) ~ Consult with students, teachers, parents, and ISM's Director of Special Education to facilitate additional academic support options for students who may qualify for special education services.

Tier 2 and Tier 3: Counseling Services ~ Consult with students, teachers, parents, and ISM's School Counselor to facilitate additional emotional support options for students who may qualify for Tier 2 or Tier 3 emotional support services.

Tier 3: Community Resources and Referrals ~ Academic and community resource information is available by contacting the Assistant Principal.

Implementation Process

The following chart illustrates the continual monitoring process that is part of all student support services.

Student Services Counseling

ISM has a full-time counselor providing a wide array of support for students’ mental health needs.  From individual weekly check-ins to group support sessions, students receive Tier 1 and Tier 2 support as needed.  All students receive classroom visits from the counselor throughout the school year, providing instruction on social-emotional strategies supporting student mental health.  Anti-bullying, breathing, and mindfulness are a few of the topics students explore and discuss in class.  There are additional special focus lessons during the year to celebrate inclusion and neurodiversity across all grade levels.  Overall, the program strives to reinforce the learner profile attribute balanced in all aspects of our educational program.

The counselor also leads the Safe Schools Ambassadors (SSA) program for our grades 6-8 students.  The SSA program trains students to be upstanders at the school so that they can directly prevent and reduce bullying.  This student-led bullying prevention program aims to utilize the social power of peers to positively impact the school climate.  Student participants meet with teacher coaches throughout the year to monitor school climate and discuss ways to promote upstanding behavior amongst students. 
 

Below are a few of the posters that promote mental health strategies, approaches, and services for students.

Please contact Mr. Ryan Mullen, Assistant Principal for School Culture and Community, for student services information.

Student Services Documents

 •    Conflict Resolutions   •   High School    •     Homework Help     •     Tardy Solutions     •
 

Last updated June 2023