The Elementary Guidance Program is committed to the positive growth of all students as individuals and as part of the entire AISJ community. A comprehensive, developmental counseling program addresses the personal, social, emotional and educational needs of all students. The mission statement of AISJ is closely incorporated in the values and goals of the Guidance Program. The counselor acts as a teacher, counselor, consultant and collaborator.

During the 2007 - 2008 school year, a program called Promoting Alternative Thinking Strategies (PATHS) was piloted in the Elementary School. This program promotes both social and emotional literacy and was fully implemented from Pre-K to Grade 5 in the 2008-2009 school year.

Ethical Standards of the American School Counseling Association (ACSA) are used as guidelines in the implementation of the Counseling & Student Services Program at AISJ.

Guidance Lessons:
The Elementary Counselor delivers whole class lessons bi-weekly to Kindergarten through Grade Five. The lessons focus on social skills and self awareness including such topics as emotional literacy, self-esteem, multiple intelligence's, career awareness, goal setting, friendship skills, conflict resolution, communication skills, cooperative learning, personal safety, and preparing for adolescence.

Individual and Small Group Counseling:
The Counselor also offers brief counseling sessions for individual students who may be referred by the parents, the teacher or the principal. Small group counseling is most common with students experiencing friendship issues. These groups provide a nurturing environment where students can build self-esteem and confidence. If the counselor needs to set up weekly counseling sessions with a student, the parents will be informed and consulted.

Consultation:
The counselor is available to teachers and parents for consultation regarding a student’s social, emotional or educational needs. On occasion the counselor may recommend a meeting with the teacher and the child or with the parents and the child to resolve the issue.

Collaboration:
Through the Optimal Match program, the counselor works closely with the Resource Teacher, the Reading Specialist, the ELL teacher and the Principal, to help the classroom teachers address the needs of the whole child.

Social-Emotional Learning:
The counselor will be working with the Elementary teachers, and the Middle School and High School counselors, to develop the K-12 SEL curriculum that will be integrated throughout all subject areas at every grade level.