Jackie Boshka, Middle School Principal
Box 188/600 Commerce Ave.
Bigfork, Montana 59911
Ph: 406-837-7412
FAX: 406-837-7438

Bigfork Elementary School Counseling Program
The Bigfork Elementary School Counseling program is comprehensive. It respects student's values and beliefs while addressing the academic, personal, social, and career development needs of every student through using biblio-therapy, storytelling, puppets, play, art and solution-focused therapeutic techniques.

Activities

  • Weekly classroom lessons on kindness, empathy, diversity, safe and healthy choices, solving problems peacefully, etc.
  • Facilitate Support groups
  • Mediation amd Bullying Reports
  • Short term individual counseling
  • Assist parents/caregivers with attaining services of local clinical mental health providers
  • Collaborate with local community agencies, organizations and individuals

Student Assistance Program

Bigfork School's Student Assistance Program is available to all Bigfork studentss and consistes of peer support groups led by trained teachers during the school day. These voluntary support groups are part of our district-wide substance abuse prevention program.

The goals of these groups are to increase students' self-esteem, improve communication, and evelop decision making and problem solving stategies. Students who participate in a group will gain valuable life-long skills and be better equipped to effetively cope with pressures associated with their formative years.

Studants may be referred to group by parents or teachers. Middle school and high school students have the opportunity to sign up for a support group each semester. Groups are scheduled so that students only miss one class once a week for eight weeks. Students are asked to chen in with their classroom teacher prior to each group and are expected to make up any missed work.

Parents are informed of this program through a parent letter at the start of each school year. Students are encouraged to share with parents what they are learning about in group, but are not allowed to repeat what other group members have shared in the group setting.

The program is evaluated through the use of confidential student surveys given at the final session of each group.
Jennifer Wood
School Counselor
Bigfork Elementary
P.O. Box 188
Bigfork, Mt. 59911-0188
837-7412, ext. 361
www.familyeducation.com visit this website for activities, top stories and advice from other moms and dads.

www.tolerance.org Find out more about mix it up day and the research that support ths day meant to break down social boundaries.

www.olweus.org The OLWEUS bullying program is an integral part of Bigfork School District. Parents will find information on how to protect their children from bullying and support safe schools.

www.sap.state.pa.us The student assistance program is available to all students K-12. This is an early intervention guidance program that takes place in small groups.

 More on Confidentiality:
  • Inform parents/guardians of the counselor's role with emphasis on the confidential nature of the counseling relationship between student and counselor.
  • Recognize that students at Bigfork Elementary are minors which may require counselor to collaborate with students' parents/guardians.
  • Speak with the student about disclosures to be made before disclosing information to parent/guardian, legal authorities, and/or others professinals, i.e. teachers, supervisors, and counseling colleagues.

Goals:

  1. Help students to move toward self-direction and self-development paying special respect to one's group identities.
  2. Encourage the maximum development of every student with concern to educational, academic, career, personal and social needs.
  3. Maximize safety and well-being of every student.
  4. Treat each individual with dignity and respect while advocating for and affirming all students from diverse populations.
  5. Respect the rights and responsibilities of parents/guardians for their children and endeavors to establish a collaborative relationship with parents/guardians to facilitate the student's maximum development.