Counselor

Alisha Cox

School Counselor PK-8

Middle School STUCO Representative

620-456-2966 ext: 1019 (KTE)

620-456-2965 ext: 2107 (CSMS)

email: cox@usd356.org


Student Council:

President: Sydney Zoglmann

VP: Erica Zoglmann

Secretary: Jaedyn Jones

Treasurer: Joslin Bartelson

8th Rep: Konner Bidwell

Anna Bender

Isabella Lange

7th Rep: Delaney Jones

Gavin Gerlach

Marley Dalbom

6th Rep: Micah Wolke

Mireyah Conkle

Jenny Murphy

The purpose of the student council is to give students an opportunity to develop leadership by organizing and carrying out school activities and service projects. In addition to planning events that contribute to school spirit and community welfare, the student council is the voice of the student body.

Counseling Program

7th and 8th Graders will be required to take a 9 week Course entitled SEL with the Counselor. This year the program the students using curriculum from Mindprint Learning, Pathways to Success, Kansas Department of Education, and other variety of sources

This is program promotes Social Emotional Learning through several steps that are teacher led and student led. It includes Character Education, Bullying Prevention, Digital Citizenship, and learning about mental health.

Are you concerned about your student? Please fill out this referral form:

https://forms.gle/b7b6kxntthKtPQAaA

It’s not difficult for students to get swept up into situations that require tough decisions, online or offline. Social Emotional Learning Program gives your students the opportunity to practice their decision-making skills in different situations that surround digital safety, bullying prevention, and character culture with these a variety of activities.

Digital Wellness

With more and more students becoming active internet users, they must understand the importance of being safe on the web. Digital wellness involves making wise decisions on the internet, limiting the use of technology, and more. Below are a few activities that you can use in your classroom to give your students practice with digital safety.

Bullying Prevention

Students shouldn’t have to have their education or lives compromised as a result of bullying. According to the National Center for Education Statistics and Bureau of Justice, about 20% of students ages 12-18 have experienced bullying. Help your students rally against bullying in their school community and foster an anti-bullying environment in your classroom with the following activities.

Character Culture

Good character encompasses traits like honesty and integrity, but also conscientiousness when communicating with others and making decisions. By empowering young students with techniques to engage in effective communication and sound decision making, you can ensure that students become effective adults prepared to handle life’s challenges.

Mental Health

In class we educate students on a variety of mental health topics including coping skills and strategies that can be used for managing bullying, learning emotional regulation, coping with family issues, and any other challenges kids face.

Why Does Social Emotional Learning Matter?

Social-emotional learning affects the lives of students, teachers, parents and the larger community in meaningful ways that improve relationships and societies as a whole. SEL doesn’t happen overnight, but schools and parents that stick with the principles have identified numerous positive outcomes that arise over time.

Academic improvement

A 2011 analysis of 213 studies that surveyed more than 270,000 learners found that, on average, students who took part in SEL-informed curricula saw an 11 percent jump in academic achievement when compared to learners who didn’t participate.



Better social interactions

As evidenced by the reports of teachers, fellow students, friends, families and community members, SEL curricula help encourage positive behavior across the lifespan. For students to have good role models when considering how they should behave, it is important that teachers and parents display empathy, conscientiousness, thoughtfulness and kindness.



Ability to care for themselves

A 2015 study in the American Journal of Public Health found that students who learned pro-social skills at an early age were far less likely to ever live in public housing, use public assistance, interact with the police while still minors or find themselves in detention facilities.



Greater results for students with early-identified problems

The same CASEL study found that for students who had already been identified as having problems, the use of SEL principles for early interventions led to a reduction of conduct problems, better attitudes toward themselves and others, fewer outbreaks due to emotional distress and overall enhanced academic performance.


Improved classroom behavior

The same study mentioned above also found that students who took part in SEL curricula exhibited improved behavior in the classroom, a greater ability to properly manage stress and depression and healthier opinions of themselves and others.


Less aggressive and/or disruptive behavior

An article by Options for Youthnotes that students taking part in SEL programs have long-term improvement in areas of aggression and disruption. A study found that students who engaged in SEL at either the elementary or secondary level still saw a 10 percent reduction in behavioral, psychological and substance abuse problems by the age of 25.


Additional Counseling Services provided through a partnership with Sumner County Mental Health Center


Sumner Mental Health offers a wide range of Community Based Services (CBS) for children and adolescents who meet specific state criteria for having a Serious Emotional Disturbance (SED). Individuals receive a variety of services in the home, at school, and other places in the community as determined by their treatment plan.

The services are provided to pre-school through 12th grade students in school systems within Sumner County. This collaboration allows students, teachers, and families to work together in both the classroom and the community. It also provides convenient access for students and their families who otherwise might not seek treatment.

How to Access Services:

In order to receive services, the youth must be a consumer of Sumner Mental Health Center, attends one of the following school districts: Argonia, Belle Plaine, Caldwell, Conway Springs, Oxford, South Haven, or Wellington school, live within Sumner County, and meet functional impairment guidelines. Please contact Angela Baker, Director of Children’s Services at 620-326-7448 ext 241 to discuss the process or talk to your school counselor about the referral process and becoming a consumer. If you have decided you are certain you would like to start services, then you can request and intake appointment by contact Amber Crowl, Sumner Mental Health Center Patient Accounts at 620-326-7448 ext. 251.