Meet the Counselor!
Lynn McCaffrey, M.Ed, M.A, PPS/Elementary Resource Counseling Specialist
Miss. M is currently working as the E.R.C. at Stonegate Elementary School. She is passionate about the mental health and well being of Stonegate’s children, families and communities. Her background includes work in elementary to high school support services, youth sports team management, and other volunteering in the youth hockey community. Her work here involves supporting and developing the social and emotional program through school-wide initiatives as well as providing short term individual and group counseling services to students. In addition, Miss. M provides collaborative help efforts, community links, and outside resource information to families and students with varying needs. Her goal at Stonegate is to make sure every student feels supported and cared for during their time at school, and that students and families know they will have a place to turn when they are in need of support. Feel free to contact Miss. M to discuss tour individual needs or concerns at (949)936-6499.
Children, just like adults, can participate in and benefit from counseling. Counseling can help children learn how to identify causes of their distress, develop their skills in asking for help and expressing emotions, and improve their problem-solving abilities. Many children need help dealing with the stress of school, family and other significant life events such as the death of a family member, friend, or pet; divorce or a move, trauma or a major family illness. All of these things can cause stress that might lead to problems with a child’s behavior, mood, sleep, appetite, and academic or social functioning. Please visit https://iusd.org/department/student-support-services for more information about IUSD Student Support Services.
Guidance Assistance
The Elementary Guidance Assistant Program is designed to offer social-emotional learning to students during their school day using an evidence based social-emotional classroom curriculum called Second Step. Second Step is designed to teach children how to understand and manage their emotions, control their reactions, be aware of others’ feelings, and have the skills to problem solve and make responsible decisions. These lessons will increase students learning-readiness and help them to move ahead successfully in school. Guidance Assistants are trained para-professional staff and are assigned at each of IUSD’s K-6 school sites to teach Second Step in the classroom and provide small group workshops for children who would benefit from additional support. Students with parent permission may participate in “TOOLBOX” groups, the small group workshops, which are a series of once-a-week, 30-45 minute small group lessons during the school day. Groups usually last for 10-12 weeks.