Spark! Discovery Preschool and St. Vrain Valley Schools priorities student well-being and support. To this end, we offer many different counseling support services to connect students and families with the information and resources they need to be successful. If you or your student need counseling please contact Dr. Sandy McTaggart, our School Psychologist and School Counselor via email at [email protected] or by calling our main office at 720-652-7906, and Sandy’s extension is 22626.
Meet our counselor:
Dr. Sandy McTaggart is the School Psychologist and School Counselor at Spark! Discovery Preschool. Sandy has been working in the field of special education and mental health for over 30 years. She has her doctorate from the University of Denver in school psychology and educational leadership, and earned her master’s in counseling psychology from Regis University.
What a school counselor does:
The American School Counselor Association provides a summary of the role of a school counselor in their brochure entitled, “The Role of a School Counselor.” ASCA summarizes the role as follows: Professional School Counselors must have a minimum of a Master’s Degree in Counseling and are challenged with the continual task of meeting the developmental needs of all students. This task is best completed within the framework of a comprehensive school counseling program, which addresses four areas: 1) academic, 2) career, and 3-4) personal/social development of every student.
School Counseling Services Offered At Spark Preschool:
- Classroom Consultation and Guidance Support
- Individual Counseling — topics may include; self-esteem, friendship making skills, anger management, coping skills, academic support, etc.
- Small Group Counseling — group topics may include: divorce/separation, friendship making skills, peer conflict, impulse control, social skills, anger management, etc.
- Parent Consultation — parents may request consultation about any area of concern they have regarding their child
- Assist students in transitions from home to the preschool environment, and school to school as they transition from preschool to kindergarten
Preschool Social Emotional Skills:
The Colorado Department of Education Social Emotional Health Standards identify developmental expectations for preschool age children, including the following skills:
- Making and keeping friends
- Helping, sharing and taking turns
- Cooperating with others
- Recognizing and labeling emotions
- Recognizing others’ feelings
- Handling strong feelings
- Feeling confident in a range of tasks
- Making good choices
