Working largely behind the scenes, the school counselors at Luxemburg-Casco help students to navigate academic demands, personal challenges and their future pathways. Their efforts aren’t often heralded but are an integral part of student success.

Most who have been in school can tell you about an individual or two who greatly impacted their life. Many times that person was a counselor, whether it be from advising them on an academic and/or career path or simply helping them to figure out things affecting their daily life.

Students have regular touch points with school counselors throughout their time at Luxemburg-Casco. These interactions have as much, or more, to do with social-emotional wellbeing as they do with academics.

“We believe that students are most successful in the classroom when they are thriving as people outside of the classroom,

especially amongst their peers,” says Dr. Jo-Ellen Fairbanks, Luxemburg-Casco district superintendent. “The work of our school counselors can go unnoticed at times, but it is a critical part of every student’s educational experience, preparing them for success in our community.”

Work by the district’s school counselors starts with its youngest students, at the Primary School. The goal is to help students gain the skills to be emotionally regulated, according to Primary School Counselor Jessica Wessel.

“We want to impact students so that they are able to regulate through their days and be good friends to people,” says Wessel, a 2014 Luxemburg-Casco graduate. “Do what’s expected and what’s right, even when it’s hard and no one is watching.”

Wessel spends her days in a variety of ways, ranging from individual and small-group counseling, along with assisting students who are experiencing emotional issues. She also spends time in the classroom, talking about soft skills – personal, non-technical attributes and interpersonal traits – and how to build them.

Primary School teacHers implement a focus on a specific trait each month. In February, “honesty” was the focal point.

“Perseverance” was taught in January. Also among the nine total focuses are “respect,” “responsibility,” “gratitude,” “empathy,” “cooperation,” “courage” and “creativity.”

“It’s gratifying to see differences and impacts in school with students – for instance, kids including other kids in play that they otherwise wouldn’t,” says Wessel, who is in her third year at the Primary School following three years at L-C High School. “Sometimes it’s not the big wins, but all the small things you see every day. We want to help shape students to be kind.”

Skills development continues at the Intermediate School (Grades 3-6), according to Intermediate School Counselor Danielle Garceau. These skills center around self-management, coping skills and social skills.

Like Wessel, Garceau’s days include work with individual students and small groups. She additionally begins career exploration activities with students.

“We want to help students start to explore things that they like and don’t like,” Garceau says. “They begin to recognize what skills they have, along with their interests and how these things play a role in their futures.

“In the classroom on an everyday basis, we work on Durable skills, such as communicating with others and working as a team. We reinforce these skills through self-reflection by the students.”

In Grades 3 and 4, classroom focus is on basic knowledge of available careers. Starting in the fifth grade, students begin taking self-assessments to better understand their personal interests, and by Grade 6 they know the 14 different Career Clusters.

Garceau complements the classroom work through multiple special events, including the upcoming CTE Family Night on March 5, where students and their families are provided a hands-on opportunity to explore career pathways. “Careers on Wheels” also is held each May in the school parking lot with the assistance of area businesses.

“I feel like I’m making a huge impact here,” Garceau says. “The biggest way is making sure that every student feels safe and welcomed – I want to be that person for them to go to. Students should feel successful and confident in who they are.”

Middle School Counselor Jessica Hoiska describes her position of working with students in Grades 7 and 8 as unique. “It’s a world of in-betweens,” she says. “That creates independence, along with curiosity, different emotional levels and a bit of chaos. There also is a huge transition academically.”

The emphasis on both career exploration and employability skills continues in Middle School through career fairs and other events, including the biannual, county-wide Ag Career Day. Spartan Summits, which are small-group presentations on students’ career goals and interests, also are held.

Lessons around the Employability Rubric also are taught. Students receive related quarterly assessments on their individual report cards.

“It’s not just done in silos – it’s done in every single class. We have conversations about employability skills,” says Hoiska, who has been at L-C Middle School since 2004.

Student mental health has moved to the forefront of how students navigate middle school over the past 10 years, according to Hoiska. She attributes the shift to middle-school students dealing with more “adult-like situations” due to smart phones and social media use.

“I see more anxiety in students,” Hoiska says. “That makes it critical for us to build more resiliency skills and coping strategies in

students.

“In my grades, you don’t always get to see the seeds that you plant. Success is seeing kids gain confidence and independence, along with academic growth. The social-emotional skills is what’s going to help them be productive citizens – how they treat each other and navigate life.”

Most people have a greater understanding of the work of High School counselors Jami Palubicki and Kurt Wolske. It ranges from academic support to class selection, and career and college planning, including assistance with college and scholarship applications. Social-emotional support also is a pillar of their daily efforts.

“Every day, we’re a few of each of those things,” says Palubicki, a St. Norbert College graduate in her third full year at Luxemburg-Casco. “We want to help students grow academically, emotionally and in their future planning. Guide them to the right classes and set goals for careers, while also being a supportive adult.”

“We want students to be as successful as they hope to be after they graduate – no matter their career path,” adds Wolske, who brings the untraditional background of Army service, followed by 10 years in the workforce for large and small companies. “We want to make sure that they can be a step ahead through college credit and certifications when they graduate. We also want to ensure that they have coping mechanisms for things in life.”

LCHS students continue to be graded on employability and soft skills as they approach graduation.

Career fairs are staple events for high schoolers. In April, there is a traditional hiring fair for Grades 11-12. The same area employers also hold small-group breakout sessions for Grades 9-10 centered around career exploration.

Opportunities to visit area post-secondary institutions, including Northeast Wisconsin Technical College, Bellin College and UW-Green Bay, are made available to students, along with in-person visits to local employers.

The continuum of student counseling within the Luxemburg-Casco School District extends from 4K students at the Primary School all the way through high school graduation. The goals evolve and grow as students age and mature, but a central component is to develop quality people who become productive members of the community.

Wessel offers a pertinent reminder of the importance of parents in the growth of their children. “Even though we make an impact on students,” she says, “parents make such a great impact at home. They have the greatest impact on their kids. Families that are on the same page as the school – reinforcing those skills – are in a better position for success.”

And success – academically and interpersonally – is the ultimate goal for Luxemburg-Casco students.