Counseling and student support services are available for students at BFS and are overseen by the Student Success Teams. These teams are comprised of the School Counselor, the Academic Support Coordinator, and the Principals. These teams create plans for students with the goal of helping them achieve academic and social success.
The BFS Counseling Department is dedicated to fostering a supportive and enriching learning environment for students from Early Childhood through Grade 12. Our School Counselor engages students in in-class discussions on self-advocacy, social dynamics, problem-solving skills, and mental health. Emphasizing collaboration, the counselor works with stakeholders to ensure educational equity through the Student Success Team (SST) intervention program.
The goals of the counseling program are
- Collaboration to develop a tiered Student Success Team Plan (SSTP)
- Serve as an advocate for students
- Collaboration with Military resources
- Find and utilize community resources
- Implement and deliver in-class social-emotional lessons
The counselor plays a crucial role in creating healthy, safe, and supportive learning spaces, providing universal services, such as social-emotional lessons for all students, and targeted services, including small group interventions and individual counseling. Through ethical and confidential support, the BFS School Counselor contributes to the holistic well-being of the student population, conducting cognitive and behavioral assessments as needed.
BFS emphasizes the value of perseverance in learning that recognizes and nurtures the diverse ways in which students learn. We believe that every student possesses the innate ability to achieve their full potential. By taking the time to assess each student comprehensively, we can tailor individualized Student Success Team Plans (SSTP) that address academic challenges while nurturing personal growth. Our Academic Support Coordinator collaborates with classroom teachers, our counselor, principals, and parents to emphasize an understanding of the learning process from elementary through middle and high school. Our Student Success Team Plans are meant to support students by empowering them to overcome obstacles, develop confidence, and embrace their unique strengths.
BFS follows a full inclusionary model of instruction. English language development instruction is available to students who are English Language Learners (ELL). Upon enrollment, new students are assessed to determine if support is needed. Potential ELL students are given the WIDA test to determine the level of support they will need to be successful at BFS.
BFS partners with the U.S. military to provide social and emotional support for military dependents who attend our school. A Military Family Life Counselor (MFLC) is on campus several times a week to meet with students to supplement the work of the BFS school counselor. In addition, family support and counseling is available through this program for any military families who qualify for inclusion in the program.
In Middle and High School students meet once a week with their advisors, and two teachers in their grade level. During these sessions, students work on Social Emotional Learning topics, learn how to manage their academic lives, and also build community with their classmates.
Peer Ambassadors ensure that all new students at BFS are greeted with a warm welcome as soon as they enter the campus. Peer ambassadors are assigned to new students, whether at the beginning of the year or during the school year — you can be sure there will be a peer to meet you on your first day.
The club provides opportunities for peers to enhance social skills, learn leadership skills, build character, improve self-esteem, and integrate into their community. Youth will learn these change and resiliency skills using the Club features.
The Second Step program is a universal, classroom-based social-emotional-centered program designed to increase students’ school success and decrease problem behaviors by promoting social-emotional competence and self-regulation. It teaches skills that strengthen students’ ability to learn, have empathy, manage emotions, and solve problems.
Second Step® programs help students build social-emotional skills—like nurturing positive relationships, managing emotions, and setting goals—so they can thrive in school and in life.
Responsive Classroom is a student-centered, social and emotional learning approach to teaching and discipline. It is comprised of a set of research, and evidence-based practices designed to create safe, joyful, and engaging classrooms and school communities for both students and teachers.
All BFS support staff undergo online training through ChildSafeguarding.com, a certificate that is renewed every two years. Teaching staff review the Child Protection handbook each year and sign the BFS Code of Conduct for Educators. BFS is compliant with the mandatory reporting standards of the Korean government and also works with U.S. military law to ensure child safety.
