Social Emotional Support

Never has the need for social and emotional support of our students and their families been greater than right now! The past six months have challenged our community in unprecedented ways. When we return in the fall the Cardinal Hayes Counseling Department is committed to helping our students understand and manage the emotional strain that may have resulted from being isolated from their fellow classmates, family, and friends. The Counseling Department will strive to help the students of Cardinal Hayes set and achieve positive goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions. The School Counselors along with our ADAPP staff will be available to our students throughout the school year via telecounseling and various forms of online communication.

Counseling Services - Counseling services will be available to all students through our Counseling Department. Students will have access to all school and college counselors, the school psychologist, social worker, and the ADAPP counselor, and they will continue to meet in groups in counseling classes during both in-person or remote learning. Our ADAPP counselors recently completed their training in SSET, Support for Students Exposed to Trauma, and will be an invaluable resource for our students and their families. https://ssetprogram.org/

Student Meetings - Due to the restrictions imposed by the new health and safety regulations, counseling at Cardinal Hayes will take place primarily online. Normally, students would be urged to sign up for counseling sessions with their assigned counselor via a sign in sheet that would be found in the Guidance Office. They would have received a pass during their homeroom period and attended their meeting in the Guidance Office on their assigned day at their assigned time. During those meetings, the student’s counselor would have addressed any questions or concerns the students might have. This process will continue during the hybrid model, albeit slightly differently. Students will be given access to a Google form that will serve as their counselor’s appointment sign-up sheet. Once the counselor has reviewed all of their meeting requests for the day, they will send each student a Zoom meeting request on a designated day. The meetings will take place when that student is working remotely from their home.

Parental Input - Parents are, or course, an integral part of the counseling process. The Counseling Department welcomes all parental input as it relates to the mental health and well-being of the students of Cardinal Hayes. The counselors will make themselves available for meetings with parents via phone call (ideal method), Zoom meetings, or Google Meet chats. If more than one parent wishes to join the call, the counselors are equipped to handle parental conference calls as requested.

Information Distribution - Since handing out info via hardcopy will not be feasible during this time period, all of the info the counselors would have normally handed out in person either during student assemblies or during Group Guidance will be distributed online. The counselors are working on converting several of their live assembly presentations into a digital format to be disseminated via Schoology. These presentations are another essential piece in developing the social emotional learning of the students at Cardinal Hayes.

Mental Health - We encourage students and their parents to practice good mental health habits during this challenging and stressful time. Students, their families, teacher, and staff are all encouraged to reach out to our counselors or clinicians if they require assistance.

Professional Development - Faculty will participate in professional development opportunities to integrate SEL practices in their classrooms.

For additional Resources on SEL and Well-Being, visit the NYSED Social Emotional Wellness Resources at http://www.p12.nysed.gov/sss/SEWResources.html

Cardinal Hayes High School

650 Grand Concourse
Bronx, NY 10451
Phone: 718-292-6100
For all media inquiries please contact: media@cardinalhayes.org

The Mission of Cardinal Hayes High School, a community based in Roman Catholic values, is to inspire diverse young men of the New York City metropolitan area to become lifelong learners and responsible citizens. We will accomplish this goal by encouraging students' spiritual and intellectual growth through a rigorous college preparatory program of academics, extra-curricular activities, and personal discipline.