At McKendree, the school counselors work alongside teachers and parents to help students develop socially and emotionally, and to help remove any barriers they have to academics/learning. We provide: 

• Core Curriculum lessons (schedule provided below)
• Small group counseling
• Short-term individual counseling
• Consultation with parents and teachers
• Parent workshops
• Attendance Interventions
• Community resource referrals (including longer term therapy services, weekend food backpack program, and holiday help, etc.)
• Schoolwide programming (Great Days of Service, Career Day, Kindness Week, United Way, etc.)

Mindful Minute Mondays on the Morning Announcements: Mindfulness is about focusing on the present, or the here and now of what we are sensing and feeling. In starting “Mindful Minute Mondays,” it is our hope that students will have a moment to start their day calm and relaxed, while learning effective coping strategies they can use throughout their week.

Sanford Harmony: Sanford Harmony is a social emotional learning program for Pre-K-6 grade students designed to foster intergender communication and understanding, connection, and community both in and outside the classroom and develop boys and girls into compassionate and caring adults. The five themes of Sanford Harmony are Diversity and Inclusion, Empathy and Critical Thinking, Communication, Problem-Solving, and Peer Relationships. Each of the Harmony themes address an important need in schools to create positive and proactive environments that support the student success of diverse students. More information can be found at: https://www.sanfordharmony.org/

Student Council: Student Council is a student organization dedicated to school and community service and assisting in special school-wide events and activities. Student Council members will be working together to learn skills associated with leadership, decision-making, cooperation, and effective communication. 

Classroom Representatives: Each fourth and fifth-grade classroom will have one representative on the Student Council.  They participate in all Student Council meetings and activities. They will also bring ideas and suggestions from their class members to the meetings and report information back to their class.

4th or 5th grade Student Council Representatives can run for an office in Student Council.  5th grade students are the only ones eligible to run for the office of president.  These are the Student Council offices:

President- The president runs the meetings with the assistance of the student council sponsor. The president will serve in various leadership roles throughout the year and also help plan and lead special activities and events.

Vice President- The vice president works very closely with the president and assists in many duties. The vice president also stands in for the president when necessary.

Secretary - The secretary is responsible for recording minutes and keeping records of meetings, activities, and fundraisers done by the council. Students interested in becoming secretary should be organized and like to write.  The secretary needs to be able to use the computer keyboard for typing.

Treasurer - The treasurer is responsible for working with the Student Council Sponsor to keep accurate records of the budget and funds collected by the council. Students interested in becoming treasurer should be organized and good with numbers.

Peer Tutoring: Fourth and fifth-grade teachers nominate students for this new program at McKendree! The peer tutors received training to not only give new student tours, but to also be reading tutors with younger students. These peer tutors were trained to listen to the younger student read aloud, to correct reading mistakes, and to praise the younger reader for trying his or her best. Research shows that children who serve as peer tutors often achieve significant reading gains themselves, as well as having a valuable opportunity to practice helping skills with younger children.