Welcome Back to a Joyful Year - Counselor's Corner

Hello St. Gabriel’s Families & Welcome!

As fitting with our theme this year of JOY! - what an absolute joy it has been to see all of your beautiful children back on campus! We are all filled with gratitude & excitement to see how much the students have grown, to hear all their cool summer travel and camp stories and to meet all of our new families and children. What an incredible school family we have! 

My name is Lisa Larsen and I am the Counselor here at St. Gabriel’s. This is my 18th year of being part of this incredible, growing community and it is a genuine privilege to be a part of your children’s and your family’s lives. Each week in the “Counselor’s Corner”  I will share some insight and information on various Social & Emotional Learning topics such as childhood growth and development, parenting tips, communication skills, understanding your child and teenager, and topics I hope will spread a little knowledge and light. I will also have some guest writers share some of the amazing programs and educational adventures that happen in and outside our classroom doors every day. 

As we begin this exciting new year as a Pre-K 3-12 school, I want to remind you to take a deep breath, and enjoy the excitement, nervousness, and courage that each child will bring into the front doors as a fresh new year begins. Although we all have experienced challenges and stressors in the last few years, I invite you to focus on the positives, the blessings, the preciousness of this very moment in their lives, and as your child gets in your car at the end of the day, start the conversation with “Tell me something wonderful that happened at school today!” 

Remember, success comes in the small steps…sitting with someone new at lunch, having the courage to read in front of the class, to raise their hand to answer the teacher’s question, to navigate middle school for the first time, to try out for the team, or even to make a new friend with a brave “Hi” during recess. Whether your child is 4, 8, or 14, the new year brings with it new opportunities to learn, grow, make mistakes, and experience the excitement of growing in this loving environment. 

Feel free to contact me at any time during the school year with questions or any concerns regarding your child. I look forward to seeing all of you on campus this year!

Lisa Larsen, LPC, St. Gabriel’s School Counselor