Sage Hills Counseling
Supports the social-emotional well-being and academic success of all students.
How are you BRAVE?
ASD has asked that all students receive instruction on Bullying. The teachers here at Sage Hills will be giving that instruction and I will reinforce it with a lesson that develops the skills to deal with students who are annoying, mean, rude, or who bully. These skills include STOP, WALK, TALK and STOP, THINK, CHOOSE.
This month’s challenge is for students to get a “blackout” on a BRAVE Bingo card. They can get a card from Mrs. Pauga and return it for a prize.
September Challenge - Be BRAVE
Meet your school counselor
My name is Mrs. Pauga
I love supporting our students at Sage Hills as the school counselor. My name can be confusing to pronounce. My husband is from Samoa and the alphabet makes different sounds. Here is a simple way to remember
When I’m not at school I love hanging out with my children, traveling to faraway places, and finding quiet beaches where I can dig my toes in the sand and listen to the sound of the waves crashing on the shoreline.
Pauga
- Pa - Paw
- u - B"OO"
- ga - ngah (So"ng")
“Pawoongah”
School Counselor Role
- Provides short-term, solution-focused support to get kids emotionally, academically, and socially ready to return to class.
- Monthly social-emotional and character development lessons.
- Small group counseling.
- One-on-one check-ins or individual counseling.
- Support the schoolwide behavior plan and Social-Emotional Wellbeing goal.
- Serve as a first responder to school crises.
- Refer students to the school-based mental health therapist or school psychologist.
Counseling Services
Karen Pauga
kpauga@alpinedistrict.com-
801-610-8723
Frequently Asked Questions
What services does the counselor provide?
Elementary School Counselors provide preventive and intervention services that are integrated into all aspects of children’s lives. Counselors provide appropriate tools for communicating, making decisions, and developing friendships and coping skills. Counselors provide services by developing and delivering classroom presentations that teach skills for achieving success, facilitating small group counseling and providing immediate short-term counseling when needed, and providing support during personal crisis. In addition, counselors work collaboratively with parents to help their student succeed in academic, career, personal and social development and provide referrals for community resources.
How does my student get referred to the counselor?
Students are referred to the counselor via self-referral, parental request, request of the counselor, administrative referral, and/or teacher or staff referral.
Students will never be turned away if they need to take a break from class.
How do parents contact the counselor?
Phone-801-610-8723
Email - kpauga@alpinedistrict.org
How long does the school counselor see the student?
Short-term counseling consists of 4-6 consecutive sessions. Students are welcome to stop in as needed and will never be turned away. However, if the student needs long-term counseling resources will be sent home.
How do I get referred for outside services?
A comprehensive list of community resources are found on the page. If you do not see what you are looking for, please email me.
If it is a weekend, how do I get help for Crisis Counseling?
If this is an emergency call 911. A comprehensive list of services is found on the page.
If a student is getting outside services, what is the school counselor’s role?
The school counselor can collaborate with the outside service providers with parental permission. Ask the counselor for the appropriate form authorizing communication between providers.
What are the parameters around confidentiality?
Confidentiality is an important aspect of counseling; this is how the counselor builds trust with the student. What the child says during counseling is to remain between the counselor and the child unless:
- The child is being hurt or in danger. I.e. abuse, neglect, trafficking.
- The child wants to hurt themself or threatens to harm him/herself.
- The child wants to hurt someone else.
- The child permits me to disclose information to a trusting adult.
When a breach of confidentiality is necessary, a report to the appropriate agencies, support staff and/or parents will be made.
Note: School counselors and other school staff members are mandated reporters. Mandated reporters are required by law to report to CPS when a student is suspected of being in danger.
Why would my child see you?
Students may be referred to the school counselor if there are concerns that are inhibiting their learning at school. Some concerns may include but are not limited to behavioral, social/ emotional, and academic. Students may be sent down to the counseling office to take a break from class, or a student may ask to take a break due to experiencing some form of distress.
Will you notify me if you spoke to my child?
Parents are notified the first time a student wants to talk about their experience. If parents want their student to have additional support at school they must sign a FERPA form granting permission. Once parents have signed the FERPA form they will be contacted only if the student is threatening to harm themselves or someone else. Parents of students who only need time to self-regulate will not be contacted.
What topics do you cover in small groups?
Small group topics are determined based on the needs of the students participating in the small group. See for possible groups.
Is my child in trouble if they see the School Counselor?
The school counselor is an advocate for your students and will listen and help process their experiences while considering possible solutions in a safe environment. Students are not in trouble or “bad” if the counselor talks with them.
Karen Pauga kpauga@alpinedistrict.org 801-601-8723