Student Support Team
Our student wellness programs, which range from campus safety and a health hub to neuroscience-based instruction and counseling support, ensure that our students are safe, ready to engage in learning, and have the tools they need to succeed in every aspect of their lives.
Counseling
Our whole-child approach encompasses every aspect of student growth and development, which is why we take mental and social-emotional health very seriously at St. Mary’s Academy. Our counseling team offers compassionate, short-term support to students facing personal, social, emotional, or developmental challenges, in partnership with their families.
Through individual counseling, small group sessions, community building, and classroom guidance, students receive the support they need. In addition, our counselors collaborate with other departments on campus-wide programming and policies that promote students’ physical, emotional, and social well-being. We also host Mental Health Awareness Day and run the Sources of Strength Suicide Prevention program, fostering a campus culture where students look out for one another and know where to turn for help.
School counselors provide support and skill development in areas such as:
- Academic guidance
- Addressing behavioral concerns
- Coping with anxiety and stress
- Coping with grief and loss
- Enhancing decision-making and problem-solving skills
- Improving social skills
- Intervening during crises
- Managing anger
- Navigating divorce or family changes
- Providing parental resources around national and local events of concern
- Resolving conflicts
Learning Support
Our learning services for students with diagnosed learning differences are structured to match the student's age and stage of development. Our expert learning specialist employs strategic interventions and instruction in collaboration with classroom teachers and advisors, empowering students with the confidence and tools to succeed. We honor the inherent variation and complexity of all children and welcome students with neurodiverse learning profiles, reading and math challenges, and a range of other learning differences.
Health Hub
Our Health Hub is centralized on campus and staffed by a full-time pediatric nurse with extensive leadership experience in ensuring a healthy school climate. Nurse Bard is always available to address health concerns, administer medications, and collaborate with families to ensure the well-being of every student. From providing immediate care for minor injuries to offering expert advice and curated resources on maintaining a healthy lifestyle, our Health Hub ensures that students receive top-notch medical attention and support at SMA. Your child's health is our priority, and our Health Hub is here to provide the care and assistance they need to thrive.
All St. Mary’s Academy faculty, coaches, and school staff complete regular training in CPR, epipen administration, and protocols for emergency situations.
Safety
Our highest priority is the safety of our learning community. Our multipoint security program, developed in partnership with national security experts, includes cybersecurity, cameras around the campus and perimeter, strict building-access protocols, an emergency notification system, monthly drills, and a Red Bag Toolkit in every learning space.
Additionally, we employ a highly trained, full-time School Resource Officer (SRO) from the Cherry Hills Village Police Department. Our SRO, Officer Lenny, is on campus during school hours, providing an enforcement presence and a resource for addressing safety and security issues, as well as coordinating with first responders. He is a friendly and informal mentor to our students, and a welcome presence throughout the day.