Our Beijing City International School (BCIS) counseling team plays an important role in the delivery and support of our online learning and continues to provide support services to our school community. Counselors are present to ensure learning and social emotional support is available for students and families during this challenging time.

In the Early Childhood Center and Elementary School, our specialist counselor participates in homeroom classes and meets with curriculum coordinators promoting wellness for our younger learners. Our counselor provides social emotional lessons on positivity, overcoming difficulties and wellbeing, whilst continuing one-on-one sessions with individual students through online channels.

Secondary School counselors share wellness and online learning best practices with students and teachers through Wellness Wednesdays where resources andBCIS' Digital Citizenship guidelines are shared online. As each student has their own approach to online learning and reacts in their own way to the stresses that come with the current circumstances, our counselors remain their active cheerleaders and listeners.

BCIS University Guidance counselors continue to support High School students with one-to-one video calls and university application procedure advice. They are in regular contact with universities and other international schools to share information and best practices to deal with examination and admissions challenges brought on by the coronavirus outbreak.

All counselors are maintaining contact and responding to questions from parents, helping them in their role as their child's guardian and educator now too, highlighting differentiated learning and the educational needs of students. University Guidance counselors have taken their regular Coffee Chat sessions with parents online, discussing best fit future education options with parents through video meetings.

Our counseling team has a deep awareness that a full day of learning at home and through digital devices is not the norm for our students. A whole school screen-free wellness day was facilitated and supported by counselors in order to provide an opportunity for students and staff to step away and focus on their wellbeing.

All BCIS teachers and counselors work together to be active cheerleaders and listeners for our students and their families. We ask that our community remains aware of and values their own personal wellbeing during this difficult period.