Giselle M. Rojas MSW,
Director of Student Support Services

Phone: (413) 534-2000, Extension 1204
Cell: (860) 375-4382

Send Giselle Rojas an Email

The Department oversees the kindergarten to grade 12th counseling program that provides all students with:

• Responsive Services – Individual counseling sessions, parent consultations regarding individual student needs, coordination with outside referral sources.

• Individual Planning – Academic and career guidance, parent and student consultation regarding planning and goal-setting, interpretation and analysis of assessment instruments.

• System Support – Community outreach, parent education programs, teacher consultation, school improvement planning.

• The planning and implementation of the Massachusetts Model for Comprehensive School Counseling Programs (MA Model), New Initiative for Pre K – 12.

Holyoke Public Schools is committed to providing students with the tools that will help them fulfill their potential and be successful in their post-secondary lives. Part of this effort involves providing direct instruction that fosters the development of social-emotional skills that enable students to face academic and personal challenges in a positive, constructive and successful manner. One of the social-emotional learning strategies we have implemented for the past two years consists of an emotional learning curriculum that students receive through morning meetings, enrichment periods and freshman seminars.

The TRAILS Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) curriculum provides developmentally appropriate, brief lessons that focus on student safety, health, and wellness. Research shows that implementation of SEL is associated with increases in students’ academic achievement, test scores, self-regulation skills, and overall wellness; and decreases in classroom behavior problems. SEL also helps prevent student stress, depression, and anxiety.

The TRAILS SEL lessons cover the 5 SEL Competencies identified by the Collaborative for Social and Emotional Learning (CASEL) which are:

• Self-Awareness

• Self-Management

• Responsible Decision-making

• Relationship Skills

• Social Awareness 

TRAILS SEL is also grounded in Cognitive Behavioral Theory and Mindfulness – two gold-standard, evidence-based approaches to promoting mental health, so that students learn skills that will help them not only while they are in school, but also for the rest of their lives.

Section 504/ADA policy is implemented consistent with Section 504 procedures. All Section 504 data (504 plans, lists of eligible students, discipline records) is collected and maintained for future reference.  The district’s 504 Coordinator is Giselle Rojas. Send Giselle Rojas an Email or call her at (413) 534-2000, Extension 1204.  View your rights under section 504 (PDF) (en Español) (PDF).

The Department oversees the district’s Bullying Prevention and Intervention Implementation Plan (PDF), En Español (PDF) and collects all relevant information regarding the reporting and investigations of incidents.