Student Services

At St. Mary Catholic Schools, we are dedicated to helping every student grow academically, socially, emotionally, and spiritually while building the skills and confidence they need for the future.

The Student Services team provides a caring network of support through counseling, learning services, and English language support that extends from Pre-K through grade 12 in order to provide a continuum of support. By partnering with families and teachers, we ensure that each child receives the guidance and resources they need to succeed during their time in school and for the years to come.

Our student service members are deeply involved in every phase of a student’s journey, from class scheduling to college and career planning to emotional support and everything in between. We offer personalized guidance, build meaningful relationships, and collaborate with teachers, families, and outside resources to help students thrive.

-Rachel McCarthy, Director of Student Services

Rachel McCarthy
Director of Student Services

Meet The Team

Services Offered

Counseling

High School

Counselors and advisors work with students to help them grow academically, socially, emotionally, and spiritually so they can become confident, capable, faith-filled adults.

We actively support students as they navigate the important and sometimes challenging years of high school and prepare for life after graduation. A key part of our work includes RedGEN, a student-led initiative that focuses on mental health awareness, resilience, and peer support. Through RedGEN students learn how to build healthy habits, show empathy, and care for themselves and others in practical ways.

Our team:

Provides individual and small group counseling for academic, personal, social, and career needs.
Guides students through course planning, testing, scholarships, and post-secondary applications.
Hosts college and career readiness programs, job shadowing, and testing coordination.
Collaborates with families and faculty to support student success.
Leads social-emotional wellness efforts through RedGEN.
Connects students and families with community agencies and other resources.
Promotes a Christ-centered environment where every student is known, valued, and supported.

Middle School

We understand that this is an essential time for character formation and we strive to support each student academically, socially, emotionally, and spiritually.

As students grow and change so do their needs. Our SMC Middle School counselor is at the forefront of helping students navigate these critical years of growth and development. We proudly use the Character Strong curriculum to lead our social-emotional learning (SEL) efforts through one-on-one, small group counseling, and targeted programming. These classroom lessons are focused on character development, emotional wellness, relationship skills, and helping students discover their God-given gifts and how they want to impact the world.

Our team:

Provides personalized counseling support to meet individual student needs.
Leads SEL instruction and character-building through Character Strong.
Facilitates developmental guidance and special programming.
Connects students and families to helpful community resources.
Creates a safe, respectful, and inclusive environment rooted in Catholic values.
Supports students as they grow into responsible young adults.

Elementary School

Our qualified school counselors are experienced and ready to assist students in every stage of their educational journey. Across our three elementary schools we provide support for each child to excel academically, socially, emotionally, and spiritually.

We believe every child is created with a purpose and our mission is to help each one discover and develop their God-given gifts with confidence, compassion, and courage.

We use a proactive and comprehensive counseling approach that includes one-on-one and small group support through developmental classroom lessons and collaboration with families and teachers. A key part of our work is delivering the Purpose Full People social-emotional learning (SEL) curriculum, which helps students build character, develop emotional awareness, and grow into kind, resilient, purpose-driven young people.

Our team:

Supports student well-being through personalized counseling.
Leads SEL and character development lessons in the classroom.
Consults with parents, teachers, and administrators to meet students’ unique needs.
Coordinates school-wide programs and connects families with community resources.
Actively participates in learning support with student services teams.
Promotes a Christ-centered, nurturing environment grounded in Catholic values.

Learning Services

Our Learning Support Team is here to help students overcome learning challenges, grow in confidence, and discover the joy of learning at their own pace.

Learning Support Teachers partner closely with classroom teachers, parents, and the wider Student Services team to identify learning needs early, design targeted interventions, and walk alongside students who need additional help reaching grade-level expectations. Whether it’s through small-group instruction, one-on-one support, or collaborative planning with staff, we work to ensure no student falls through the cracks.

Our team:

Delivers individualized instructional support to students with learning challenges.
Collaborates with teachers to design and implement strategies for classroom success.
Uses assessments and screeners to monitor student progress and adjust instruction.
Help develop and support Learning Support Plans (LSPs) and Individualized Service Plans (ISPs).
Partner with families to reinforce learning at home and celebrate growth.
Participate actively in grade-level, student support, and professional learning teams.
Model and share best practices in inclusive education across our schools.

EL Support

The English Learner (EL) program is dedicated to supporting students as they develop English language skills, gain confidence in their voice, and fully participate in all aspects of school life.

EL Teachers work closely with students, classroom teachers, families, and support teams to ensure every English Language Learner receives the tools they need to thrive. From initial assessments to personalized instruction and family engagement, we meet students where they are and help them grow with purpose.

Rooted in Catholic values and a commitment to inclusion, our EL program fosters a welcoming environment where language is not a barrier, but a bridge to belonging.

Our Team:

Helps students build English language proficiency through direct instruction and classroom support.
Monitors student progress and collaborate with teachers to ensure academic success.
Provides translation and interpretation support for families and school communications.
Participates in team meetings and contribute to IEPs, LSPs, and ISPs when applicable.
Partners with families to strengthen the home-school connection and celebrate each student’s journey.
Coordinates ACCESS testing and support the use of Title III resources across the system.
Offers professional development to help educators create language-inclusive classrooms.

I’m passionate about helping students build confidence, navigate challenges, and discover their strengths. It’s a privilege to work in a place that values relationships, growth, and the whole student.

-Drew Kopitzke, SMCHS Counselor

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In this Section

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Student Services

Rachel McCarthy
Director of Student Services

Services Offered

Counseling

High School

Middle School

Elementary School

Learning Services

EL Support

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