It brings me great joy to introduce myself to you all and welcome you back to Dorchester Elementary School. My name is Rose Velli and I will be joining your amazing Dorchester faculty as the new School Counselor. I have always enjoyed working with children and families and that led me to major in Family Science and Human Development at Montclair State University. During my fieldwork experience at Montclair, I was able to shadow an elementary and high school counselor, which sparked my interest in the field and led me to earn my Masters in School Counseling. I completed counseling internships in both Paramus and Hawthorne Public Schools. My internship sites and their incredible Counseling Departments helped me build a strong foundation in my practice as a school counselor. I truly feel this was one of the best decisions I ever made, and I am excited to bring all that I have learned to Dorchester. Students can expect to see me popping into classrooms for guided lesions, running lunch bunches and other groups as well. Some things we will be working on this year include social skills, coping skills, conflict resolution, and much more. Sometimes students need some one on one time, and I will always be available for that with my open door policy. It can be nerve wracking to ask to see the counselor, so I’ll be visible in the halls regularly and during lunch for students to be able to see me if they need me quickly. Parents - If you feel your student is having a rough time or needs a bit more attention, please reach out to me. I am here as a powerful advocate for your children, and sharing will only help me provide that much more support.