As the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic sweeps across the world, it is causing widespread concern, fear and stress, all of which are natural and normal reactions to the changing and uncertain situation that everyone finds themselves in.

This is an unprecedented time for all of us, especially for children and young adults who face an enormous disruption to their lives. They are likely to be experiencing worry, anxiety and fear, and this can include the types of fears that are very similar to those experienced by adults. As schools are not allowed to conduct onsite classes, they no longer have that sense of structure and stimulation that is provided by that environment, and now they have less opportunity to be with their friends and get that social support that is essential for good mental well-being.

With this in mind, the Gabay Center commits itself to provide the mental health and psychosocial support the students’ needs and ensure that its services are in place and is available for the students who need it.

The presence and continuing spread of the coronavirus affects all people but to varying degrees. For this school year, the Gabay services will be offered in three tiers:

• Tier 1 are activities which will be offered to all students through psycho-education programs and activities
• Tier 2 are activities and services which will be offered to some students to address certain needs and concerns related to personal-social, academic and career development
• Tier 3 are activities and services which will be offered to a few students needing special attention and guidance

Objectives

All programs and activities are geared towards:

1. minimizing the impact of the pandemic in their daily lives
2. continuing support to the students health, well-being, and social-emotional learning during distance learning

Programs and Services

1.Orientation

• To familiarize the students about the Gabay Services which they can continue to avail while online learning is on-going

2.Counseling on Device (COD)

• An online counseling service provided to the students to help and guide them during these trying times

3.Let’s Taco-about It! (Routine Interview)

• To check and monitor students well-being during the online learning period
• An avenue for the grade level personnel to get to know their students better and to identify students who have concerns that need to be addressed

4.Enrichment

• To deliver activities that would continue to build student’s socio-emotional learning competencies

1.Friendship Week

• to promote and establish healthy and rewarding relationships

2.Mental Health Sessions

• to promote positive well-being in the midst of the pandemic and create an environment where students can still thrive despite the lockdown restrictions

3.Homeroom Guidance

• to provide students self-exploration activities that would promote self-awareness, social/others, awareness, responsible decision making, self-management and relationship skills

5.Career Guidance

• To provide students opportunities to make informed career decisions
• To empower them to make constructive choices and set for themselves realistic educational and career goals by exposing them to various career options
• To prepare the students for course tracking and college admission

6.Partnership

• The Gabay Personnel, parents and teachers collaborate together and discuss matters about their child/ student which can help them understand matters of personal nature about their child/student
• Counseling is also given to parents and teachers when needed
• Enrichment activities for parents and teachers are also provided depending on the identified needs and concerns

7.Referral and Follow Up

• A process where teachers and parents can refer a student for a session with the counselor to assess how the school can best help the student
• To check on previously referred students and provide the necessary assistance

8.Individual Inventory

• A cumulative record is kept for each student containing information continuously collected throughout his/her whole stay in the school – psychological results, counseling/interview records, homeroom activities, Individual Inventory records and the likes

9.Research and Evaluation

• • To evaluate the different services and programs
  • To conduct research which will help improve academic performance and      behavior