​The Way of the Panther

This year's theme takes our students on a journey exploring various behaviors and values that make up The Way of the Panther.  Each week, a different expectation is highlighted in the morning announcements, such as "A Panther walks quietly in the halls, respectful of the learning happening around them" and "A Panther helps to keep the school clean by picking up trash and throwing it in the proper receptacle."  The Way of the Panther aims to unify our community expectations of ourselves and each other. 

OPS has a new counselor!  Please welcome Mrs. Heather Brown-Huston!  Check out her bio, coming soon to the About/Contact page. 

In the meantime, please feel free to look through the blog posts for information on a variety of topics.  If you're looking for information about counseling resources in the OPS area, click here for emergency mental health hotlines, as well as a list of psychotherapy providers used by other OPS families. ​
PLEASE NOTE: If you or a family member are experiencing the signs or symptoms of a mental illness and feel you are in crisis, call 201-262-HELP (4357) or dial 911.  ​
Click on the pictures above to learn more about each program.

Welcome to the OPS Counselor's Corner

The Role of the School Counselor

The school counselor supports students and teachers throughout the school day. The school counselor works with teachers and administrators to design programs that will assist in addressing students’ social and emotional development, including social skills groups, classroom lessons and other school initiatives. The school counselor also provides a student-based counseling program focusing on promoting appropriate grade level social skills, whole class lessons, and serves as a resource for staff members looking to increase the social emotional learning environments in their classrooms.

Learn more about the role of the school counselor from the American School Counselor Association.
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What does the school counselor do?

School counselors fulfill their role in many ways with varied responsibilities.  On any given day, a school counselor may do one or more of the following:
  • Listen to students’ concerns about academic, emotional, familial or social problems
  • Help students process their problems, plan goals and steps to reach them
  • Mediate conflict between students and teach them how to mediate conflict themselves
  • Conduct whole-class lessons addressing topics of concern
  • Organize and facilitate social skills groups 
  • Refer students and/or families to community professionals and other mental health resources
  • Participate in various school committees to improve school climate
Rima A. Mason, MA, LPC
School Counselor
201-261-1180, ext 1129
[email protected]
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​Oradell Public School
350 Prospect Ave.
Oradell, NJ 07649