This is a sample email that I send out to my full caseload of students at the beginning of each school year. Please feel welcome to borrow ideas from it or make it your own. For timing purposes, I usually like to wait until about 2-3 weeks into the school year—to “let the dust settle” a bit—before I send out this message, but please proceed with whatever works best for you and your students.

Welcome back to the start of the brand-new [year] school year!

It’s been so great to have seen—and/or heard from—many of my students already this year! But if we haven’t formally met yet—or if you are brand-new—I am Mr. Kasper, your school counselor (I also wanted to make sure that you have my email address, too: insert work email address).

How is the start of the school year going so far for you? Stop down and say ‘hi’ and let’s catch-up some, if you would like, or do first-time introductions!

I want to see each and every student get off to a great start this year, so here are some (but not all) of the ways that I can help students:

• Answering questions (and providing more information) about individual courses offered in high school—and beyond (I can also do graduation audits for individual students, as well, if you want to make sure that you are on the right track for graduation)
• Providing help and guidance for anything having to do with college applications or the college exploration process
• Discussing life-after-high school options for students
• Helping you identify different careers or jobs of interest
• Ideas for finding your passions
• A safe space to talk—for mental health
• Help with talking to teachers
• Assistance with getting plugged-into clubs, sports, music, or other extracurricular opportunities at Pioneer (and beyond)
• Help with resumes; interviews for jobs or volunteer opportunities (and tips for landing that perfect opportunity for yourself); conflict resolution with other students; providing a quiet, and supportive, place to decompress—particularly, if you’re having a tough day, etc.—and anything else I might be forgetting at the moment

Also, for anyone that might need any school supplies, I have notebooks, folders, binders, highlighters, and pencils, etc. in my office—and all school supplies are free. So, stop down anytime if you need any anything (or even just to grab a quick snack). My office (insert Room #) is close to both the main office and the nurse’s office.

Proud to be your school counselor—best wishes to you for this new school year!

—Mr. K.