STARS

Hope. Health. Connection.

  • Home
  • About
    • Our History
    • Board of Directors 2023
    • Leadership Team
  • Programs
    • Regional Overdose Prevention Specialists
    • Student Assistance Program
      • What Makes Us EBP?
      • Contact
    • Enhanced Student Assistance Program
    • Kids on the Block
      • Meet the Puppets
      • Menu of Presentations
      • Request for presentations
      • Video Series
      • Contact
    • Deaf or Hard of Hearing
      • Video Series
      • Contact
    • Youth Overcoming Drug Abuse
      • Confidential Referral Form
      • Have the Conversation
  • Trainings
    • Conferences
    • Olweus Trainers
    • Calendar
    • Contact
  • Blog
    • Subscribe
  • Donate Now
    • Matching Gifts
  • Events
  • Contact

February 2, 2015 By Debora Finch Leave a Comment

National School Counseling Week – Guest Post

To welcome National School Counseling week, we wanted to start out with a guest blog post from Debora Finch, a elementary school counselor and counseling educator who has worked closely with our Kids on the Block program. You rock, Debora!


Kids on the Block means so much to our school counseling program at Lipscomb Elementary School. Not only does this inspiring character education puppetry program know about the national “School Counseling Week”, but they also want to celebrate it. If this generous and thoughtful gesture doesn’t exemplify the Kids… I don’t know what will! 🙂

Truly, I feel that having Kids on the Block perform annually at our school is a staple in the delivery of our program. In fact, over the last few years we have invited the Kids to enhance Red Ribbon Week and boy have they ever. As one theme day of the week, our students wear black and strive to “black out bully behavior” as a healthy choice. In fact, we pick this theme day around the visit from the Kids. Matching the silhouetted puppeteers is a way we strive to say thank you for their talent, dedication, and attention to detail. Yet, it’s the Kids on the Block who take the message of the day to the next level. The developmentally appropriate puppet shows find a delicate balance between fun loving and thought provoking messages that are appreciated by all members of the audience. Students anticipate seeing a new show every year, ranging from problem solving to diversity awareness. There is always giddy excitement for both the energy of the Kids and the talent of the puppeteers. By the end of the show, our students have new members of our school family who are welcomed friends. These Kids are something special indeed!

The most meaningful Kids on the Block puppet show for me is the 3rd grade child abuse prevention program. As a school counselor, I am so grateful that the Kids approach this sensitive topic with such consideration for teaching with compassion. Not only does the program emphasize talking to an adult you trust when faced with a big problem, but also the students leave with safety to take away any stigma related to physical, emotional, or sexual abuse. I cannot think of a better way to address this component of our curriculum than with the support, narrative, and message from Kids on the Block.

So as we welcome “School Counseling Week”, I celebrate Kids on the Block as honorary members of our counseling team. I am grateful for their partnership, talent, and inspiration to develop both good character and healthy development in all of our “kids.”

Debora Finch

Elementary School Counselor and Counseling Educator

Filed Under: Awareness, Kids on the Block, What's Happening Now Tagged With: kids on the block, national school counseling week

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Stay Connected.

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Our Supporters:

  • Giving Matters
  • Olweus
  • UW
  • NREPP
  • UW Rutherford
  • UW Sumner
  • UW Williamson
  • UW Nashville
  • UW Wilson


STARS does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, culture, religion or creed, socioeconomic status, language, age, sexual orientation, or national origin. No one shall be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subject to discrimination under any of STARS’ programs or activities. STARS is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

This agency is funded, in part, by the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, the Tennessee Department of Education and by the Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth. This project is funded under a grant contract with the State of Tennessee.
  • Employment
  • Youth Opportunity Center
  • Staff Login
  • Admin Login
  • Financials and Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2023 STARS Nashville