Burroughs High School continues to provide a comprehensive framework of emotional support services designed to address the increasingly complex personal challenges facing its students. From specialized support groups to close collaboration between teachers and counselors, the school is working to normalize mental health care.
“Everybody has times in their lives where they’re questioning something or in need of extra help,” said Social-Emotional Counselor Shari Rosenberg. “Students need to understand they are not unique at all in having issues they need help with.”
In addition to one-on-one support, Rosenberg considers optional “guided groups” a cornerstone of her work. These sessions typically involve six to seven students, follow a specific curriculum, and allow open discussion of topics that are often stigmatized.
Groups offered at Burroughs cover grief and loss, social skills development, safe dating, anger management and executive functioning, which assists students with decision-making. These sessions also address modern social dynamics, such as navigating “cliques,” gossip and drama.
Topics depend on the interests, needs and requests of students. Students can recommend a particular group topic that they would like to be involved in. As with other support options at Burroughs, any information shared within these groups is confidential.
For students interested in support, the process is designed to be accessible. Students can stop by Rosenberg’s office in the old administration building or email her at [email protected] for more information. Rosenberg is available throughout the school day — including before school, during lunch and after school — to assist students.
To supplement on-campus faculty, the school district provides access to Daybreak, a virtual counseling service. Through this partnership, students can receive 12 free sessions with parental consent. Referrals for Daybreak come from one of the four counselors assigned to students. The information shared to Daybreak counselors by students remains confidential.
Students can also meet with their counselor for support. School counselors meet with students throughout the school year to provide resources for mental health support.
This shift toward mental health transparency is supported by the California Education Code, which recognizes mental health as a valid reason for an excused absence. In the attendance office, Karina Bullard helps oversee the verification process for students who need to stay home for their well-being.
“As long as the student has excusable absences remaining, we will excuse a student if a parent calls to excuse them for a mental health issue,” Bullard said. “It is considered an excused absence just as if they were sick with a fever.”
However, students and parents must remain mindful of the 10-day cap. Under school policy, students are allowed 10 excused absences per period each school year without a professional note. Once that limit is reached, any further absences — regardless of the reason — require documentation from a doctor to be marked excused in the system.
Breaking the remaining stigma surrounding mental health care remains a primary goal for the Burroughs counseling department. Rosenberg urged students to look out for one another by immediately reporting any messages from friends regarding self-harm to a trusted adult.
“If they’re upset about something,” Rosenberg said, “don’t wait to reach out.”
