Support Squad Bulletin Board
K–6 School Counseling & SEL Display Kit
The Support Squad: Assembly Blueprint
Display Blueprint
This printable kit equips classrooms, hallways, and counseling offices with an evidence-aligned bulletin board centered on Support. Rooted in CASEL competencies and ASCA Mindsets & Behaviors, it turns your wall into an interactive culture of care.
Recommended Bulletin Board Layout (4 ft × 3 ft / 6 ft × 4 ft) Pages 2–6 provide all cutouts
★ BANNER CUTOUT: "THE SUPPORT SQUAD: HOW WE LIFT EACH OTHER UP" (Page 2) ★
PILLAR 1 (Page 3)
Reach Out & Connect
Relationship Skills
4 Mini Anchor Cards: Ask for Help, Active Listening, Kind Words, Teamwork
PILLAR 2 (Page 4)
Notice & Include
Social Awareness
4 Mini Anchor Cards: Invite Others, Empathy, Respect Differences, Everyday Kindness
PILLAR 3 (Page 5)
Ground & Reset
Self-Management
4 Mini Anchor Cards: 5-Finger Breath, Battery Check, Try 3 Before Me, Reset Tools
Interactive Student Gallery: "Support Shout-Outs!" (Page 6 Printables) Students post sticky notes or cutout badges recognizing peers who showed support!
Framework Alignment Matrix
CASEL Core Competencies
- • Relationship Skills: Communicating clearly, seeking/offering help, teamwork.
- • Social Awareness: Empathy, taking others' perspectives, appreciating diversity.
- • Self-Management: Emotion regulation, coping mechanisms, self-discipline.
ASCA Mindsets & Behaviors
- • M 3: Sense of belonging in the school environment.
- • B-SS 2: Create positive and supportive relationships with peers.
- • B-SS 4 / B-SMS 7: Empathy & effective coping strategies for stress.
Printing & Prep Tips
Print on white cardstock (65lb–110lb). Laminate anchor cards and reuse the interactive shout-out cards with dry-erase markers or fresh student paper!
Pages 2–6 →
Cut out elements along dashed lines for your main display header
HEADER & CENTERPIECE SET
Bulletin Board Main Title Cutout
THE SUPPORT SQUAD
Lifting Each Other Up Every Single Day!
CONNECT • NOTICE • CARE • GROW
Our Community Pledge
What Does It Mean to Support?
Asking for Help
Support means being brave enough to say "I don't understand yet" or "I need a hand."
Giving a Hand
Support means noticing when a classmate is having a tough moment and stepping in with kindness.
Standing Together
Support means creating a classroom where everyone belongs, feels safe, and is celebrated.
Decorative Corner / Border Badges (Cut & Pin) Cut along dashed border
WE LISTEN With respect
WE INCLUDE Everyone belongs
WE CARE Kindness first
WE RESET Calm & ready
CASEL: Relationship Skills • ASCA: B-SS 2
ZONE 1: REACH OUT & CONNECT
4 Anchor Cutouts
SKILL 1
How to Ask for Help
Asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness! Use these sentence stems:
"I'm feeling stuck on..." Tell what part you tried and where you paused.
"Could you show me another way?" Ask a teacher, counselor, or classmate to explain.
"I need a moment to talk." When emotions feel heavy, seek a trusted adult.
✂ Cut out & pin to Reach Out zone
SKILL 2
Whole-Heart Listening
Giving someone your full attention is one of the best ways to support them.
1
Calm Body & Soft Eyes: Turn toward the speaker so they know they matter.
2
Pause Before Speaking: Wait 3 seconds before you reply; don't interrupt.
3
Reflect & Validate: "What I hear you saying is..." or "That sounds hard."
✂ Cut out & pin to Reach Out zone
SKILL 3
Words That Lift
Our words can fill someone's emotional bucket. Try saying:
“You made real progress today!”
Praises effort and growth instead of just perfection.
“I'm so glad you're on my team.”
Builds connection and affirms belonging.
“Take your time, we can figure it out.”
Reduces anxiety during challenging moments.
✂ Cut out & pin to Reach Out zone
SKILL 4
Supportive Teamwork
Great teammates do these four things during partner or group work:
✓ Share the mic: Ensure every voice is heard before making a team decision.
✓ Divide fair roles: Match jobs so no one feels overwhelmed or excluded.
✓ Celebrate wins together: High-five when your partner solves a hard problem!
✂ Cut out & pin to Reach Out zone
Page 3 of 6 • The Support Squad Bulletin Board Kit
CASEL: Social Awareness • ASCA: M 3 & B-SS 4
ZONE 2: NOTICE & INCLUDE
4 Anchor Cutouts
AWARENESS 1
Notice the Left Out
Look around at recess, lunch, and group time. Who needs a buddy?
“Hey, want to join our game?” Invite someone sitting alone or standing by the wall.
“There's room for you at our table!” Make space on the rug or at the lunch bench.
“Let's walk to the line together.” A simple gesture turns loneliness into belonging.
✂ Cut out & pin to Notice zone
AWARENESS 2
Walk in Their Shoes
Perspective-taking helps us understand feelings before we judge.
Step 1: Notice Clues
Slumped shoulders? Quiet voice? Tears? Their body signals how they feel.
Step 2: Wonder & Connect
"How would I feel if I were having a rough morning like that?"
Step 3: Respond with Care
Give gentle space or offer: "Are you okay? I'm here if you want to talk."
✂ Cut out & pin to Notice zone
AWARENESS 3
Celebrate Our Differences
Our differences make our classroom stronger and more exciting!
Different Strengths:
Some of us love math, some draw, some tell stories. We share what we're good at!
Different Backgrounds:
Different languages, foods, family traditions. We ask questions with curiosity, never ridicule.
Different Paces:
Everyone learns at their own speed. Be patient and encouraging.
✂ Cut out & pin to Notice zone
AWARENESS 4
Everyday Kindness Actions
Small acts of support take less than 10 seconds:
★ Hold the door for the person behind you.
★ Pick up a dropped pencil or binder for a peer.
★ Smile and say good morning to someone new.
★ Cheer quietly when a classmate tries hard.
✂ Cut out & pin to Notice zone
Page 4 of 6 • The Support Squad Bulletin Board Kit
CASEL: Self-Management • ASCA: B-SMS 7
ZONE 3: GROUND & RESET
4 Anchor Cutouts
COPING TOOL 1
5-Finger Calming Breath
Use your hand anytime you need to reset your heartbeat and brain.
Trace Your Hand:
⇧ Breathe In: Slide your pointer up the outside of your pinky.
⇩ Breathe Out: Slide down between your fingers.
⇧ Breathe In: Slide up the ring finger...
⇩ Breathe Out: Slide down...
Repeat across all 5 fingers for 5 full calm breaths.
✂ Cut out & pin to Ground & Reset zone
COPING TOOL 2
Check Your Energy Battery
Support starts with knowing how much energy is in your tank:
Green (Full Charge): Calm, focused, ready to learn and help others.
Yellow (Low Battery): Restless, frustrated, tired. Time for a mini-break!
Red (Critical Battery): Overwhelmed, angry, tearful. Ask an adult for support immediately.
✂ Cut out & pin to Ground & Reset zone
COPING TOOL 3
Try 3 Before Me!
Smart problem solvers try these steps before raising their hand:
Reread Directions: Did I check the board, checklist, or example?
Ask a Neighbor: Whisper: “Can you explain what we do next?”
Check My Tools: Look at the word wall, anchor chart, or notes.
✂ Cut out & pin to Ground & Reset zone
COPING TOOL 4
60-Second Brain Reset
When feelings get tangled, pick one healthy tool:
Cool Water Take 3 sips to hydrate brain
Shoulder Roll Roll backward 5 times
Self-Talk “I can handle this step”
Palm Press Press hands together 5 sec
✂ Cut out & pin to Ground & Reset zone
Page 5 of 6 • The Support Squad Bulletin Board Kit
Interactive Student Gallery • Duplicate As Needed
Support Shout-Out Cards
Cut 4 Badges
Print multiple copies of this sheet. Students complete a shout-out whenever a classmate shows support, listens, or helps them reset, then pin it to the board!
SUPPORT SHOUT-OUT! K–6 Badge
To (Student):
From:
Date:
How they supported me:
Check the Support Skill:
Listened Included Helped
Pin to the Support Squad Bulletin Board!
KINDNESS SPOTLIGHT! K–6 Badge
To (Student):
From:
Date:
I noticed them being kind when:
Check the Support Skill:
Cheered Shared Welcomed
Pin to the Support Squad Bulletin Board!
TEAMWORK HIGH FIVE! K–6 Badge
To (Student):
From:
Date:
We worked together on:
Check the Support Skill:
Cooperated Solved Tried hard
Pin to the Support Squad Bulletin Board!
CALM & CARING HERO! K–6 Badge
To (Student):
From:
Date:
They helped me reset or feel safe when:
Check the Support Skill:
Was patient Breathed Stayed calm
Pin to the Support Squad Bulletin Board!
Page 6 of 6 • The Support Squad Bulletin Board Kit
