Guidance Department

Programs

Banana Splits

At the Ocean City Primary School, there has been an ongoing support group called “Banana Splits.” This group is for any child whose family structure has changed due to divorce, separation, death, and/or living with grandparents.

Banana Splits is designed to help children deal with any type of split in their family. This support group encourages children to explore their feelings and to understand that they are not alone. The students learn from others in similar situations and can talk openly and not feel embarrassed. Students will enjoy attending the sessions and making new friends. The students will engage in discussions, play therapeutic games, and make crafts.

​If you are interested in having your child participate in this support group, please return the permission slip below.

Lunch Buddies

The Ocean City Primary School will be offering a student support group called Lunch Buddies. This group is a social/friendship skills program for elementary students. Lunch Buddies was developed to address social skill areas important to elementary students. These include: compromising, being flexible, being a good sport, dealing with problems, dealing with anger, and dealing with teasing. At each session one of these topics will be presented and the group will participate in an activity related to this skill. 

The sessions will be held in the counselor’s office during lunch. If you are interested in having your child participate in this support group, please click here.

Buddy Bench

Developing friendships at the Primary School is a priority! We have Buddy Benches at our playground where students can sit at recess when looking for friends to play with. By sitting on this bench, students invite these students to play with them.

Help Your Child Resist Peer Pressure

We offer advice to parents on how to teach their kids to protect themselves from negative peer pressure. As kids get older, they may be pressured to take part in activities they don’t really want to do, such as drinking, smoking, cheating, or cutting class. Parents can talk to children about recognizing uncomfortable feelings when they’re under pressure and how to say no to those who pressure them.

Please contact Joel Dougan with any questions or relevant information regarding programs and/or your child.

Guidance Staff

About Mr. Dougan

I grew up in the small town of Rock Hall, Maryland and moved to Ocean City when I was in 2nd grade. After graduating from Ocean City High School in 1998, I joined the Army after high school and transferred to the NJ National Guard. While at La Salle University I was an Elementary Education/Special Education major. I transferred to Richard Stockton College and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science. After the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, my unit was activated and sent to Ground Zero. My unit was responsible for guarding the bridges and tunnels leading into New York City. During Operation Iraqi Freedom, I completed one tour of duty in Iraq, serving as MP (military police) and stationed in Baghdad from 2004-2005.

My first teaching position was in Vineland, NJ where I worked with extreme, at-risk elementary school students in an alternative school setting. In 2007, I joined the Ocean City School District as a high school Special Education Teacher. During my time at the high school, I worked as a resource room, in-class support and self-contained teacher. Also, while at the high school I worked closely with both the Behavior and Life Skills programs and students with Autism.

I look forward to working with the students, teachers, parents and community members, while providing services to the district.

Guidance Counselor:
Joel Dougan 
609-399-3191 x 6501 I Email

Mr. Dougan in front of camel