School Support Services

The school support team is there to support students, parents and teachers. We aim to prevent and resolve behavioural and learning difficulties. Together with the student’s family and teachers, we will find a way to support every student according to their needs.

Students, parents and teachers can contact the support team for advice on many different topics. You are also welcome to share your good ideas with us!

Support team leader and career coordinator (grades 10-12) Regita Saksing

The student counsellor supports the mental well-being of secondary school students, communication and adjustment difficulties, preventing and helping to solve learning difficulties, and assisting in making future plans. The counsellor also advises parents, homeroom teachers, and subject teachers and, if necessary, guides them in establishing contacts with specialists outside the school.

You can contact the student counsellor if:

• you feel excessive anxiety, tension or low mood;
• you are worried about your thoughts, feelings or health;
• you find it challenging to fit in or make friends;
• you have complicated relationships with some of your loved ones;
• you are worried about your family member, friend or fellow student;
• you feel that your wishes, needs and activities are not valued;
• you are stuck behind your fears or low self-esteem;
• you can’t find enough motivation;
• it is difficult for you to plan your time;
• you worry about coping with your studies;
• you want to develop or improve your study, collaboration or communication skills;
• you want guidance in making plans for your future;
• you need help coping with the crisis.

Phone: +372 521 9119
E-mail: Regita.Saksing@mhg.tartu.ee
Office: 110a

Social pedagogue and special education coordinator (grades 1-4) Kaija Juhkam

A social pedagogue deals with social problems at school (coping in different social environments/situations, failure at school, conflicts with peers and adults, etc.) and their prevention. The social pedagogue also develops students’ communication skills and social competence. The tasks of the social pedagogue also include individual work with the student, the student’s family members, collaboration with the school’s educational support staff, and members of the student’s network outside the school to support the student’s mental and physical development.

Contact a social pedagogue if:

• you have difficulties creating and maintaining friendships;
• you need help developing social skills;
• if you have concerns related to your studies;
• you have got into a conflict, and you need help finding a solution;
• as a parent or teacher, you want advice or support in supporting a student;
• As a teacher, you want to conduct social skills classes for your class.

Phone: +372 736 1924
E-mail: kaija.juhkam@mhg.tartu.ee
Office: Next to the school nurse’s office at Tõnissoni
Office hours in the Puiestee building: every Tuesday

Social pedagogue and special education coordinator (grades 5-9) Gerli Puis.
Also the KiVa Team leader of MHG.

A social pedagogue deals with social problems at school (coping in different social environments/situations, failure at school, conflicts with peers and adults, etc.) and their prevention. The tasks of the social pedagogue include individual work with the student, the student’s family members, cooperation with the school’s support network and members of the student’s network outside the school to support the student’s mental and physical development.

Contact a social pedagogue if:

• you have concerns about your mental health (thoughts, feelings, behavior);
• you have difficulty creating and maintaining friendships;
• need help teaching social skills;
• you have study-related concerns;
• you have got into a conflict and you need help finding a solution;
• you feel like you need help finding motivation.

The head of the Kiva team is involved in developing and coordinating the work of the KiVa program in elementary school. Contact the KiVa team if you suspect that your child is being bullied or if you have reason to believe that he is bullying others. Please contact the Kiva team so that what is happening can be dealt with as early and efficiently as possible! The KiVa team is trained to solve bullying cases using effective intervention models.

Phone: +372 5426 0520
E-mail: gerli.puis@mhg.tartu.ee
Office: by the school lockers at Tõnissoni
Office hours in the Puiestee building: every Friday

School psychologist, Pille Markov.

A school psychologist is a mental health professional who helps students, parents, and teachers. Her duties include assessing the student’s psychological development, advising the student on coping with problems related to personal life, studies, and mental health, and preventing mental health problems at school.

Contact a school psychologist if:

• you feel anxious, depressed;
• you need support regarding self-esteem or self-image;
• would you like help in forming study motivation and study habits;
• you have difficulties with stress, time or self-management;
• you have difficulty dealing with your emotions;
• you have problems or conflicts related to relationships;
• you need help getting out of a crisis situation.

Phone: +372 736 1924
E-mail: pille.markov@mhg.tartu.ee
Office: next to the school nurse’s office at Tõnissoni
Office hours in the Puiestee building: every Wednesday

Special Education Needs teacher, Sirli Heil.

The special education teacher’s task is to assess the student’s level of development and learning skills, find factors affecting the student’s development, and offer individual support based on them. A special education teacher focuses on individuality and adapts his work to the specific student. The special education teacher works closely with other members of the support team in the school, as well as class and subject teachers, to ensure that the student has affordable learning opportunities.

Contact a special education needs teachers if:

• you feel that the study is not up to you (too easy or too difficult);
• you need adaptations to study;
• you have been absent for a longer period;
• you need an individual study plan;
• you want counselling or support as a parent.