Guidance And Counseling Services

Philosophy

Guidance services are predicted on the understanding that each student is a unique, developing capable individual who will learn from experience and grow personally, socially and educationally throughout adolescence. Respectful of individual differences, counselors assist and support students as they begin to understand themselves, develop decision making and problem -solving skills, and plan for the future. In addition to disseminating necessary, important educational and career information, counselors seek to promote each student's desire to maximize his/her potential in preparation for success in further education or a career. Counseling promotes effective communication and life planning skills which help students grow into responsible adults.

Ultimately designed to promote autonomy and a sense of personal responsibility in an increasingly complex, diverse society, guidance services are vital to young people as they learn to cope with and emerge into adulthood.
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Counselor Assignment

Students will be assigned to a counselor upon entering the ninth grade. They will be assigned to the same counselor for their four years of high school.
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Counselor Appointments

Students may initiate a conference with their assigned counselor by making an appointment in the counselor's appointment book located in the Guidance Office. Counselors will also initiate conferences with students by sending them an appointment notification. Counselors will meet with all assigned students during the school year.
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Academic Counseling

Academic counseling is available to all students to help them understand their individual strengths, to set goals, and to assist them in planning an appropriate program of studies. Counselors, teachers and parents will work together to support and encourage all students in reaching their full potential.
 

Some of the areas in which a counselor may work with students and parents are:

- planning a four-year high school program relevant to student's interests, abilities and post high school plans.
- assisting students in selecting appropriate courses each year
- checking each student's progress through a review of quarterly report cards and interim progress reports
- counseling students experiencing academic difficulty and developing strategies for improvement, including referrals to various academic resources at the high school.
- being available to meet with parents of all students
- reviewing credit status leading to graduation
- being available to meet with students and parents to review standardized test results.
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Career Advising

Career advising is designed to help students begin the process of exploring various career options moving toward the ultimate goal of specific career selection. Recognizing that career development begins with self knowledge , the goal of many activities is to help students learn about themselves and, subsequently, to match this knowledge with information about the world of work. By senior year, students should have gained knowledge and experience to help them develop a general career direction.
 

Counselors assist students in this process through the following activities:

1. orientation to the Career Center for ninth graders
2. individual and small group counseling at all grades
3. conferences scheduled with all juniors to develop post high school plans
4. review of high school program to insure that student's courses provide adequate preparation for potential career choices
5. use of Career Center resources including computer software, reference books and career pamphlets.
6. the opportunity to participate in the Community School program, a credit-granting career internship, either during summer or school year.
7. administration and interpretation of career interest inventories, aptitude assessments, career exploration resources
8. coordination of career development in conjunction with classroom teachers
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College Counseling

College counseling is offered to all students seeking post-high school education. Designed to help students identify and clarify their abilities, interests and goals, college counseling assists students in making appropriate educational decisions. The formal college planning process begins with individual and group sessions in the junior year conducted by the school counselors. These sessions continue through the senior year.

In order to assist students fully, the following activities will take place:

- students will be encouraged to take interest inventories and complete career search assessments in a timely fashion

- students will be encouraged to take appropriate standardized tests

- students will be encouraged to utilize the facilities of the College and Career Center, which include computer-based college search programs college catalogs and video tours of college campuses

- in the junior and senior year, students will have scheduled, mandatory appointments with their counselors

- parents and students are encouraged to attend the mandatory college planning sessions in the junior and senior years.

- students and parents will attend college nights, college fairs and financial aid programs, as appropriate

- all juniors will receive a Junior Planning Book and regular informational letters regarding college planning

- starting in the junior year, students will prepare drafts of their resume and college essay to assist in preparing for the college application process

- parents are encouraged to complete and submit personal questionnaires about their child

- counselors will write letters of recommendation for students

- counselors will direct students to a variety of available resources about colleges

- counselors will maintain a current state of knowledge about colleges by attending conferences, visiting colleges and meeting with college representatives
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Personal Counseling

Personal counseling is available to all students to assist them in managing the normal developmental issues which arise during adolescence . School counselors help students to enhance self-understanding and to learn effective problem solving skills so that they will be better equipped to deal with the variety of concerns that high school students encounter. Individual counseling sessions may be initiated by students, staff or parents. When warranted, referrals will be made to the school psychologist, school social worker or an appropriate community agency.
 

Among the many issues that may be discussed are:

Relationships
Family situations
Peer concerns
Physical and sexual abuse
Substance abuse
Stress
Transition
Academic pressure
Inappropriate behavior
Communication issues
Pregnancy
 
Further information regarding guidance and counseling services can be obtained by contacting the guidance office, (860)-231-5018

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