All school counseling programs will include the following elements: guidance curriculum, individual student planning, responsive services, and systems support for the counseling program.
The focus of the counseling department is to help students with academic and career planning and to foster personal exploration, self- awareness, and social growth. Students are encouraged to set realistic yet challenging goals, to make responsible decisions, to understand the consequences of their actions, and to learn to self-advocate.
Students should contact a counselor if they have questions about transitions between schools, registration, course selection, interpretation and use of test results, or graduation requirements. High school counselors assist students with academic, career, college, and personal questions. Visit or call the counseling center or career center to make an appointment with your counselor.
Counselors offer a wide variety of services, resources and activities:
- Visit middle schools during the prior school year to provide a smooth transition from middle school to high school.
- Assist students in planning, selecting and successfully completing middle and high school courses and completing the High School and Beyond Plan required for high school graduation.
- Teach students (in classrooms) about the intricacies of college admission, how to develop and sustain study habits and develop personal/social support systems.
- Provide students and families with information about course selection/registration, college admissions testing, financial aid, socio- emotional issues, mental health resources.
- Facilitate outreach with community mental health support agencies.
- Monitor students’ academic progress and assist student in developing plans to support students so that they are successful in resolving problems in doing well in school and classes.
- Provide a program to prepare students for an education beyond high school.
- Develop and lead groups with topics ranging from body image, self- esteem to academic improvement.
- Assist students with issues, academic or personal, that are or may be interfering with academic performance.
Career specialists help students:
- Develop an awareness of self (interests, aptitudes).
- Explore a variety of careers (speakers, field trips, and internships).
- Examine the educational requirements for their chosen careers.
- Develop job-seeking skills.