Counseling
Department
Grades
6-12
What
is School Counseling?
Our grades 6-12 counseling program is a sequential, planned program that is both developmental and proactive. Counseling is the process by which clients are assisted in making decisions and changing behaviors. Counselors work with students, parents, and community members. School counselors work to serve all students so that all students are successful in their academic achievement, their personal and social growth, and their career planning. Counselors serve as advocates for their students as well as collaborative members of the educational team to seek solutions to help each student achieve his/her potential and to promote the academic mission of the school.
What
is the Role of the School Counselor?
The role of the school counselor is to support and enhance learning and to serve as the focal point of all the participants involved with the studentÕs education by
v Serving as an advocate for the student
v Promoting academic success
v Collaborating with teachers, administrators, parents, school resources, and community opportunities
v Assisting students with transitional tasks
v Assisting transfer students in their transition through information and support
v Providing curriculum planning so that each student is able to meet his/her educational and career goals
v Coordinating therapeutic and educational services
v Serving as a liaison to teachers and post secondary institutions
v Pursuing professional development opportunities
What are the Counseling Services?
v Counsel individuals
v Counsel small groups
v Teach classroom guidance lessons
v Confer with parents
v Consult and collaborate with school personnel and community resources
v Coordinate services
v Coordinate and administer testing programs
v Interpret assessments
v Teach career education
v Serve on Child Study, CSE, and PPS committees
v 504 Coordination
v Coordinate ELL and course scheduling
v Assist with crisis intervention
v Serve as a resource for parents
v Conduct school-wide programs specific to individual schools and/or student needs
v Coordinate enrollment and orientation services
v Provide transition services
v Assist in counseling aspect of discipline
Student
Guidance Goals Grades 6-12
Academic Development:
á To acquire the attitudes, knowledge, skills, and behaviors contributing to life-long learning.
á To organize and apply academic information from a variety of sources
á To complete schools with the academic preparation essential to choose from a wide range of post-secondary education, training, and career options
á To understand how academics are applicable to all aspects of their life: work, home, community
Personal/Social Development:
á To help students acquire the knowledge, attitude, and interpersonal skills so that they understand and respect others
á To make decisions, set goals, and take necessary action to achieve goals
á To develop life skills for personal growth
Career Development:
á To explore the world of work in relation to knowledge of self and to make informed career decisions
á To develop and investigate strategies to achieve future career goals
á To understand the relationships among personal qualities, education, and the world of work
Grade 6 Counseling
Goals
Counseling theme:
Orientation and Transition to Middle School for Students and Parents
Through a series of
panel discussions, including evening parent meetings for each individual
elementary school, counselor visitations to the elementary schools, and fifth
grade visitations to the middle school, the counseling program provides a
comprehensive overview of the middle school mission statement. During the school year, counselors
conduct classroom activities as well as small group sessions, to begin to
familiarize students with the guidance program, and to address topics relevant
to their transition to the middle school.
*****
Along with the above stated theme, our counseling program utilizes various counseling services to help students work toward achieving the following goals:
Academic Development:
á Identify attitudes and behaviors that lead to successful learning
á Develop age appropriate study habits and organizational skills
á Accept mistakes as essential to the learning process
á Academic program planning
Personal/Social Development:
á Demonstrate cooperative behavior in groups
á Understand that communication involves speaking, listening and non-verbal behavior
á Distinguish between appropriate and inappropriate behavior
á Comprehend consequences of decisions and choices
á Apply conflict resolution to everyday problems
á Develop coping skills
Career Development:
á Learn how to interact and work cooperatively in teams
á Learn to make decisions
á Learn to set goals
Grade
7 Counseling Goals
Counseling theme: Empowerment and Self Awareness in
Social Relationships Planning for Differentiated Academic Placement
Through a series of workshops and
small group sessions utilizing the Empowerment curriculum, including a full-day
Wellness Program and an overnight experience at Sharpe Reservation, the
counseling department works with students to address topics of self-awareness,
empowerment and the power of positive, supportive relationships. The topic of harassment is addressed in
a workshop presented to all seventh grade students.
In addition, counselors administer
standardized testing to all seventh grade students, and those results are
interpreted and reviewed, along with academic achievement, to determine
academic placement for the eighth grade program.
*****
Along with the above stated theme, our counseling program utilizes various counseling services to help students work toward achieving the following goals:
Academic Development:
á Apply time management and task management skills
á Use communication skills to know when and how to ask for help when needed
á Understanding the relationship between classroom performance and success in school
á Academic program planning, including assessment for honors placement
Personal/Social Development:
á Identify values, attitudes and beliefs
á Identify and discuss changing personal and social roles
á Identify and recognize changing family roles
á Recognize and respect individual difference
á Understand that change is a part of growth
á Identify and express feelings
á Practice effective communication skills
Career Development:
á Understand the importance of planning
á Utilize and task management skills
Grade 8 Counseling
Goals
Counseling theme: Mapping the future through Self
Assessment, High School Planning, and the Introduction to the Process of Career
Exploration
Through
a series a classroom presentations, utilizing college and career assessment
tools, students explore the college and career decision making process by
identifying personal goals, work-related values, interests and personality
type.
*****
Along with the above stated theme, our counseling program utilizes various counseling services to help students work toward achieving the following goals:
Academic Development:
á Knowledge of academic strengths and interests
á Understand academic requirements in high school and beyond
á Identify post-secondary options consistent with achievement aptitude and abilities
á Understand how school success and academic achievement enhance future academic and career opportunities
á Academic program planning
Personal/Social Development:
á Identify alternative ways of achieving personal goals
á Demonstrate the ability to set boundaries, rights and personal privacy
á Learn how to cope with peer pressure
á Reinforce positive coping skills for dealing with problems
Career Development:
á Identify personal preferences and interests influencing career choice and success
á Use research and information resources to obtain career information
á Learn to use the Internet to access career planning information
á Demonstrate the knowledge of the career planning process
á Apply decision making skill to career planning, high school course selection and career transition
Grade 9 Counseling
Goals
Counseling theme: Orientation and Transition to High
School for Students and Parents
Through
a series of group meetings with counselors, students and parents gain a broad
overview of high school expectations, academic requirements, and strategies for
success.
*****
Along with the above stated theme, our counseling program utilizes various counseling services to help students work toward achieving the following goals:
Academic Development:
á Orientation and information for transfer student
á Orientation to high school and counseling services
á Identify students in need of Academic Intervention Services
á Understand high school transcript and graduation requirements
á Promote awareness and participation in school activities
á Explore academic enrichment programs
Personal/Social Development:
á Increased self-awareness and self-acceptance
á Comprehension of and respect for others in order to communicate in appropriate ways
á Continued development of decision-making and goal-setting skills
á Development of increased self-control and responsibility
á Increased cooperative behavior in groups and activities
á Ability to identify and appropriately express feelings
á Accountability to self and others
á Assist students with development of coping skills and resiliency
Career Development:
á Positive
attitude toward work and learning
á Comprehension
of the importance of course selection relative to potential career interests
á Identify personal interests and abilities as it relates to careers
Grade 10
Counseling Goals
Counseling Theme: Career Exploration
Through
self-analysis and personal exploration, students gain an understanding of their
interests, abilities and aptitudes in relation to career choices and post high
school plans.
*****
Along with the above stated theme, our counseling program utilizes various counseling services to help students work toward achieving the following goals:
Academic Development:
á Identify students in need of Academic Intervention Services
á Review Diploma requirements
á Orientation and information for transfer students
á Curriculum Planning
á Individual Academic Counseling
á Credit verification
á Understand the high school transcript and graduation requirements
á Orientation to the PSAT
á Explore academic summer enrichment programs
á Planning for the future
Personal/Social Development:
á Assist students in developing coping skills and resiliency
á Increased self-awareness and self-acceptance
á Comprehension of and respect for others in order to communicate in appropriate ways
á Continued development of decision making and goal setting skills
á Development of increased self-control and responsibility
á Increased cooperative behavior in groups
á Ability to identify and appropriately express feelings
á Encouragement of community involvement
á Accountability to self and others
Career Development:
á Foster a positive attitude towards work and learning
á Career exploration
á Comprehension of the importance of course selection relative to technical instruction and career interests
á Career assessment screening
á Introduction to opportunities at SWBOCES
Grade 11 Counseling Goals
Counseling Theme: Post
High School Planning
Through
student/parent planning meetings, PSAT review and analysis, evening programs,
and individual counseling sessions; students examine personal interests and
talents and their implications for life after high school.
*****
Along
with the above stated theme, our counseling program utilizes various counseling
services to help students work toward achieving the following goals:
Academic
Development:
á
Time management skills
á
Graduation requirements
á
Curriculum planning
á
Individual academic
counseling
á
Credit verification
á
College entrance exams
and other requirements
á
Junior Future
Planning/development of post high school plans
á
Orientation for transfer
students
á
Explore academic
enrichment programs
á
Test interpretation
á
Financial aid
á
Self efficacy as it
relates to post HS choices
á
Comprehensive self
assessment (Student Activity Profile)
á
Exploration of college
search technology
Personal/Social
Development:
á
Increased self awareness
and self acceptance
á
Continued development of
decision making and goal setting skills
á
Development of increased
self-control and responsibility
á
Increased cooperative
behavior in groups
á
Ability to identify and
appropriately express feelings
á
Encouragement of school
and community involvement
á
Accountability to self
and others
á
Continued development of
appropriate communication skills
á
Assist students with
development of coping skills and resiliency
Career
Development:
á
Comprehension of the
importance of course selection relative to career interests
á
Career Exploration
á
College Night
á
College/post secondary
education information
á
Potential enrollment in
technical center program of study
á
Exploration of computer
career resources
Grade
12 Counseling Goals
Counseling theme: Continued post high school planning and
transition.
Through
individual meetings, information sessions, transition programs for both
students and parents, the Counseling Department provides a comprehensive post
high school planning process.
*****
Along with the above stated theme, our counseling program utilizes various counseling services to help students work toward achieving the following goals:
Academic Development:
á Identify students in need of AIS
á Time Management skills
á Graduation and Diploma requirements
á Individual academic counseling
á Credit Verification
á Review of post secondary plans
á Exploration of further educational opportunities
á Scholarship/financial aid exploration
á Orientation and information for transfer students
á Awareness of College Entrance Examinations and other requirements
Personal/Social Development:
á Increased self-awareness and self-acceptance
á Continued development of decision making and goal setting skills
á Development of increased self-control and responsibility
á Encouragement of community and school involvement
á Use of community resources
á Accountability to self and others
á Use of appropriate communication skills
á Development of transitional skills needed for post-secondary success
á Assist students with development of coping skills and resiliency
Career Development:
á College/Technical school/Military information
á Potential enrollment in technical center program of study
á Exploration
of computer career resources