School Counselors serve many important functions on a campus. One of these is to teach Guidance lessons. Your child gets to come to a guidance class just like they get to go to the library, the computer lab, PE, music, or art. In a guidance class the counselor focuses issues that the school community have singled out as needing attention, like bullying, stress, Character Education, self-esteem, and being a successful student.
Counselors use the following Four Skill Goals as a guide to address these issues:
Intrapersonal Relationships
Developing a positive self-concept
Changing a particular behavior
Developing ways to manage the demands of school, social activities, and family
Making positive decisions and taking responsibility for actions
Interpersonal Relationships
Evaluating how prejudices can be harmful
Respecting and appreciating differences
Learning how to effectively communicate with others
Navigating relationships with friends, dating partners, family members, teachers, employers
Post-secondary Planning and Career Readiness
Motivation to achieve in school
Understanding how grades can affect post-secondary choices
Selecting a career or college path
Setting post-graduation goals
Personal Health and Safety
Identifying resilience and positive coping skills
Identifying assertiveness skills for personal protection
Learning how to set personal boundaries
Creating a personal wellness plan
Another purpose counselors serve on a campus is to provide counseling. Students can come to see the counselor one on one, or students can be part of a counseling group with other children who have a similar concern (i.e. a having a parent who is deployed). Counseling sessions happen during the school day and the sessions are 30 minutes each.
How does a student get to see their counselor for sessions?
- they can refer themselves by writing the counselor a note
- a parent can refer their child by writing a note, and e-mail, or calling the counselor to request the sessions
- a teacher can refer a student by e-mailing the counselor
- an administrator can refer a student
- counselor invitation
Parent permission is required and a permission slip will be sent home with your child.
Kelso's Choices-"Kelso's Choices" is a comprehensive conflict resolution program that enables students to make responsible choices in their everyday lives.
