High School Guidance
Program
Guidance Curriculum Individual Planning Responsive Services System Support
High School Guidance Counselors deliver the comprehensive guidance program to students in grades nine through twelve in a manner that prepares students for post secondary opportunities.
High School Counselors must have the following qualifications, (All high school counselors in Northside I.S.D)
are professional educators,
have earned a Master's Degree,
are specifically trained in counseling techniques,
are certified as school counselors by the Texas Education Agency.
High School Counselors address their continuing professional growth through:
Inservice training
Workshops
Local, state and national conferences
Continuing Education
Inter-school counselor meetings
Current professional literature and media information
Presentations to professional groups
Technology networking
Students may see the school counselor through...
A student self referral
A teacher referral
A parent referral
A counselor request
An administrator request
Students may want to see the counselor for many reasons, including assistance with:
Problem-solving by exploring alternatives to make appropriate decisions.
Developing positive attitudes towards self and others.
Establishing personal goals.
Developing educational plans and in selecting the related courses based on individual interests and talents.
Interpretation of results of standardized tests.
Guidance Curriculum
High School Counselors teach the guidance curriculum and assist teachers with guidance-related curricula. The following are examples of the topics that are addressed in class guidance sessions.
Academic support
Career pathways
Character development
Decision-making
Developmental assets
Goal-Setting
Graduation requirements
Study skills
Understanding academic records
Conflict management
Individual Planning
High School Counselors provide individual or group assistance with educational planning and career exploration. Sample activities include the following:
9-12 Pre-registration activities such as course selection and review of graduation requirements.
Special events such as college and career days, financial aid programs and elective fairs.
Assistance to students with information for special programs such as dual credit, transition/IEP needs.
Student/parent conferences to address educational and career planning.
Freshman Conferences to orient students to high school.
Sophomore conferences to review student Graduation Status Report (GSR), to interpret the standardized test scores and to provide career guidance.
Junior Conferences to review the GSR, to provide college, career and relevant testing information.
Senior Conferences to review the GSR, provide post-secondary education admissions information, as well as scholarship and financial aid information.
Responsive Services
High School Counselors provide students with counseling services, either individually or in groups, to address relevant adolescent issues as a result of student, teacher, parent and/or administrator concerns, or for crisis response. Examples of concerns students may bring to the counselor's office include the following:
Conflict mediation
Dropout prevention
Financial assistance
Peer relations
Progress toward graduation
Schedule issues or changes
Social issues
Teen parenting
Violence and drug abuse issues
Counselors also provide consultation services to parents and teachers.
Additionally, counselors may refer students (and when needed, their families) to other programs for other resources or services such as:
Safe and Drug Free Program,
Gifted and Talented Program,
Special Education Services,
HORIZONS Program, (perhaps link to their website)
Other district and community resources and services.
System Support
High School Counselors coordinate with school and community to bring together resources for students. Counselors provide information about:
AP Testing Schedule
Exit Level TAAS testing schedule
Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) and American College Testing (ACT) testing schedule and preparatory classes
PSAT Test Schedule
Counselors organize or assist with many activities on behalf of students with other campus, district and community groups. Examples include:
Ninth Grade Orientation (see campus website for information)
Parent Programs, such as Financial Aid Night and Junior Parent Programs
High School Guidance Program Open House
Partnerships with community businesses
Mentoring Programs
Career-Tech Expo
College Night
Communication networks with college and military representatives
School Advisory Team
Safe and Drug Free School and Communities Program Advisory Council
National Conference for Community and Justice (NCCJ) Student Training Program
Junior Achievement
NISD programs and resources, Compensatory, Special Education, optional high school and testing programs, etc.
Counselors provide consultation and training services to school staff and parents. Topics they address can include the following:
Developmental Assets
Multicultural/Diversity training
Guidance program information
New teacher training
Signs and symptoms of substance abuse and violence
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