Guidance Program
Mission Statement
The Guidance staff will help all students reach their potential as
human beings; help them achieve success in their academic, personal,
social and career goals and prepare them to function effectively in a
rapidly changing global society.
Statement of Philosophy
Our philosophy is based on the belief that each student
possesses intrinsic self worth, a unique constellation of skills and
needs, and a personality capable of growth, adaptation and
self-direction. In responding to these beliefs, as well as the needs of
the school and the community, counselors provide a guidance program that
is developmentally appropriate, comprehensive, and both pro-active and
remedial. Counselors fill a wide variety of roles: counselor, observer,
consultant, teacher, manager and role model. Counselors work
cooperatively with families, the school administration, community
agencies and other members of the larger community to assist students in
identifying and achieving their personal goals.
Program Themes
The Guidance Program is organized around three major themes: Academic
Development, Career Development and Personal/Social Development.
Academic
Development includes the acquiring of skills, knowledge, attitudes and
strategies that insure academic success in school. Counselors assist
students in the developing an understanding of the relationship between
academics and the world of work, life at home and success in the
community.
Career Development provides the foundation for students
to make a successful transition from school to the world of work
throughout life. The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Teens © program is a key component of this theme.
Personal
and Social Development provides students develop understanding and
respect for themselves and others, acquire effective interpersonal
skills, and define future aspirations as contributing members of our
society.
All students will exposed to a Developmental Guidance Program based on four main components:
- The
Guidance Curriculum focuses on developmentally appropriate experiences,
systematically presented to all students through classroom and group
activities. Counselors co-teach classes with regular teachers stressing
decision making, goal setting, peer relationships, self awareness,
career awareness the world of work, and educational and career planning.
- Individual
Planning focuses on assisting each individual student to develop,
analyze and evaluate his/her education, career and personal goals and
plans. This includes individual advisement, appraisal and placement.
- Responsive
Services are reactions to the immediate needs of students and their
families, and focus on group or individual counseling, crisis
intervention, consultation and referral.
- System Support includes
such activities as program development, program evaluation and
assessment, parent education, materials development and community
relations. Additionally, counselors support other school programs such
as testing, students assessments, the Special Education and Section 504*
referral process, and serving on school committees.
The ASCA National Standards for Counseling Programs (1997) and the Connecticut Common Core of Learningserve as the foundations of this counseling program.
* Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 is a national law that protects qualified individuals from discrimination based on their disability.