Guidance Office

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.

 


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