Program Elements
I. Academic Development

Planning for college begins with choosing courses that will meet college entrance requirements and then making a serious effort to achieve at the highest possible level. Students meet with their counselor each year to review plans and select appropriate courses. Students who are serious about further education should take the PSAT in grade 11. Interpretative sessions are held with students after each test. Counselors recommend that students take the ACT, SAT I or SAT II at the end of junior year.  To help students make good decisions, the counselors urge students to use the college planning guides for grades 11 and 12. To help students collect information, counselors also bring interested juniors to a college fair. In individual sessions, the counselors help students and their families generate lists of colleges to research. The computer software available in the office has made this process much more thorough and easier than in past years. We also have a library of college catalogs, information on CD-ROM, and college videos in the office.

Testing is done on a voluntary basis. Counselors meet with students to explain the reason for the test and to describe how students should prepare. Interpretation sessions are held with students after the results are back. Grade 11: PSAT The Preliminary Scholastic Assessment Test (PSAT) is a test that lets students compare their ability to do college work with the ability of other college-bound juniors. The test is good practice for the Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT I) which is required by many colleges in the Northeast for admission. Taking the PSAT helps students plan for college. They can get an idea of how they will do on a college admissions test and can find colleges that seek students like them. Prepare for the PSAT and the SAT I by doing a Test Question of the Day everyday direct from the College Board.  The ACT Assessment is required for most colleges in the Mid-West .  It is designed to assess high school student's general educational development and their ability to complete college work.  ACT offers test taking stategies, Sample Questions and information about other ACT resources, including ACTive Prep, to help you do your best.

II. Career Development

Figuring out what to do for work is a process that happens over time, not a single one-time decision. Counselors begin the career planning process at the beginning of ninth grade in the Advisory class. They do an interest inventory that connects school subjects to possible careers, develop a four year plan and show students how to set up their electronic development portfolio. In grade 10, the counselors meet with students to help them understand a thoughtful process to make a career decision. Students are first asked to examine themselves: their interests, their temperaments, and their values. Students are then asked to think about what they want in a job. They are then be shown how to use the Choices computer program to learn about career possibilities and the education necessary to do the job. In grades 11 and 12, students meet individually with their counselor to make post secondary plans.

III. Personal/Social Development

Personal counseling: Counselors can help students to become a better problem-solvers. If they are having difficulty with a class or having a misunderstanding with a friend or they just want someone to talk to, students should see their counselor. Crisis: Counselors can also help in a crisis. Sometimes students are abused or they threaten to hurt themselves. Friends can help friends by bringing them to their counselor. Don't try to solve the problem yourself. When in doubt, talk it out. See your counselor.
The counselors cooperate with other agencies to give students the best possible choice of counseling services right here in the school. A counselor from Youth Guidance Services is available in the office four days a week. We also have a social worker, school psychologist and a nurse assigned to the school two days a week.  Students need to see their counselor to be referred to one of these people. A Student Assistance Program counselor is also available twice a week to meet with students about such issues as drugs and alcohol, pregnancy, or other personal crisis. 

Access the National Standards for School Counseling Programs from the American Association of School Counselors here.