Counseling Department Gr. K-12

The emphasis of Shenendehowa’s counseling program is on academic success for every student, not just those students who are motivated, supported and ready to learn. Shen has counselors in every building K-12 who serve as student advocates to help ensure that the doors of opportunity are open for every student upon graduating from Shen. Counselors interact with students as often as possible throughout the school year individually, in groups and in classrooms.

 

High School Counselor, Ms. Mueller, works with a student on navigating the Naviance system for college and career readiness.

Counselors are expected to:

  • Monitor student achievement and develop strategies for improvement for struggling students.
  • Guide students to challenge themselves with rigorous academic programs.
  • Coordinate programs and activities that promote personal/social development.
  • Help students transition between levels successfully ( i.e., elementary to middle to high)
  • Help students learn about various careers and post-secondary education options.
  • Beginning in gr. 7, meet with each student at least once annually to develop or review career goals and provide guidance in developing a plan to achieve those goals.

NYS Regulations for Counseling Services

As per the New York State Education Department, listed in Part 100 of the Commissioner’s Regulations:
  1. Each school district shall have a guidance program for all students.
  2. In grades K-6, the program shall be designed in coordination with the teaching staff to prepare students to effectively participate in their current and future educational programs; to help students who exhibit any attendance, academic, behavioral or adjustment problems; to educate students concerning avoidance of child sexual abuse and to encourage parental involvement.
  3. In grades 7-12, the school counseling program shall include the following activities and services:
  • An annual review of each student’s educational progress and career plans, with such reviews conducted with each student individually or with small groups by personnel certified or licensed as school counselors.
  • Instruction at each grade level to help students learn about various careers and about career planning skills conducted by personnel certified or licensed as school counselors, or by classroom teachers in cooperation with the school counselor.
  • Other advisory and individual or group counseling assistance to enable students to benefit from the curriculum to help students develop and implement postsecondary educational and career plans; to help students who exhibit any attendance, academic, behavioral or adjustment problems; to encourage parental involvement, provided that advisory assistance shall be provided by teachers or counselors or by certified teaching assistants under the supervision of counselors or teachers; such individual or group counseling shall be provided by certified or licensed school psychologists or certified or licensed school social workers in cooperation with certified and licensed school counselors.
  • Each school district shall develop a district plan which sets forth the manner in which the district shall comply with the requirements of this subdivision. Such plan should be filed in the district offices and shall be available for review by any individual. The plan shall present program objectives, which describe expectations of what students will learn from the program; activities to accomplish the objectives; specifications of the staff members and other resources assigned to accomplish the objectives; provisions for the annual assessment of the program results.
  • The plan shall be reviewed annually by the school counselors, and revisions shall be made as necessary.

Shen’s Comprehensive Counseling Plan

Shenendehowa has developed a Comprehensive Counseling Plan based on the National Standards and model for Counseling, developed by the American School Counseling Association (ASCA). This model shifts the focus of counseling from a student-by-student system to a comprehensive and developmental program providing academic, career, and personal/social development for every K–12 student.

DELIVERY OF COUNSELING SERVICES UNDER THE PLAN

Delivery system defines the components of the comprehensive model including individual student planning, school counseling curriculum, responsive services and system support.

Individual Student Planning — Counselors monitor students’ progress so they may achieve success in academic, personal/social, and career areas. This may be accomplished through:

  • Individual or Small Group Appraisal: Work with students in analyzing and evaluating abilities, interests, skills, and achievement.
  • Individual or Small Group Advisement: Work directly with students on achieving success in personal/social, academic, and career areas.
  • Case Management: Monitor individual students’ progress.
  • Placement: Collaborate with school staff in determining the proper educational setting for students as they meet their academic and social goals.
  • School Counseling Curriculum — The counseling curriculum provides developmental activities that address academic, career and personal/social needs of students K-12. This is accomplished through:
  • Classroom Activities: School counselors present lessons in the classroom.
  • Group Activities: School counselors conduct group activities outside of the classroom to address students’ particular needs.
  • Interdisciplinary Activities: School counselors collaborate with school staff to implement curriculum across content areas.
  • Responsive Services — School Counselors provide support and interventions to meet the needs of students. This is accomplished through:
  • Individual and Small Group Counseling: Counseling is provided for students experiencing social, emotional, personal, or academic difficulties.
  • Crisis Counseling: Short term counseling that is provided to students, families or staff as an immediate intervention to a crisis.
  • Referrals: Counselors connect families to appropriate resources as needed.
  • Consultation: School counselors collaborate with families, school staff and community agencies to develop interventions for students.
  • System Support — Counselors assess the effectiveness of the counseling program. This is accomplished through:
  • Teaming: School Counselors participate in district wide and building committees.
  • Professional Development: School counselors regularly participate in training, conferences, and meetings to update knowledge and skills.
  • Program Promotion: School Counselors provide orientation and information regarding the programs to the greater community via websites, counseling, newsletters and presentations.