Comprehensive Guidance and School Counseling Program
~Woodman Park School is continuing to develop a comprehensive school guidance and counseling program that strives to align itself with state standards from kindergarten through 12th grade. The program is geared towards, "teaching students, in individual or group sessions, to identify, develop, and demonstrate progress in developmental goals and objectives that the school district has selected as important and age appropriate" (2004, p. 16). Some of these goals are highlighted in the various individual, group, and classroom tabs of this website.
A comprehensive school guidance and counseling program is established in order to "meet the developmental needs of all students in the various aspects of their lives" (2004, p. 17). The program is delivered to all students by way of classroom, group, and individual intervention and prevention lessons. All school counselors in the district spend time consulting with teachers, administration, guardians, community agencies, and other school counselors in order to ensure the program is being properly developed and followed.
"The ultimate goal of the comprehensive school guidance and counseling program is to assist all students to benefit from their educational opportunites. This enables them to become fully functioning adults who have developed their talents and abilities and are able to demonstrate them for themselves and for their society" (2004, p. 33)
~There are four program components that need to be considered in order to successfully carry out a comprehensive school guidance and counseling program:
1. Guidance Curriculum -
*Guidance curriculum is based on three developmental areas: educational, individual/social, and career and is implemented though:
-Classroom Activities (see "Classroom" tab on this website)
-School-wide Activities (i.e school assemblies, bullying prevention programs, career days, etc.)
2. Individual Planning
-Helping students to identify abilities and interests in order to plan for the future
-Assisting students with selecting in and out of school activities
3. Responsive Services -
*Responsive services are NOT intended to be synonymous with mental health therapy*
- (See "Individual" and "Group Counseling" tabs on this website)
-Responsive Services are designed to assist students to better access his or her education
-School counselors work with students to help develop more effective communication skills, problem-solving strategies, study habits, self-esteem, adjustment to expectations in the classroom, etc.
-School counselors will often engage in consulation with teachers, administrations, guardians, and outside agencies (i.e. mental health professionals, speech therapists, occupational therapists, etc.) to figure out how best to work with students in the school environment. School counselors do not contact outside agencies without guardian permission.
-School counselors have lists of outside agencies if parents would like to learn about more resources for their child. We understand that outside counseling or supports can be expensive. It is important to check with your insurance provider because some things may be covered!
4. System Support and Program Development
-System support includes: professional development, public relations, community outreach, etc.
****Even with the best of intentions and structuring of programing, school counselors can often times be perceived as not being around to help when needed. Please be patient with me! Situations occur in school that need to be tended to immediately and although I do my best to be in the classrooms and with the students as much as possible, this cannot always happen. Please feel free to see me if there is a concern so we can work out a solution!****
New Hampshire Implementation Manual for Comprehensive School Guidance and Counseling. 2004. New Hampshire Department of Education, Office of Guidance and Counseling.