SCHOOL COUNSELING
The School Counselor provides services that aspire to promote academic, personal, social and career development for all children.
GUIDANCE CURRICULUM
The counselor will meet directly with students in their classrooms to help develop their educational potential through skill-based lessons. These action-based, age appropriate activities assist in developing essential life skills including self-confidence, self-control, decision-making, goal setting and communication.
RESPONSIVE SERVICES
The counselor will intervene on behalf of students whose personal concerns or problems put their educational development at risk. Individual crisis counseling is limited to one to three meetings with the counselor.
INDIVIDUAL PLANNING
The counselor will assist students with goal setting, behavioral support programs, and transition activities.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Q: How does a parent or student contact the school counselor?
A: Students can obtain a self-referral form from the classroom
teacher. Parents can call the counseling office to request an
appointment for themselves or for the student. Teachers and parents can
obtain a referral form from the counselor. Hard copies of the referral
form are in the main building lounge and soft copies are located on the
shared drive for Oak Hill.
Q: Is information shared with the counselor also shared with teachers?
A: Personal information shared with the counselor is not shared
with the classroom teacher unless permission to share the information is
granted by the student or the parent. Academic information applicable
to classroom performance will be shared with the professional educator.
Q:Are parents notified when a student visits the counselor?
A: Parent notification depends on the purpose of the student’s
visit. Parents are notified and must give permission for students to
participate in support groups. For behavioral support incentives and
quick care meetings, parents are typically not alerted. However, issues
can arise during these meetings that may merit parental notification.
Q: Can the counselor provide therapy for my child?
A: Counselors provide support not therapy. The counselor will provide therapeutic referrals at the parent’s request.
SYSTEM SUPPORT
The counselor will support the efforts of teachers, staff, parents
and the community in promoting academic, personal, social and career
development. Parent and teacher consultations are provided by
appointment.
ACADEMIC AND THERAPUTIC REFERRALS
The counselor will assist in the referral process of students to
appropriate support programs and services provided both within the
school setting and to outside agencies. Requests for therapeutic
referrals must be made by the parent.
CONFIDENTIALITY POLICY
All student information is kept in confidence in accordance to
educational code. All counseling records are considered school records
and are subject to legal requirements. Disclosures of abuse and/or
imminent danger to self or others are reported to the appropriate agency
in accordance with the law. Situations jeopardizing student safety
including incidents of abuse, imminent danger of self or others,
bullying and sexual harassment are reported to the campus administrator
in accordance with school policy.