Role of the School Counselor

• Aids parents and teachers in helping students.
• Assists students with their career and academic planning, including scheduling and interpreting graduation requirements.
• Assists students with transitions from elementary school to middle school to high school.
• Assists new students in their adjustment to school.
• Collaborates efforts with school and outside agencies.
• Consults with teachers, administrators, parents and outside agencies to provide the best educational opportunities for each student.
• Coordinates opportunities for students to take advanced courses and earn high school credit.
• Encourages improving inter-personal relationships.
• Facilitates conferences with students, parents and teachers.
• Interprets standardized test results for students.
• Helps identify students’ academic, emotional and social needs.
• Promotes positive attitudes and decision-making.
• Provides interventions and short-term counseling.
• Works with students, individually and in groups, on personal, social and academic issues.

School Counselors meet with every student each year to review academic progress, school records, career readiness, and social development.

• 7th grade Annual Reviews are in October and November.
• 8th grade Annual Reviews are in February through April. Courses for 9th grade are selected during the Annual Review.

Counselors are available from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Students can meet with their counselor before school, after school or during study halls. Counselors will also meet with a student in any urgent situation.

Students may be referred to see their Counselor from a variety of sources, such as a teacher, parent, administrator, coach or friend. In this case, the Counselor will arrange to meet with the student.

Students

• I’m having problems at home, and I don’t know what to do.
• Why do I have to take this class?
• I’m a new student to Lancaster...Help!
• My boyfriend/girlfriend broke up with me.
• I just can’t pay attention in school anymore!
• I need help with making friends.
• What is AIS?
• I need to talk to someone who will really listen to me.
• I feel like this work is too hard
• My friends are doing things that I don’t want to do.
• Someone is picking on me or I see someone being picked on.

Parents

• My child can’t get to school on time.
• We’d like to hear from his teachers to see how he’s doing.
• He scores high on standardized tests, but does poorly in school.
• We just can’t talk to her about anything!
• Is there anywhere he can go for extra help or tutoring?
• My child needs long-term counseling — can you make a referral?
• I am concerned about my child and don’t know what to do?

Faculty & Administrators

• Any ideas to help students develop better relationships in class?
• He is always restless in my class.
• She is always late or absent!
• I think something is going on with him outside school. Can you talk to him?
• Her behavior has changed in the past few weeks.
• I have set up a conference with her parents to discuss her progress. Can you join us?