Middle School Guidance
Middle school is a time of transition and growth. The middle school guidance department works with students (individuals, groups) to help them reach their academic and social potential.
Goals of the Guidance & Counseling Services
- To encourage students to recognize and make the best use of their capabilities.
- To build self-confidence and self-esteem.
- To help students deal with personal and social concerns.
- To teach students decision-making & problem solving strategies.
- To assist with transition from elementary school to middle school, and from the middle school to high school
Some of the key things counselors typically help students with include:
- Helping each student know him or herself. This includes helping students explore interests, capitalize on strengths and develop plans to address weaknesses.
- Educational guidance and goal setting. Counselors meet with students and parents to help select courses and review standardized test results. Counselors will also act as a support with teachers, students and parents to facilitate solutions to academic and/or behavior problems.
- Personal counseling and/or referrals for students experiencing any number of problems - academic, social, family, etc.
- Helping students balance the demands of school, family and friends. Special attention is paid to teaching "life skills" such as organization, study skills, time management, responsibility, cooperation, communication, teamwork and other habits and attitudes that will serve students well in any classroom, job or social situation.
- Communicating regularly with parents to build strong and effective partnerships between home and school.
