What We Do - Columbia Heights Educational Campus

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GUIDANCE AND COUNSELING DEPARTMENT
OUR MISSION

The mission of our department is to provide a comprehensive, developmental counseling program to meet the academic, personal/social, and college/career needs of all students. Counselors are student advocates who support students throughout their middle and high school journey and help students prepare for their post-secondary plans. Counselors help students maximize their academic achievement while acknowledging every student’s individual and cultural uniqueness. In partnership with other educators, parents/guardians, and the community, the Lincoln and Bell counseling team strives to ensure that all students develop the skills, knowledge, and understanding necessary to be successful in college and in our changing society.
OUR SERVICES

Our Guidance Team takes a personal approach with each individual student. We understand that the middle school and high school years can be difficult to navigate. The Guidance and Counseling Curriculum adheres to the National Standards for School Counseling Programs (American School Counselor Association), but goes beyond to ensure that the personal, academic, intellectual, physical, social, and emotional needs of each student is addressed.

Every student has an appointed counselor, assigned by grade level and career interest, who will help to address academic goals, to select and apply to optimal colleges, and to address personal issues and resolve conflicts. Guidance services are delivered via a combination of personalized, one on one meetings between each student and their counselor as well as via small group, large group, grade level and whole school offerings.
1. ACADEMIC DEVELOPMENT

The purpose of Academic Counseling is to provide students with information and guidance regarding their educational needs.  We help facilitate communication between the school and parents, monitor student progress, advise on class placement and assist in scheduling.  The Guidance Department encourages students to understand the relationship of academics to the world of work, to their lives at home and to the community.  Our goal is to help students acquire the knowledge and skills that contribute to effective life-long learning.

Other areas addressed in Academic Counseling include:

    • Clarifying educational goals and objectives
    • Creating academic plans
    • College counseling
    • Tutoring referrals
    • Motivational strategies
    • Time management
2. COLLEGE COUNSELING

CHEC offers individual counseling for college planning for students and/or parents of all grades 6 - 12, with a strong focus on juniors and seniors. The college counseling program is dedicated to guiding and preparing students for their transition to college. Individual and family meetings, class workshops, and evening information sessions are offered throughout the year to keep students and parents informed about college planning and the application process.

Our team uses Naviance/Family Connection for college and career research, for the coordination of the application process, and to list scholarship information.
3. PERSONAL COUNSELING

We provide ample opportunities for personal counseling to give students an opportunity to discuss personal, academic, and social issues in a confidential manner. Personal Counseling is designed to identify students' strengths and enhance personal growth skills in the learning environment and to provide strategies and perspective in navigating the teenage years and/or personal situations or challenges. All guidance counselors are trained to support the personal counseling needs of their students, and access to an entire team of professional social workers, is also available for additional counseling support. Parents are also welcome to reach out to discuss parenting and personal issues as well.

Frequently, there are stress factors associated with middle and high school.  Challenging times can be experienced when faced with the rigors of academics mixed with potential new freedoms, exciting and demanding life choices, and a variety of venues for growth and expression. Or sometimes, there is something that needs to be discussed with a supportive person.

Personal counseling can provide support for individual concerns that might interfere with personal success and satisfaction, academic progress and social development while at CHEC.

Some of the more common concerns include difficulty with friends, teachers, or family members; depression and anxiety; lack of motivation, difficulty concentrating or studying; uncertainties about personal values and beliefs, along with many other issues.

Students and their parents are encouraged to seek out their assigned counselor at any time.

Reasons for students to contact a Guidance Counselor or the Personal Counselor include:
  • Academic Consultations
  • Problems with friends/peers
  • Personal problems
  • Anxiety/Stress
  • College and future plans
  • To chat

Parents are welcome to contact us regarding these issues and any other topics:
  • Concerns about your child/ward
  • Parenting support
  • Questions regarding academics
  • College planning
  • Any comments or questions
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