The Role of the Guidance Counsellor in a High School

1. The Role of the Guidance Counsellor in a High School

2. Goal of the Guidance Program Help the learner discover who they really want to be – to find their Passion – to find the pathway that is best for them - to create the maximum potential for success as fully functioning members of society.

3. Academic Counselling Successful habits Future course planning Monitoring student progress in courses Post-secondary goals Career Counselling Keeping options open Career Exploration Interest inventories Pathway exploration and planning Individual, Small Group Counselling or Classroom Sessions

4. Individual, Small Group Counselling or Classroom Sessions • Personal / Social Counselling • Friends, family • Conflict resolution • Self – Esteem • Anti-bullying • Character Education • Work with student success teacher to meet the needs of at risk students

5. Department Head Responsibilities • Provide the counsellors with extra assistance when requested. • Attend dept. heads, subject council and counsellor association meetings. • Call and conduct department meetings and TEAM meetings. • Instructional leader for guidance courses

6. Department Head Responsibilities • Be responsible to the principal for the total performance of the department. • Assume responsibility for the development, implementation, and evaluation of the Guidance and Career Education Program (CIA). • Submit budget and staffing requests to the principal.

7. Role as a Counsellor • Be available first and foremost to students and parent requesting an interview. • Be able to deal effectively and efficiently with student, staff and parent concerns. • Know when to refer a student to another person or agency. • Play an active part in the total program of the Guidance Dept.

8. Role as a Counsellor • Be continually seeking ways to improve as a counsellor and to reflect the Ethical Guidelines as published by OSCA • Be a member of any conference or IPRC concerning their students. • Work with the Student Success Team to ensure the success of all students • Be a resource for career studies teachers

9. Role as a Counsellor • Career Information and Career Planning • Post Secondary Education Liaison • Student Financial Aid • Educational Information • Community Relations and Career Fair • Student Mentoring/ Mentoring Program

10. Role as a Counsellor • Course selections • Graduation Lists • Feeder School / Transition Years Program • Student Records • Continuing Education • Member of Student Success Team

11. Post SecondaryLiaison • To act as the contact person for OUAC and OCAS • To act as the liaison person with post secondary institutions • To coordinate visits to the school by apprenticeship, college and university personnel.

12. Post SecondaryLiaison • To inform students of important dates and deadlines. • Maintain the resources of the Career Centre including calendars, SAT and TOEFL applications.

13. Career Information and Career Planning Centre • Display appropriate career and educational information, posters and brochures. • Update career files (i.e. monographs) • Develop and gather and revise learning packages (i.e. job skills , resume writing) • Collect and display government publications

14. Student Aid • To maintain an update file of scholarships and bursary application forms. • Organize a system for gathering nominees or applications • Organize an information session for students and parents on OSAP

15. Community Relations and Career Fair • Act as resource person for Take Our Kids to Work Day • Implement a Career Fair Program • Develop a resource file with names of people in the community who would speak to students • Coordinate a visit by Canada Student Employment Centre

16. Student Tutoring Programs • in the community. Compile and update a list of available tutors • Develop a peer tutoring / mentoring program. • Organize an ESL buddy system • Compile study skills and time management packages.

17. Course Selections • Work with the administration to produce the calendar and registration forms. • Organize classroom presentations. • Collect the registration forms. • Produce and distribute verification sheets. • Organize curriculum nights • Refine the stats for the SAC committee

18. Graduation Lists • Prepare a preliminary list of graduates • Ensure individual counsellors remove and notify ineligible students as the year proceeds. • Update list for the grad committee • Verify Ontario Scholar candidates

19. Feeder School /Transition Program • Plan with administration a Grade 8 Open House. • Organize a transitions discussions with grade 8 teachers, counsellors and student success teachers. • Produce and distribute courseverification sheets. • Work with special education to discuss identified students. • Prepare appropriate information for summer mailing. • Plan for August orientation activities.

20. Student Records • With the Principal, ensure that OSR’s are maintained and updated • Determine proper credit equivalencies for students from out of province • Ensure that credit histories are correct

21. Continuing Education • Obtain up to date applications and information sheets from the board. • Register students for night, summer, on-line courses. • Confirm that final marks are entered for credit summaries, including Conservatory Music and international languages.