School Counseling Vision Statement
Professional school counselors are leaders who advocate, collaborate, and facilitate individual and system change to ensure every student has the knowledge and skills necessary for academic success and personal growth. There are certified, professional school counselors in each elementary, middle, and high school within MCPS.
At the elementary school level, school counselors meet regularly with all students through school-wide programs and classroom guidance lessons. When needed, they also meet with students in small group or individual settings.
School counselors help students develop knowledge and skills appropriate to their age and grade in the areas of academic success, personal growth, career awareness, and interpersonal relationships such as making and keeping friends, how to handle peer pressure and how to safely resolve conflicts. School counselors also regularly consult with parents and teachers to discuss ways in which they can support students.
School counselors at the elementary school level are always available as a resource for parents to answer questions they may have about their child's development.
At the elementary school level, school counselors meet regularly with all students through school-wide programs and classroom guidance lessons. When needed, they also meet with students in small group or individual settings.
School counselors help students develop knowledge and skills appropriate to their age and grade in the areas of academic success, personal growth, career awareness, and interpersonal relationships such as making and keeping friends, how to handle peer pressure and how to safely resolve conflicts. School counselors also regularly consult with parents and teachers to discuss ways in which they can support students.
School counselors at the elementary school level are always available as a resource for parents to answer questions they may have about their child's development.
Why School Counselors?
School counselors provide services to students, parents, school staff and the community in the following areas:
School Counseling Curriculum : This curriculum consists of lessons designed to help students gain the knowledge and skills appropriate for their developmental level.
The service provided will help students:
Responsive Services : Responsive services are preventative and/or intervention activities meeting students' immediate and future needs.
These needs may be addressed in any of the following activities:
School Counseling Curriculum : This curriculum consists of lessons designed to help students gain the knowledge and skills appropriate for their developmental level.
The service provided will help students:
- Demonstrate personal and academic growth.
- Make appropriate educational and career decision.
- Have productive interactions with others.
Responsive Services : Responsive services are preventative and/or intervention activities meeting students' immediate and future needs.
These needs may be addressed in any of the following activities:
- Individual or group counseling.
- Consultation with parents, teachers and other educators.
- Referrals to other school support services or community resources. It is through a comprehensive developmental school counseling program that counselors work as a team member with school staff, parents, and the community to create a caring, supportive atmosphere in which students can achieve academic success.
School Counselor Professional Training : MCPS professional school counselors have a master’s degree or higher in school counseling and meet the Maryland state certification standard.