Guidance Services

Culture and Community

"How can I support my student?"

Guidance Services is described as a “comprehensive guidance and support services that meet the needs of young adolescents”.  But it is really much, much more.  Guidance is how we assist our students in resolving personal, physical and emotional challenges. Whether it is at home or school, our students need the support that comes from effective guidance services to help them get over the hurdles in their lives.

Continuous interactions and communications between service providers is very important for the positive development of our students.  As students of this century, they are bombarded with all types of decisions and choices which can affect their well-being.  Drugs, puberty, peer-pressure, sexual orientation and other social adjustments are constantly being thrown in the way of the young adolescent.

It is where guidance services can have an impact on the direction a student might take, either positive or negative and move them towards a beneficial path.  An effective guidance services program brings together all of the important pieces that is needed to support the whole student. 

Counselors, psychiatrists, teachers, social workers, school nurses and community liaisons, along with family members can help young adolescents to navigate their way through puberty and other social issues as they move towards adulthood. 

Transitional programs are very valuable to young teenagers who are moving from middle school to high school.  Changes of learning environments can dramatically affect a student’s ability to function and learn effectively. 

For my school it is very important as any type of changes for students affected with Autism can create havoc for the student, the teacher and the family.  It is why my school has a great transitional program in place.  

They create packets gives the family and the student steps in the transitional process and what to expect.  They students and their families get to visit the high school they will be going to so they can meet with their new teachers, see their new learning environment and learn about their new schedule.  The visit is coordinated with the school psychiatrist, the school nurse and other service providers that are part of the student’s “individual educational plan”.

It has been very successful since its implementation in September, 2011.  It has been complimented and raved by the parents, the students and the school staff.