Why does our department exist? What is the fundamental purpose of our department? As professional school counselors at American Fork High School, we are dedicated to empowering every student to achieve academic success, personal and social growth, wellness, and career exploration.
What must we do to accomplish our fundamental purpose? How do we achieve our desired end results? The development of resiliency, tolerance, self-reliance, and self-confidence by implementing the four areas of the comprehensive guidance model, which include: • School Guidance Curriculum • Individual Student Planning • Responsive Services • System Support
How must we behave to support our mission and vision? • We, as a department, are committed to the individual planning process since it reinforces necessary skills for critical thinking and decision-making. • We value the opportunity to present guidance curriculum for the purpose of teaching essential life skills. • We are committed to being available to students in crisis through responsive services. • We value collaboration with teachers, administration, and community for the benefit of our students.
What are our fundamental beliefs? • We believe students become responsible citizens by developing skills of resiliency, tolerance, and self-reliance. • We believe that effective communication skills are essential for career development and success. • We believe that critical thinking is essential for making positive life decisions. • We believe that all students should be able to have opportunities for success through high school. • We believe that all students should be given ample opportunities to explore future schooling and career goals. • We believe students should leave the high school with the skills needed to be lifelong, independent learners.
Focusing our MVVB on the Four Questions:
Question #1 – What do we expect our students to learn? • We expect our students to select classes that will prepare and challenge them to be ready for life goals and life decisions. • We expect our students to learn resiliency skills; the ability to overcome negative experiences and consequences. • We expect our students to become focused and pro-active in their lives; to take control of their futures.
Question # 2- How will we know what they have learned? • We will monitor student achievement through a variety of assessments including core testing, term grades, career assessments, and SEOP surveys. • We will monitor the CRT data to evaluate and make suggestions to administration.
Question #3 – How will we respond to students who aren’t learning? • When students are struggling, we will be available for individual counseling and give suggestions such as the homework center, academic tutoring, tracking, class changes, etc. • We will monitor failing students and work with administrators & trackers to come up with suggestions for helping individual students. • We will help facilitate the Study Skills curriculum and do periodical “Why Try Presentations” in the individual classes.
Question #4- How do we respond to students who have already learned the material? • We will encourage students who have obtained mastery to assist struggling peers (Study Skills classes). • We will encourage incentive programs such as early lunch and early out for students who are succeeding. • We will nominate and recognize students for awards such as student of the month, scholarships, Boys State, Girls State, and other honors to help give recognition where deserved.
Question #1 – What do we expect our students to learn? • We expect our students to select classes that will prepare and challenge them to be ready for life goals and life decisions. • We expect our students to learn resiliency skills; the ability to overcome negative experiences and consequences. • We expect our students to become focused and pro-active in their lives; to take control of their futures.
Question # 2- How will we know what they have learned? • We will monitor student achievement through a variety of assessments including core testing, term grades, career assessments, and SEOP surveys. • We will monitor the CRT data to evaluate and make suggestions to administration.
Question #3 – How will we respond to students who aren’t learning? • When students are struggling, we will be available for individual counseling and give suggestions such as the homework center, academic tutoring, tracking, class changes, etc. • We will monitor failing students and work with administrators & trackers to come up with suggestions for helping individual students. • We will help facilitate the Study Skills curriculum and do periodical “Why Try Presentations” in the individual classes.
Question #4- How do we respond to students who have already learned the material? • We will encourage students who have obtained mastery to assist struggling peers (Study Skills classes). • We will encourage incentive programs such as early lunch and early out for students who are succeeding. • We will nominate and recognize students for awards such as student of the month, scholarships, Boys State, Girls State, and other honors to help give recognition where deserved.