Counseling Department Services

National Standards for School Counseling

In 2000, the Arcadia High School Counseling Department adopted the National Standards for School Counseling as their blueprint for comprehensive guidance services at Arcadia High School. The National Standards comprise three domains: Personal/Social, Academic and College/Career.

The counseling staff provides services in these areas as follows:

1. Personal/Social Domain

The counselors assist students by providing support and guidance to improve school performance. Counselors are available on a daily basis to discuss personal concerns with students. If additional support is needed, students and parents may obtain professional referrals. Counseling interns, group counseling and consultation with the school psychologist and school nurse are available to students on the AHS campus. Counselors make referrals to the Student Assistance Committee (SAC), a team of professionals that meets to assess individual student needs and to suggest interventions for student success. Counseling and support services include:

· Counselor of the Day

· Referrals to Student Assistance Committee

· Referrals for counseling

· Resource booklets available on a variety of teen issues

· Crisis intervention

· Lunchtime group meetings

· Parent support meetings

· Personal counseling

2. Academic Domain

The counselors assist students and their parents with high school educational planning and programming to ensure that students have an appropriate secondary education and graduate from Arcadia High School in a timely manner. In addition, counselors help students in selecting coursework that supports their post-secondary choices, both educational and vocational. For students who need extra assistance in passing the California High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE) and Algebra 1, an intervention counselor is available. Counseling and support services include:

· High school course selection and planning

· Monitoring graduation status

· Referrals to adult/student tutoring

· Individual student and parent meetings for academic counseling

· Referrals to Reading and Math Intervention Programs

· Class scheduling

· High School Orientation for 8^th Grade students

· California High School Exit Exam information

· Referrals for academic testing and alternative placement.

3. College/Career Domain

The counselors also assist students by providing information and guidance pertaining to college admissions, college entrance requirements, testing, scholarships, financial aid and completing college applications. Career planning for all students is emphasized by means of the computer programs available in the Career Center. Counseling and support services include:

· 9^th, 10^th, 11th grade Choices College and Career program; internet version also available

· Military information

· College letters of recommendation, secondary school reports, mid-year reports

· Assistance with college research and selection

· GPA verification for college scholarships and financial aid

· NCAA qualification and registration assistance

· College application assistance

· College Representative Program

· College videos and catalogs in Career Center

· SAT/ACT registration information

· SAT preparation classes

· College Admissions Workshops

· UC/CSU application workshops

· Community college applications

· Financial aid

· PSAT interpretation