Counseling Services December 2 , 2005

The Guidance and Counseling Program at Hope Street Academy is a collaborative effort by a highly trained professional teaching staff, social worker and counselor. Our program offers students an educationally enriched environment that allows the teaching staff to become partners in the discovery of learning and an opportunity to enhance the self-esteem of individual students. Character education has been infused into the ninth grade curriculum and is an important building block in our overall program.

When we make our annual tour of the Kaw Area Vocational School each year, one-half of our staff participates and assists the tour guides at KATS. Each year four or five of our staff members participate and sponsor the trip to the College and Career Fair at the Kansas Expocenter. The United Hope Program, sponsored by the school social worker, allows our students the opportunity to develop ties to the community when United Hope adopts families each year at Thanksgiving and Christmas. My role as a counselor is to facilitate these opportunities for both staff and students.

Additionally, I coordinate all guidance activities including the following: placing students in the proper classes for graduation, monitoring of student credits earned towards graduation, supervising all testing, advising students regarding vocational education, discussing college planning, distributing scholarship and financial aid information. I am a consultant for the correct placement of students in online classes and enrollment of students in CD classes.

My role also includes advising the middle school staff on guidance issues. I work in close concert with the school social worker regarding students who have personal problems and need personal counseling.

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