Sch+Counseling+Curriculum+and+the+ASCA+Model

The [|American School Counseling Association] is the front runner in quality school counseling programming. I am a member, and a strong advocate for the school counseling profession.

The GSD Counseling Dept. has adopted the National Model for School Counseling as our program foundation. The model serves as our guide as we deliver counseling services to all students in the district. By adopting the standards and incorporating the model into our district curriculum, we can better serve the student population by being accountable through a written, systematic, comprehensive program.

After 3 years of intensive professional development directly from ASCA, the counselors have become versed in the language of the model. The 2010-2011 school year proved to be a year of applying all that we learned and created, and have given some buildings the data it needs to even be considered as ready to apply for RAMP status. RAMP, which stands for a Recognized ASCA Model Program, is basically an acknowledgement through ASCA that we are delivering services that support student achievement through a comprehensive model using national standards. The GHS Counseling Department applied for RAMP this year and was honored with the award in April 2012. Gateway High School Counseling Department is honored to be designated a RAMP school!

GHS Counselors follow a //**Comprehensive Counseling Curriculum**// developed through the adoption of the ASCA National Model.
Delivering our curriculum to students is done through various activities that include classroom guidance lessons, group sessions and individual counseling sessions targeting what students need to know according to the national standards and what they want from us according to their individual needs. Academic Development, Career Development, and Social and Emotional Development are domains addressed by all of the activities facilitated through this office.

As part of a developmental curriculum, we as a department also need to have a mission statement and belief statements to guide our programming and keep us focused on our primary role, delivering school counseling services to all students. Ultimately, we ask ourselves daily..."how are students better because of the school counseling program?". We spent a good bit of time coming up with what we believe to be representative of the services we deliver and of the counselors we all want to be for our students. Please check out the Mission and Beliefs link for the specifics.

So what does a School Counselor do? Check out this video from last year's ASCA School Counselor of the Year for what I think is an excellent description.... []

Going in line with what we do, what should a counselor know? Read through the recommended competencies as outlined by ASCA...[|School Counselor Competencies]

This school year I will continue to get into the classrooms working with students on their Career Portfolios we started in 9th grade. We use the Keys2Work computer based Career Development program and the Career Cruising exploratory program.

On Oct. 19th, we will once again host a college fair in the old gym giving our students direct access to college reps. Throughout the fall we bring in reps from various colleges to set up appointments with interested students, so keep a lookout for who is coming and when! Students can leave class just twice a week for these sessions.

Groups will be facilitated centered around student needs and interests. In the past students have participated in Study Skills, Social Skills, Healthy Relationships, and Grief and Bereavement.