Guidance & Remediation Services

Program Update 2010-2011

April 4, 2011

Sean Halpin, Director of Guidance & Remediation Services

Information

Handouts– Counseling Staff – Secondary Schools Counseling Calendars– High School Profiles – Post-Secondary Data– HS Retention Data

Introduction

All school counseling services are aligned with American School Counselor Association (ASCA) and Massachusetts Association of School Counselors (MASCA)

Mission Statement :“The mission of the Plymouth Public School’s Guidance Department is to provide a comprehensive developmental counseling program, addressing the academic, career, and personal/social development of all students. Without regard to race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, handicap or national origin, we encourage all students to develop realistic concepts of themselves, along with an understanding of the educational and career opportunities available to them. Counselors collaborate with teachers, administrators, parents and community resources and agencies to provide the support necessary to ensure that all students maximize their academic achievement and potential. Moreover, we assist school administration in providing a safe and respectful environment that encourages a diverse student body to become life-long, independent, critical thinkers and productive citizens in a changing society." 

Group and Individual Counseling: 3 Domains – Academic/Technical Development– Personal/Social Development– Career Development

Staffing

Guidance Counselors (17) Adjustment Counselors (4) School Psychologists (15)

Elementary: School Psychologist in each building – IBES/SES: 1.5 each– NMES: 1.5

Middle Schools– Guidance PCIS (4) & PSMS (3) Guidance Counselors by House/Floor and School

Psychologists (2.6)– Adjustment Counselor (PCIS)

High Schools– Guidance Counselors PNHS (4), PSMS (6), School Psychologists (2.4), Adjustment

Counselors (2)

Guidance Caseloads average 300 students

Counseling Program Highlights

Classroom Guidance– Grades 5/6 Transition to Middle School– Grade 7 Mass CIS Jr. Career Inventory– Grade 8 Career-Cruising – Grade 9 Transition to High School/4-Year Plan– Grade 10 Career-Cruising– Grade 11 Career-Cruising (Resume)/Post HS Planning– Grade 12 Post High School Planning– Grades 8-11 Student Scheduling

Individual Annual Review Meetings– Meetings to address specific developmental needs of individual students – Followed by a “summary” letter home

Guidance Parent Night Programs

Remediation & Other

Academic Support Grant: High School– Class of 2011 – 99% of our students met the MCAS graduation requirement in ELA,

Math and Science– MCAS tutoring continues for students in Math and ELA this school year– PROJECT SAIL: applied for summer grant

Smaller Learning Communities (SLC Grant): completing year 3 of 5– Smaller Learning Communities/ Personalization of the high school

experience To increase student achievement for all while closing existing achievement gaps. To prepare all students for success in post-secondary education and employment. To provide all students with a rigorous, relevant program of studies. To create a school climate that provides a personalized learning environment for every

student, built on a foundation of student, staff, family, business and community partnerships. Investment in Innovation Grant (i3): The New England NETWORK - Year 1 of 5

– Personalizing secondary schools through creating inquiry-based units or courses that include personalized performance assessments that are measured by common rubrics.

Challenges/Goals

Dual Enrollment College readiness for all (National Student

Clearinghouse persistence data) Academic rigor across the district PSAT Master Schedule Child Study Teams Keep our students in school: AHS and other general

education alternatives (HS retention data)

Questions/Comments

Please visit our guidance web-pages at

www.plymouthschools.com