DC West Middle School Guidance

Hi! Thanks for visiting the DC West Middle School Guidance webpage. Hopefully you will find a wide range of information  important to parents and students in middle school.            

Meeting the Challenge
Middle school counselors are professional educators with a mental health perspective who understand and respond to the challenges presented by today’s diverse student population. Middle school counselors do not work in isolation; rather they are integral to the total educational program. They provide proactive leadership that engages all stakeholders in the delivery of programs and services to help students achieve success in school. Professional school counselors align with the school’s mission to support the academic achievement of all students as they prepare for the ever-changing world of the 21st century.

Middle School Counselors Implement the Counseling Program by Providing:

School Guidance Curriculum

• Academic skills support      
• Organizational, study and test-taking skills
• Education in understanding self and others
• Coping strategies
• Peer relationships and effective social skills
• Communication, problem-solving, decision-making and conflict resolution
• Career awareness, exploration and planning
• Substance abuse education
• Multicultural/diversity awareness

Individual Student Planning

• Goal-setting/decision- making
• Academic planning
• Career planning
• Education in understanding of self, including strengths and weaknesses
• Transition planning

Responsive Services

• Individual and small group counseling
• Individual/family/school crisis intervention
• Peer facilitation
• Professional development
• Consultation, collaboration and teaming
• Program management and operation

Middle School Counselors Collaborate With:

Parents

• Communication/networking 
• Academic planning programs 
• Parent and family education 
• One-on-one parent conferencing 
• Assessment results interpretation 
• Resource referrals 
• College/career exploration

Teachers

• Assistance with students’ academic plans 
• Classroom guidance activities on study skills, career development, etc. 
• Academic support, learning style assessment and education to help students succeed academically 
• At-risk student identification and implementation of interventions to enhance success 
• Parent communication/education
•  

Administrators

• School climate 
• Behavioral management plans 
• School-wide needs assessment 
• Student data and results 
• Student assistance team building 
• Leadership

Students

• Peer education 
• Peer support 
• Academic support 
• School climate 
• Leadership development
•  

Community

• Service learning 
• Crisis interventions 
• Referrals 
• Parenting classes 
• Support groups 
• Career education

                                    Why Middle School Counselors?
Middle school students are characterized by rapid physical growth, curiosity about their world and an emerging self-identity. Through a comprehensive developmental school counseling program, counselors work as a team member with school staff, parents and the community to create a caring, supportive climate and atmosphere whereby young adolescents can achieve academic success. Middle school counselors enhance the learning process and promote academic achievement. School counseling programs are essential for students to achieve optimal personal growth, acquire positive social skills and values, set appropriate career goals and realize full academic potential to become productive, contributing members of the world community.

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