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Who are the guidance counselors and
how can they be contacted?
Guidance counselors can typically be
reached by calling the middle and high schools.
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William
S. Hackett Middle School: 475-6486
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Philip
Livingston Magnet Academy: 462-7154
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Stephen
and Harriet Myers Middle School: 475-6425
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North
Albany Academy (Pre-K-8): 475-6800
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Harriet
Gibbons High School: 475-6365 or 475-6366
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Albany
High School
The guidance
offices are open from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. weekdays during the school
year. Additionally, at least one guidance counselor is available every
day all summer long to answer questions and provide assistance.
How do
students get assigned to their guidance counselor?
At the high-school level, students are assigned randomly by a computer,
with each counselor providing service to about 300 students.
At the
middle-school level, students are assigned to a counselor by school
teams.
What is the
role of a guidance counselor?
At the middle-school level, guidance counselors help students in a
variety of ways, such as
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Meeting
individually with students about their course work, their
relationships with teachers, and other issues such as building
self-confidence.
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Conducting group sessions on course selection, summer employment,
working papers, self-assessment, and more.
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Working
closely with each academic team to make sure students are keeping up
with their coursework.
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Listening carefully to students and making appropriate referrals.
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Coordinating parent, teacher, and o/or team conferences to help
students with difficulties they may be having--academically and
socially.
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Scheduling for the next grade level and high school.
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Lending
support for planning beyond high school.
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Reviewing test results to provide information on abilities, needs,
achievements, and interests.
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Visiting
elementary schools to provide orientation information about middle
school.
At the
high-school level, guidance counselors help students plan their courses
and prepare for what comes after high school, be it college or work.
This includes helping students search and apply to colleges or places of
employment, assisting students in finding financial aid packages or
scholarships, and arranging college visits for students.
Additionally, if a student is having difficulty with course work or is
experiencing other academic problems, the guidance counselor is often
the person who helps find solutions. The counselor also is the key
person who facilitates communication between and among the students,
parents, and teachers.
How often
and when do counselors meet with students?
All guidance counselors meet with students at least once a year, but
typically more often.
High School
In the fall, high school guidance counselors focus on helping seniors
start the college application process. For freshman, they help them to
orient themselves to the high school by conducting a series of workshops
on a variety of topics, ranging from "how to study" to "how to get
working papers." This is all part of the 9th Grade Academy program,
which was designed to provide a more personalized learning environment
for students in their first year of high school.
Beginning in
January, high school counselors meet fist with juniors, then sophomores,
and finally freshman to help them schedule their classes for next year.
During that pe4riod, they also are busy helping juniors begin the
college selection process and prepare for college visits.
Throughout
the year, the counselors meet with students who have questions or who
are having academic problems. This is done on as as-needed basis.
Middle
School
In January or February, middle
school guidance counselors conduct a series of classroom presentations
for 8th graders on a variety of topics, such as "how the high school
schedule works," "what to expect in high school," and "getting working
papers."
In addition,
counselors conduct small group sessions focused on a variety of issues.
There is a boys group and a girls group where students discuss a variety
of topics. There also are more focused groups such as the loss/Grief,
Divorce, Gang Prevention, Child of Alcoholics, and Anger Management
groups. Students volunteer to attend these meeting which are held twice
a month during the school day.
Throughout
the year, the counselors meet with students who have questions or who
are having academic problems. This is done on as as-needed basis.
When do
counselors meet with parents?
There are no scheduled meeting with parents, but parents are invited to
anytime to set up a meeting--especially if they are concerned about
their child's personal or academic development.
There also
are a variety of events held throughout the year, at which parents can
interact with their child's guidance counselor. These include open
houses, college financial aid nights, course offering nights, award
ceremonies, and so on.
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