Guidance Program
The CAIS School Counselors are:
Grade 5- Karen Goldman (860) 286-2622
Grade 6- Allison Glenney (860) 286-2622
Mission Statement
The
Guidance staff will help all students reach their potential as human
beings; help them achieve success in their academic, personal, social
and career goals and prepare them to function effectively in a rapidly
changing global society.
Statement of Philosophy
Our
philosophy is based on the belief that each student possesses intrinsic
self worth, a unique constellation of skills and needs, and a
personality capable of growth, adaptation and self-direction. In
responding to these beliefs, as well as the needs of the school and the
community, counselors provide a guidance program that is developmentally
appropriate, comprehensive, and both pro-active and remedial.
Counselors fill a wide variety of roles: counselor, observer,
consultant, teacher, manager and role model. Counselors work
cooperatively with families, the school administration, community
agencies and other members of the larger community to assist students in
identifying and achieving their personal goals.
Program Themes
The Guidance Program is organized around three major themes: Academic
Development, Career Development and Personal/Social Development.
Academic
Development includes the acquiring of skills, knowledge, attitudes and
strategies that insure academic success in school. Counselors assist
students in the developing an understanding of the relationship between
academics and the world of work, life at home and success in the
community.
Career Development provides the foundation for students
to make a successful transition from school to the world of work
throughout life. The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Teens © program is a key component of this theme.
Personal
and Social Development provides students develop understanding and
respect for themselves and others, acquire effective interpersonal
skills, and define future aspirations as contributing members of our
society.
All students will exposed to a Developmental Guidance Program based on four main components:
·
The Guidance Curriculum focuses on developmentally appropriate
experiences, systematically presented to all students through classroom
and group activities. Counselors co-teach classes with regular teachers
stressing decision making, goal setting, peer relationships, self
awareness, career awareness the world of work, and educational and
career planning.
· Inpidual Planning focuses on assisting
each inpidual student to develop, analyze and evaluate his/her
education, career and personal goals and plans. This includes inpidual
advisement, appraisal and placement.
· Responsive Services
are reactions to the immediate needs of students and their families,
and focus on group or inpidual counseling, crisis intervention,
consultation and referral.
· System Support includes such
activities as program development, program evaluation and assessment,
parent education, materials development and community relations.
Additionally, counselors support other school programs such as testing,
students assessments, the Special Education and Section 504* referral
process, and serving on school committees.
The ASCA National Standards for Counseling Programs (1997) and the Connecticut Common Core of Learningserve as the foundations of this counseling program.
* Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 is a national law that protects qualified inpiduals from discrimination based on their disability.