Counselor Roles

To help students cope with the academic pressures of a highly rigorous course load, high-stakes testing, college admissions, and the scholarship/financial aid application process, Amundsen's School Counseling department offers the following assistance:

One-on-one Student Counseling & Classroom Guidance

Academic skills support
Time/stress management
Organizational, study and test-taking skills/Prep guidance
Post-secondary planning and application process
Career planning/Goal setting
Education in understanding self and others
Coping strategies
Peer relationships and effective social skills
Communication, problem-solving, decision-making, conflict resolution and study skills
Career awareness and the world of work

Parents

Academic planning/support
Post-secondary planning
FAFSA
Scholarship/financial aid search process
One-on-one parent conferencing
Referral process

Teachers

School-to-work transition programs
Classroom speakers
Academic support, learning style assessment and education to help students succeed academically
At-risk student identification and implementation of interventions to enhance success
Providing recommendations and assisting students with the post-secondary application process
Classroom guidance lessons on post-secondary planning, study skills, career development, etc.

Amundsen High School Counseling Department Master Calendar

August:

Review summer school credits / evaluate transcripts
Finalize summer transition meetings with matriculating seniors
• Devise a time schedule for management of counseling activities
Coordinate department roles via Google spreadsheet
Plan Parent Nights for grade levels
Conduct Posse Scholarship workshop for nominees
Conduct 2-day Freshman Orientation program (if district does not offer Freshman Connection)
Assist with Registration
Compile list of Homebound teachers
Develop new/maintain former community partnerships
Present counseling department roles/procedures during staff development week

September:

Submit Evidence-Based Implementation Plan
Continue transcript/schedule evaluation process
Create Senior Master List
Distribute mailings & make robo calls regarding parent nights / C&C Fair to parents
Finalize and distribute Senior Contract
Host Parent Nights – 11th/12th: 9/14/2016 & 9th/10th: 9/21/2016
Begin College Application Process with Seniors
Arrange opportunities for seniors to recover non-credit graduation requirements
Feeder school outreach / High School Fairs begin
Attend counselor workshops (professional development)
Schedule visits from college representatives (in College and Career Center and for the college fair on Sept. 26th)
8th Grade Shadow Days begin
Dual Credit Intro (classroom visits) and submission of all Dual Credit paperwork
Organize and plan for College and Career Fair on September 26th
Register students for evening/Saturday school
CARE Team Meetings begin
Begin Post-Secondary Leadership Team (PLT) Meetings & tracking of KPI Data
College/Career Fair takes place
Recommendation writing for college/scholarship applications

October:

Assist student and parents with FAFSA at workshops
Meet with seniors to discuss post-secondary planning process in advisory, classrooms, and individually
Classroom guidance lessons with all grade levels begin
FoT/SoT Lunchtime tutoring begins
Collaborate with junior teachers regarding Personal Statements / early FAFSA prep
Refer students for tutoring as needed
Continue to assist seniors with FAFSA/College Application process
Feeder school collaboration for Homecoming and Community Fall Fest events
Begin to schedule on-campus college and career visits / exposure
Assist with evening school persistence
Continue to discuss graduation requirements with seniors and manage transcripts / senior master list
Recommendation writing for college/scholarship applications

November:

Continue high school fairs and feeder school outreach
Annual Open House Event / IB Info Session
Report Card Pick-up (consultations with students and parents)
Continue College App/FAFSA Workshops
Work with seniors on early decision college application deadlines (submit recommendations and secondary school reports)
Counseling Dept. Advisory Council Meeting #1
Recommendation writing for college/scholarship applications

December:

Continue to review transcripts & meet with students who will receive semester 2 program changes
Assist with any additional IB Info Sessions
Manage/reinforce college application deadlines
Work to ensure that seniors have completed all service learning projects
Continue to manage senior recovery of non-credit graduation requirements
Reinvigorate promotion/exposure to scholarship opportunities with seniors
Recommendation writing for college/scholarship applications

January:

Care Team: Think First and CBITS social-emotional groups begin
Continue to review transcripts for potential semester 2 program changes
Review semester grades and schedule meetings with students who have failed one or more classes and/or have poor attendance
Continue to publicize scholarship opportunities
Identify and assess student needs and plan for group counseling sessions / classroom guidance lessons
Support students with SAT Prep / boot camp
Recommendation writing for college/scholarship applications

February:

Double-check to make sure all semester 2 program changes went into effect
Publicize spring college tours
Remind students of deadlines for college applications
Register students for evening/Saturday school
Continue to conduct group counseling sessions
Continue FAFSA workshops
Schedule and implement program planning appointments with grades 9-11

March:

Continue program planning appointments with grades 9-11
Assist with SAT examination (date TBD)
Publicize part-time summer job/internship opportunities and provide application information
Review grades and conduct program appointments and create plan for the following year
Request copies of college acceptance letters and scholarship notices
Continue group counseling sessions
Wrap up FAFSA completion
Begin FAFSA workshops with juniors
Create Flashlight Presentation

April:

Review student grades/credits
Inform seniors about upcoming National Decision Day
Report Card Pick-Up (consultations with students and parents)
Proctor AP/IB Exams
College Visits/Tours
Review Senior Contract with students & upcoming senior events
Continue to attend PD opportunities

May:

National Decision Day event
Proctor AP/IB Exams
Send POSSE nomination form to AHS staff
Prepare and implement High School Investigation Day
Compile tentative June graduation list
Prepare for/select dates for summer freshman programs (ie, Freshman Orientation / summer transition counseling)
Contact parents/guardians of students who may not be eligible for graduation (contact by certified mail including reasons why)
Finalize FAFSA corrections
Ensure that all seniors complete the Senior Exit Questionnaire
Counseling Dept. Advisory Council Meeting #2

June:

Review transcripts of students who were placed on the “Senior Failure List”
Discuss summer school opportunities with students/parents
Compile final June graduation list
Finalize POSSE list and submit nominations
Submit final graduation list to principal for review
Obtain final transcript request information for students admitted to college
Participate in graduation ceremony
Register students for summer school
Prepare office for the next school year
Mail Freshman Orientation post-cards to parents
Summer Transition Counseling begins

July:

Finalize Freshman Orientation plans
Summer Transition Counseling continues: Provide support to graduating seniors and their families, including financial aid support, college housing and transportation issues and other barriers to college matriculation
Develop and execute customized data plans for working with students