In a setting that is individualized and personal, the MSC guidance and counseling programs assist students to learn about themselves, their interpersonal relationships, and behaviors that advance their personal development. The underlying principle of our guidance and counseling programs is the belief that each student is a child of God, who is loved and loving, who possesses a unique dignity and who has a positive contribution to make. Through individual and group work, as well as through established programs, guidance counselors work with students to help them accept and live out this empowering truth. Because every experience affects the individual's understanding of who he or she is, counselors assist students by addressing academic, disciplinary, personal, social, and family concerns through the use of appropriate resources and in appropriate settings.

The Guidance Department members work with Teacher-Counselors (TCs) to provide support and advocacy for each student in the school. Students are assigned to guidance counselors alphabetically, though they are allowed to switch counselors if the need arises; our philosophy is that the student must be comfortable with his/her counselor.

The Guidance Department offers a variety of services to students and parents:

• personal and academic counseling for all students
  
• crisis intervention counseling and referrals for all students
  
• individual achievement and abilities testing for all students (by request)
  
• career speakers program for freshmen and sophomores
  
• NEDT testing for freshmen
  
• PSAT testing for all sophomores
  
• PSAT and ASVAB testing for all juniors
  
• college representative visits to Mount
  
• group guidance for college selection/placement for all juniors and seniors
  
• college selection and financial aid programs for parents
  
• Systematic Training for Effective Parenting of Teens (STEP/Teen) for parents
  
• Informational guidance newsletters mailed to parents

Teacher-Counselors

The Teacher-Counselor works with the Guidance Department to serve as an advocate for the student on a daily basis. Each student is part of a T.C. group that also serves as a homeroom. Besides daily group meetings, Teacher-Counselors meet with each member of their T.C. at lease once per quarter, either formally or informally, to discuss academic progress and personal concerns. The T.C. is the contact person for academic teachers and parents. The T.C. works with the Guidance Department in helping service student needs. Students choose Teacher-Counselors during sign-ups in May; new students are assigned to a T.C. at random.

Copyright 2002 Mount Saint Charles Academy