Counseling Services
Each student is a unique person, having individual abilities, values, goals, and concerns. The counselors are trained to assist students with normal developmental concerns in personal, social, and scholastic matters. Assisting students in defining, evaluating and achieving future personal, scholastic and career goals is a major emphasis. Activities are planned as part of a counseling curriculum at each grade level, and students are encouraged to meet with their counselors often during their high school years.
Students are assigned to a counselor when they first enroll in our school. Counselors remain with their assigned group beginning at ninth grade and continuing until the student graduates from high school. The assigned counselor is responsible for assisting the students with educational planning, scheduling, accounting of credits, grades and graduation requirements, as well as post high school applications.
However, students are encouraged to talk with the counselors with whom they are most comfortable regarding any personal concerns they may wish to discuss. Counselors abide by the ethical standards set by their professional organizations. Matters discussed with students or parents remain confidential except in instances of clear and imminent danger to self or others or in instances where state statutes require reporting to appropriate authorities.
Counselors welcome student drop-in contacts before and after school and during lunchtime. Students are encouraged to make appointments with the counselors. Whether or not the student may be released from class at the appointment time is at the discretion of the teacher. If it is not a convenient time, the student is asked to make another appointment.
SCHEDULING
The counselors assist students in planning their educational program and selecting their courses based on their needs, interests, aptitudes and abilities aimed at preparing them for graduation and future goals. Planning and registration are carried out in groups and individual meetings with students beginning in eighth grade. It is important that students have a realistic concept of themselves in terms of interests, aptitudes and goals for the future. Students are helped to plan a long-range educational program, as well as semester course selections.
CAREER CENTER
A full service Career Center is available to students and their families. Assisting students with exploring and developing their educational and career plans is an important component of guidance services. The Career Center has many resources to help students develop their plans. From print resources (catalogs, handbooks, brochures) to electronic resources (computer software programs and internet sites), the Career Center is staffed and ready to assist students. The Career Center also connects students to community and work-based learning opportunities such as volunteering, numerous field trips, tours, job shadows, informational interviews, internships, and employment. The Career Center staff is also available for individual appointments.
APPLICATIONS & LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION
Applications for colleges, universities, community and technical colleges located in the state are available from the counselors or career specialists. The student or parent must request applications for out-of-state, post-secondary programs from that institution. The Career Center has catalogs and books as well as a computer database on hundreds of colleges across the nation. Requests for letters of recommendations should be submitted to the counselor or school personnel at least two weeks before they are due.
SCHOLARSHIPS
The counselors or the career specialist provide information on a broad spectrum of scholarship opportunities. As announcements are received, that information is advertised to students. Additional scholarship and financial aid information is available through the Career Center's computer database. Students and parents are always advised to contact the financial aid officer at the institution they plan to attend for additional resources.
TESTING PROGRAM
There are several types of tests that high school students take over their four years.
STATE-REQUIRED
ITED - The Iowa Test of Educational Development is administered to all ninth grade students in April/May. Results are communicated to the student and parents.
WASL - All grade 10 students participate in the state-required Washington Assessment of Student Learning given in April/May. Results are available to parents and students in September. The results provide information to the community and school regarding the effectiveness of the curriculum in preparing students in the areas of reading, language, and mathematics.
DISTRICT REQUIREMENTS
Writing Assessment, using the 6-Trait model, is administered at grade 9.
Mathematics Assessment, measuring problem solving and computation, is administered at grade 9.
Competency Tests are required in Mathematics and on the Constitution for graduation.
It is recommended that junior level college-bound students take the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) that is administered on a Saturday in October. This test provides practice for college admission tests taken later and is also the only opportunity for students to qualify for National Merit Scholarships. Sophomores may take the test for practice on a space-available basis. Sophomores planning to be enrolled full time in the Running Start program beginning in the fall of the junior year MUST take the test in the sophomore year.
College-bound students should also plan to take the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT I) and/or the American College Test (ACT) in the spring of the junior year and again in November of the senior year in order to obtain the best performance score and meet college admission deadlines. Applicants to military academies and selective colleges and universities should consult catalogs or their counselor for additional planning information regarding the need for additional tests, e.g. SAT II or an earlier timeline. Test registration materials are available in the Counseling Office and Career Center.
Running Start admission/placement tests are handled by Whatcom Community College and Bellingham Technical College, respectively Test date information is available in the Counseling Office.
Advanced Placement (AP) tests for college-bound students seeking advanced college placement and credits are administered in May.
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