Grades 9-12
Guidance services are an integral part of the educational program and have as their focus the individual student. The guidance program is designed to give continuous assistance to each student in learning about himself or herself both as an individual and as a member of society.
The Guidance Department implements the program by working with students to determine their interests, abilities and aptitudes. Counselors are helpers, resources for information, good listeners, and clarifier of ideas. They are able, when it is appropriate, to offer alternatives and to suggest possible plans of action. The department maintains a supportive learning environment for each student considering his or her educational, personal, social and vocational ideas.
The core of the program is counseling. The counselors’ primary goal is to help students make decisions that will lead both to productive careers and to satisfactory personal lives and relationships. The counselors are assigned freshmen alphabetically and continue with those students throughout high school, meeting with each counselee on an ongoing basis.
Among the services provided by the Guidance Department at the high school are the following:
1. New students are interviewed and oriented.
2. Students are made aware of the graduation requirements including credits, courses and the HSPA.
3. Students are assisted in selecting the courses most appropriate for their educational and career plans as well as those necessary to meet graduation requirements.
4. Accurate records are maintained in guidance folders and students are apprised of their progressed towards meeting requirements.
5. The College Search Program in the guidance department may be used to discuss post secondary schools and vocational information with their counselors.
6. Students are provided the opportunity to meet the representatives form colleges, post secondary schools and the military.
7. An extensive library of college, business and technical school catalogs is maintained in the guidance office, along with VCR College tapes.
8. Evening workshop meetings are held in the fall and winter for senior parents regarding the college application process and financial aid (October, December and February). A comprehensive curriculum guide is prepared and updated by the guidance department each year. A College Planning Night for junior students and parents is held each spring.
9. Career speakers are offered through coordination with the Business Department, English Department, and Art Department.
10. Scholarship information is provided and applications for scholarship are processed.
11. Transcripts for present, former and graduate students are processed.
12. Conferences are held with parents and teachers regarding student progress.
13. Referrals to the Child Study Team or to appropriate community and state agencies are processed.
14. Crisis counseling regarding suicide threats, drug and alcohol abuse and child abuse is offered.
15. Comfort is provided to students experiencing the effects of death, illness and divorce in their families.
16. Appropriate guidance services are provided to students enrolled in special education, ESL and At-Risk classes.
17. Students withdrawing from school are counseled and provided with information regarding alternative means for obtaining a high school diploma.
18. Follow-up studies on graduates are initiated.
19. Parents may request progress reports at any time during the marking period.
20. Voter registration for students who are eighteen years old is offered in the guidance department.
21. Young men, on becoming eighteen, will be able to register for the draft in the guidance office.
22. The SAT is administered by a counselor at Ridgefield Park Junior-Senior High School.
23. The administration of the PSAT in October is handled by a member of the guidance department.
24. Special SAT for classified students is administered by the guidance department.
25. The guidance department works closely with the attendance office to keep parents informed regarding student absences.
26. Information regarding summer school and registration forms are handled by the guidance department.
Grades 7&8:
Guidance services are available to all 7th and 8th grade students and their parents. The primary focus of these services is to help students acquire the necessary skills and attitudes needed to become a responsible and productive member of society.
Essential to the success of the guidance program is the input the parents provide concerning the specific needs of their children. Parents are encouraged to seek the services of the counselor and to take an active role in the educational program.
Through individual and group counseling, students work to improve their self-esteem and to clarify for themselves they’re own system of values. This increase in self-awareness is designed to aid the student in meeting the challenges, demands and opportunities presented by peers, teachers and parents.
The goal of the guidance program is to meet the needs of the students in all aspects of life- educational, vocational, personal and social.
Among the services provided by the guidance department at the 7th and 8th grade levels are:
1. Periodic conferences are held with the students, teachers and parents individual children who manifest academic, personal or social difficulties.
2. Students new to the district are interviewed and scheduled.
3. Conferences are held to discuss deficiency and commendation reports where necessary. Plans are made to address the weaknesses noted in the deficiency reports.
4. Student progress is monitored through the use of progress reports, daily monitoring forms and homework monitoring forms.
5. All 6th and 8th grade students are given a formal high school orientation Program as outlined below:
January – classroom group sessions on basic graduation requirements, 9th grade course selections, honors program, credit system, ranking system, basic college entrance requirements and vocational programs offered by the high school.
February - march - individualized scheduling conferences for all 8th graders and their parents.
April - 6th grade meeting on "Typical High School Day" covering Aspects of the high school other than curriculum such as clubs, study halls homework policy, attendance policy, locker and homeroom teachers and parents.
6. Interpretation and explanation of standardized test scores is provided for teachers and parents.
7. Crisis counseling for students experiencing problems with abuse, neglect, drugs or alcohol, or suicidal tenancies is provided.
8. Career resource materials and/or methods are provided to teachers as requested.
9. Students experiencing serious learning or emotional problems are referred to the Child Study Team.
10. Group guidance sessions are held once per marking period, October through May as follows:
October
· Self-Awareness
· Personality and Self-Esteem
January
· Values Clarification
· Decision Making
March
· Peer Relationships
· Friendships
May
· Communication Skills
Those students in need of assistance in getting homework done correctly and on time are placed on homework monitoring program with the counselor, teacher and parent. Late afternoon extra help sessions for homework are made available to these students through peer counseling.
Referrals are made to the appropriate community agencies such as DYFUS crisis Intervention, Alanon, Family Guidance, etc, for students and families in need of special assistance.
Home Instruction and special tutoring are provided where necessary.
Appropriate guidance and scheduling is provided for ESL and compensatory education students
