COMPREHENSIVE GUIDANCE AND ACADEMIC COUNSELING PROGRAM. The Ewing Public Schools 2099 Pennington Road Ewing, NJ 08618

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1 COMPREHENSIVE GUIDANCE AND ACADEMIC COUNSELING PROGRAM The Ewing Public Schools 2099 Pennington Road Ewing, NJ BOE Approval Date: 1/24/11 Michael Nitti Superintendent In accordance with The Ewing Public Schools Policy 2230, Course Guides, this curriculum has been reviewed and found to be in compliance with all policies and all affirmative action criteria.

2 The Ewing Public Schools requires that a planned program of guidance and counseling be an integral part of the educational program of the schools to assist pupils in making and implementing informed educational and occupational choices including academic, career and personal/social development. A program of guidance and counseling, including developmental career guidance and exploration, shall be offered to all pupils in this school district and shall involve the coordinated efforts of all teaching staff members under the leadership of certified guidance and counseling personnel. The Superintendent is directed to implement a guidance program that carries out the purposes of this policy and: 1. Involves teaching staff members at all appropriate levels; 2. Honors the individuality of each pupil, 3. Integrates with the total educational program; 4. Coordinates with available resources of the community; 5. Provides for cooperation of school staff with parents or legal guardians and shares parents' or legal guardians' concern for the development of their children; 6. Provides for the means of sharing information among appropriate staff members in the pupil's interest; 7. Is available equitably to all pupils and prohibits biased counseling and the use of materials that discriminate among pupils on the basis of their race, color, creed, religion, gender, ancestry, national origin, or social or economic status; and 8. Establishes a referral system that utilizes all the aid the schools and community offer, guards the privacy of the pupil, and monitors the efficacy of such referrals. The following staff members are assigned in The Ewing Public Schools: Antheil Elementary School: Lore Elementary School: Parkway Elementary School: Fisher Middle School: Ewing High School: Donna Steinmetz Miriam Rosen Catherine Emme Elisa Adams Jennifer Citarella Mary Reynolds Betty Jo Prince, Assistant Principal Shalieka Jarrett Joseph Kittel James Pocetti Lisa Roth Brenda Solomon

3 The Ewing Public Schools Guidance Counselors have, as their job goal, to assist pupils in making educational, occupational, and life plans that hold promise for their personal fulfillment as mature and responsible men and women. Some of their counseling responsibilities include: 1. Performing those professional functions that are necessary in the (1) orientation, (2) placement and (3) registration process by meeting with students for subject placement, evaluating potential changes, and following system-wide registration processes in regard to new student placement 2. Working cooperatively with staff, administration and other school personnel to promote understanding of the pupil and conducting conferences with students, teachers, and parents relating to student progress 3. Assisting pupils in their movement through the educational process by meeting with and counseling all students upon schedule or request 4. Referring pupils in need of additional support services to the appropriate school and outside agencies by informing Special Services of need and encouraging student/ family to participate in programs 5. Assisting pupils in evaluating their aptitudes and abilities through the interpretation of standardized test scores and other pertinent data and works with pupils in evolving education and career plans 6. Conducting scheduled interviews with each pupil assigned and remaining readily available for further educational and/or personal counseling 7. Making themselves available to parents to help them better understand and assist in the educational, career and personal/developmental guidance of their children and encouraging parental involvement by keeping parents informed of school related difficulties and adjustments 8. Making themselves available to students, providing counseling and outreach services; i.e., small group counseling, student mediation and outreach (CAP program) 9. Striving to maintain and improve professional competence by attending district-wide inservice programs and utilizing independent study as a means of improving performance 10. Maintaining accurate and complete records as required by law, district policy and administrative regulation 11. Assisting administration in implementing policies and/or rules governing student life and conduct consistent with the Code of Ethics of the American Personnel and Guidance Association and the American School Counselors Association At the Grades 9-12 level, counselors accept the following career counseling responsibilities: 1. Working as part of the Career Resource Center Team to introduce students to college and career information, trade, technical and college fairs 2. Conducting interest surveys for students and schedule speakers as appropriate 3. Working with teachers to conduct career exploration career resources and organize suitable speakers including military careers

4 4. Setting up individual and group field trips and appointments with professionals from the community 5. Assessing needs of the Career Resource Center for preparation of the annual budget 6. Preparing quarterly and yearly reports of activities accomplished in the Career Resource Center 7. Contributing information for the weekly newsletter which lists career speakers, scholarships, college visitations, employment opportunities, open house announcements, and any other information pertinent to career exploration 8. Scheduling and coordinating an on-the-spot admission program in the CRC with such schools as Rider University 9. Assisting students in identifying employment opportunities via the job placement service as well as summer employment 10. Preparing students for job fairs in the area of resume writing, job application knowledge and information/materials for on the spot job interviews All Guidance Counselors perform several basic duties: Counseling Outreach Testing Scheduling Administrative Functions COUNSELING: Provide consultative services to parents/guardians/faculty and staff, regarding emotional, behavioral and academic issues regarding students; coordinate with outside agencies (private counselors, DYFS, Youth Emergency Service, Princeton House, CARES program, etc.), provide mediation services; and notify administrative personnel regarding safety and wellness issues with the student population. OUTREACH: Act as a liaison between the Middle School and outside agencies (Anchor House, Triad House, DYFS, Private Therapists, etc.). TESTING: Organize, schedule and facilitate all end-of-year and scheduled testing in each building. Attend, if necessary, meetings about testing security and procedures. SCHEDULING: This occurs primarily at Grades 6-12, but is also utilized at the elementary level; review skill groupings with supervisors and administration; coordinate and facilitate teacher recommendations in the areas of Math, Reading, Writing, Social Studies, Science, Basic Skills, Special Education, Band, Choir, and World Languages. ADMINISTRATIVE: Coordinate and facilitate weekly counselor team meetings; effect schedule changes and incorporate/address its effects on the student/team/school; schedule all new students; participate in new student and parent orientation; coordinate, facilitate and follow-up for weekly Intervention & Referral Services meetings; attend scheduled team leader meetings; provide administration with tactical information;

5 consult with the Child Study team; oversee all aspects of the counseling services in the individual schools (for example, parent notifications, transcripts, schedule change request, grades, endanger of failure letters, etc.); crisis counseling when needed for suicidal ideation, violence, self- mutilation and general safety issues; address faculty at various times of the year regarding issues on topics in the areas of scheduling, testing, state requirements, reporting laws, and the opening of school, etc. In their positions, Counselors also address the following issues which include, but are not limited to: Gang issues Abuse DYFS, police, sexual, physical, neglect Self-injurious behavior (cutting, erasing, burning) Homelessness - living in shelters, house fires Substance abuse Grief (loss of parent, sibling, friend, etc.) Divorce /split families/ blended families Incarcerated parents and siblings; foster care Health issues-chronic/mental health care, depression, eating disorders, anxiety Bullying, teasing, harassment cyber bullying Students with legal issues- probation, restraining orders, abandonment Learning issues- test anxiety, study habits, organization, and homework Emotional breakdowns constant check-ins, general insecurities Both Policy 2411 and Regulation 2411, Guidance Counseling, were board approved February 12, 2001 and are available on The Ewing Public Schools website.