Guidance Services

GUIDANCE SERVICES

Guidance services at Groton-Dunstable Regional High School are an integral part of the total educational program of the school and result from a team effort. The Guidance Counselors at the high school assist each student to benefit from the school experience through attention to their personal, social, and academic needs.

Guidance is developmental in nature as each individual is assisted to identify and meet his/her needs in the educational, vocational, and personal-social domains. The overall purposes of Guidance is to assist each student to participate in his/her own development toward becoming self-directed in a changing society, having full respect for the work and dignity of others, and growing into the person he/she desires to become.

The Guidance services provide three important functions: counseling, guidance, and consulting. Guidance and counseling services are provided for all students.

All students are encouraged to become acquainted with their Guidance Counselors as soon as possible. The better your counselor knows you, the better you can be served.

The Guidance Counselors provide counseling to both individuals and groups in an effort to help students make appropriate decisions and to develop better understanding of themselves and others. These services may be self-referrals or at the request of someone (parents, teachers) other than the students involved.

Guidance Counselors assist individuals and groups in course selection and help to develop career plans appropriate to the needs and capabilities of individual students. These services are offered through a formal program for grades 9 – 12.

The Career and Life Management (CALM) class is a multi-dimensional program that includes self-exploration through various interest, ability, and occupational surveys and activities, career exploration and research with a focus on library and Internet research skills, and life skills education. Also included are special activities led by peer leaders, members of the community, and the guidance staff. In the Career and Life Management, students learn skills that will help them as they make future educational, career, or other important decisions.

9th Grade - Career:

The Career and Life Management is a multi-dimensional program that includes; peer leaders, library skills, guidance, and career exploration. In this class, students learn skills that become important tools they can utilize as they make important college and career decisions in the future.

10th Grade – Guidance:

Students are encouraged to continue with individual career research and planning. Counselors continue to meet with students about course selection and future plans.

   Career:

A number of career information programs are available for student use, all of which provide students with an opportunity to research career and college programs which are of interest to them.

11th Grade - Guidance:

All student records are reviewed to insure the student will have completed the graduation requirements by the end of the 12th grade.

        Testing & Career:

Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Tests are recommended to all students who are planning to attend college. The results are discussed individually or in small groups with the students. This is the formal beginning of the career planning process and a great deal of personal and group information is made available to the students. Additionally, there will be several opportunities for parent information sessions on various topics such as college admissions, financial aid, career planning, etc.

Information and registration materials for the SAT I, SAT II, and ACT tests are available for college bound students. Career planning is available and encouraged for non-college bound students.

Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT/NMSQT)

Test Date:

Wednesday, October 12, 2006

GROUP GUIDANCE MEETINGS

In the spring, counselors will be meeting with all Juniors in small groups to continue the transition from High School process. These sessions will meet in the Guidance office and will minimally disrupt the educational process for the students who will be missing class time.

Topics to be discussed will include:

Planning for after HS; college, military, interim year or employment

Navigating the admissions process; overall and here at GD

Understanding the new terminology of their decisions

Other factors; SATs, ASVABs, Resumes, etc.

Interest inventories

Recommendations, Essays, Applications, Athletics

Financial Aid, including FAFSA, Profile, etc

Scholarships

12th Grade - Guidance:

Every student is individually interviewed to discuss his/her post-high school plans. The progress of seniors is monitored very closely throughout the year, and parents are informed whenever a student’s graduation status is in jeopardy.

Testing:

Information and registration materials for the SAT I, SAT II, and ACT tests are available for college bound students.

Groton-Dunstable Regional High School Code #220928

The 2005-2006 SAT I, SAT II test dates:

October 8, 2005 - SAT I, SAT II April 1, 2006 – SAT I only

November 5, 2005 - SAT I, SAT II May 6, 2006 – SAT I, SAT II

December 3, 2005 - SAT I, SAT II June 3, 2006 – SAT I, SAT II

January 28, 2006 - SAT I, SAT II

Consultation

The Guidance Department offers consultation services to faculty, staff, parents, and specialists to assist them in the development of their students and children. Students should see their assigned counselor for all routine matters such as college admissions and placement, financial aid, college board testing, schedule adjustments, course selections, rank in class, failing grades, homework assignments, testing, and personal counseling.