Marian High School School Counseling Department

Roman Bonczek, Director of Guidance ServicesDoug Thompson, Guidance Counselor

Kathy Cook, LCSW Social Worker and CounselorJen Tiller, LCSW Social Worker and CounselorCaroline Schulz, Career Education Specialist

Mary Quiett, Registrar*Annie Ganser, Learning Specialist

* Mrs. Ganser teaches Learning Strategies/Basic Skills Development and coordinates all aspects of Individual Education Plans and academic accommodations.

Guidance Activities

• Academic Counseling– Placement and Course Selection– Program Planning– Study Skills Recommendations

• Tutoring Coordination– Academic Probation Program Management– College Applications and Scholarships– Standardized Testing– Schedule Development and Implementation

Guidance Activities

• Career Education – Education to Careers Program– Cooperative Education Program– Exploratory Teaching Program– Advanced Research Program– Participation in the Elkhart Career Center

Programs

Guidance Activities

• Personal Counseling– Typical Counseling Issues– Group Counseling Activities– Team Approach Involves Other Members of

Marian Community• Teachers• Chaplain

– Father Jake Runyon• Campus Ministry Team

– Mrs. Miller and Sister Marie Morgan

Guidance Activities

• Registrar Activities– Is responsible for all academic records for

current and former students– Complies with all state reporting requirements

some of which are done yearly, some monthly, and some weekly

– Is our scheduling and recordkeeping database specialist

– Maintains the ConnectED emergency contact database for Marian personnel and students

Academic Counseling

• Placement and Course Selection– Freshman Students

• Placement Tests (Dec and Jan)• Grade School Info

– Academic Record» Grades» ISTEP Results

– Placement Recommendations from Teachers• Guidelines Established by Department Chairs

Academic Counseling Freshman Placement Process

• Mrs. Dance, Mr. Thompson and Mr. Bonczek Meet With Parents and Students– Review Placement Test Results– Advise Placement Based on Department

Chair Criterion• Honors Math, Biology, and Advanced Language

Placement Requires Additional Testing• Placement Above Math Recommendation

Requires Additional Testing• Placement in Higher Level Art Classes Requires a

Portfolio Review

Academic Counseling Freshman Placement Process

• Grade School Info and Recommendations– Grades and Teacher Recommendations

• Classroom Performance– Attendance– Attention Span– Work Ethic– Pace of Instruction– Grade Determination

» Test Scores» Homework» Make-up Work Policies» Extra Credit Policies

– Behavior– Does the Student Learn Outside of the Classroom (Read)

Academic CounselingPlacement Decision

• Deciding on Placement is Not An Exact Science– Objective is to Place Student Where They

Have the Best Chance for Success• Courses are Designed to Build On Each Other

– This Process Can be Very Stressful for Parents and Students

– Parents make Final Determination• Placement Above Recommendation Requires

Parent Signature on Selection Form

Academic CounselingCourse Selection for So, Jr, Sn

• All Required Class Placements for Upper-Class Students are Determined by Teacher Recommendations– Students Wishing Placement Above

Recommendation Must Get Teacher and Department Chair Acknowledgement

– Parent then Must Sign Waiver Form

Academic Counseling Program Planning

• Four Year Plan for Graduation– Accomplished in Freshman Year– Based on Classes Students Take Freshman

Year• Non-binding, State Required Document

Academic Counseling Study Skills Recommendations

• Transition Issues– Use of Marian Planner– Homework Requirements

• Late Homework Policies• Consequences of Not Doing Homework

– Adequate Test Preparation– Time Management– Stress Management– Use of Tutoring

• NHS Tutors Available M – Th, 3:15 to 4:00

Academic Counseling Academic Probation Program

Management

• Students who Fail 2 or more Classes During a Grading Period– Mandatory Meeting with Parents– Weekly Progress Monitoring by Counselors

• Continued Problems puts Graduation/Enrollment into Question

Academic Counseling College Applications

• Procedure Brief during Spring of Jr. Year– Covers time table for applications– Topics to consider in college selection– Importance of standardized tests for

admission and financial aid– Scholarship opportunities and Fastweb.com– Guidance Office procedures for Common App

and individual college counselor forms– Decision requirements

Academic CounselingStandardized Testing

• Responsible for all standardized testing – Coordinates the administration of placement

test, PSAT, SAT twice yearly, Advanced Placement tests during spring semester, ISTEP Retests for students covered under the old state testing rules, End of Course Assessments and End of Course Assessment Retesting for students covered under the new state rules.

Academic CounselingScheduling

• Builds the entire academic schedule for the school– Identifies class requirements through pre-registration

surveys of teachers and through elective course selection from students

– At the direction of the principal assigns teachers the contracted number of course sections

– Determines the best times for each class to be scheduled while attempting to accommodate teacher requests for specific time periods based on special cases such as medical concerns or childcare needs

Academic CounselingScheduling

• Builds individual schedules for each student using the SDS scheduling system– Makes scheduling changes based on

department requests for course level changes or student requests for different elective classes

• Is responsible for the school’s Curriculum Handbook

Career EducationEducation to Careers Program

• ACP – Advanced College Project– Allows students to earn IU credit for dual credit courses taught at

Marian• Freshman and Sophomore students

– Are administered interest inventory surveys• Sophomores do computer based career game on library computers

and receive printed results– Are briefed on Core 40 requirements and how this affects college

and employment opportunities• Junior Students

– Are briefed on college opportunities and the procedures to follow for application for admission and financial aid

• All Students– Have the opportunity to take Orientation to Life Skills

• Great class to learn about adult responsibilities

Career EducationCooperative Education Program

• Allows for a limited number of students to earn credit while participating in employment activities

• Mrs. Caroline Schulz is the POC– Students take classes 1st through 7th period

and are then released to their work sites– Follows up as required with employers to

monitor the progress of each student– Issues work permits to all students seeking

employment

Career EducationExploratory Teaching Program

• This class, when offered, affords the students to get practical experience teaching in the local Catholic grade schools– The course is offered as an Advanced College

Project class from Indiana University allowing students to earn college/dual credit

– This class was coordinated and implemented by Mrs. Ton

Career EducationAdvanced Research Program

• This program is directed by Mr. Andrzejewski, Chair of the Science Department– Students work with mentors at local area

colleges, primarily the University of Notre Dame, and with area employers to conduct research on topics of the students interest

– Students earn Core 40 credits for participation and grades are awarded on the Honors scale

Career EducationElkhart Career Center Programs

and SB Schools opportunities• Students have the opportunity to participate in

various courses offered through the Elkhart Career Center– Recent participants have earned certifications in

culinary arts and fire safety/first responder• Schedules are adjusted to allow for instruction and travel

time to and from Elkhart Memorial High School

• Students may participate in programs offered by the South Bend schools– One student currently participates in the Building

Trades Program at Riley High School

Personal Counseling

• Personal counseling covers a wide- ranging list of topic areas– Individual counseling occurs on a daily basis– Group counseling occurs periodically

• Groups cover: Divorce, transfer students, international students, students experiencing grief in their lives, students experiencing excessive stress management issues in their lives

• Mrs. Cook and Mrs. Tiller are the primary points of contact

– Father Jake, Sister Marie, and Mrs. Miller all provide additional support for student counseling