Standards
Counseling Standards
Pittsford Central Schools provides a developmental, sequential school counseling program based on the American School Counseling Association’s National Standards For School Counselors. All students in grades K-12 participate in activities which address personal/social, academic and career objectives and promote the development of attitudes, knowledge and skills necessary for success in school and as citizens of a global society.
School Counselors collaborate with parents, teachers, administrators and other school support staff members to help students become effective learners, achieve personal and social goals and develop into responsible, contributing members of society.
Elementary School Counseling Program
Counseling Services:
- Individual personal/social and academic counseling services as needed.
Extra-curricular opportunities:
- Citizenship Club
- Peer Peacemakers Club
- Service Learning projects
K-5 Classroom lessons covering topics such as:
- Conflict resolution
- Feelings
- Social skills
- Effective communication
- Respect
- Bullying/harassment
Support in school adjustment:
- Entry into Kindergarten and 1st grades
- Transition to middle school
- New students
Group counseling experiences may include:
- Social skills
- Changing families
- Stress and anxiety
- Academic/study skills
- Siblings of children with disabilities
- Grief/chronic illness
- School adjustment
- Peer mediation training
Participation and collaboration on various school teams:
- Instructional Support Team
- Pupil Services Team
- Post-Incident Response Team
- Crisis Team
- Health and Safety
- Instructional Leadership Team
Pre-referral:
- Classroom observations
- Instructional strategies
- Behavior management plans
- Parent conferences
Referral strategies:
- Collaboration with private therapists
- Consultation with various specialists
Middle School Counseling Program
Counseling Services:
- Individual personal/social and academic counseling services as needed
Large group activities/classroom presentation topics may include:
- Bullying
- Respect
- Career interests
- Stress
- Communication skills
- Transitioning to the high school
- Orientation to middle school
Group counseling experiences may include:
- New student
- Stress
- Social skills
- Families in transition
- Family loss
- School adjustment
Participation and collaboration on various school teams/committees:
- Pupil Services Team
- Instructional Support Team
- Post-Incident Response Team
- CORE Teams
- Instructional Leadership Team
- Wellness & Health
- Academic teams at each grade level
Peer Helper Program:
- Counselors work with peer helpers to support student needs
- Counselors train peer helpers in the area of communication skills
Pre-referral:
- Classroom observations
- Consult with teachers
- Parent conferences
- Peer tutoring
Referral:
- Pupil Services Team
- Outside agencies
High School Counseling Program
Counseling Services:
- Individual personal, social and academic counseling services as needed
Group counseling may include:
- Gender or age specific social skills
- Changing family
- Grief
- Life skills/social skills
Freshman Year:
- Assistance with program planning for sophomore year
- Individual conferences, that may include parents, to develop a flexible four-year educational plan
- Evening informational meeting for parents providing overview of freshman services
Sophomore Year:
- A unit in career planning, including an occupational interest inventory conducted with the cooperation of the Health department
- Assistance in gaining information about careers, colleges and course choices
- Opportunities for Shadowing chosen careers (daylong) or for Exploring Careers (multi-session)
- Evening informational meetings for parents providing overview of sophomore services
- Individual conferences to review four-year education plan
Junior Year:
- Small group meetings (fall) to discuss the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT)
- Planning for post high school opportunities through group and individual conferences
- Opportunities to meet with college representatives
- Access to computer and College Career Center for information about colleges and careers
- Assistance in course choices for the senior year
- Informational meetings for parents regarding post-secondary planning and financial aid
Senior Year:
- Individual conferences with counselor during first semester for post high school vocational and educational planning
- Opportunities to meet with college representatives
- Information regarding topics such as: financial aid, college entrance tests, careers and colleges
- Access to computer and College & Career Center for information about colleges and careers
- College clinics to help with the application process
- Informational meetings for parents regarding college process and financial aid