National School Counseling Week

by Stephanie Worthley

February 6-10, 2017

National School Counseling Week is celebrated each February to focus attention on the unique contribution of professional school counselors within U.S. school systems. National School Counseling Week, sponsored by the American School Counselor Association (ASCA), highlights the tremendous impact school counselors can have in helping students achieve school success and plan for their future.

We are fortunate in Medfield to have Guidance Counselors from the elementary level through high school. As a district, we have established a comprehensive school counseling program addressing the academic, career, and personal/social development of students. The Guidance Counselors are in place to work directly with students to offer support to students at various times in their lives. Guidance Counselors work with students to resolve interpersonal problems, behavioral problems, improve organization skills and time management, and at the high school level, advise on career and college planning. In many cases, Guidance Counselors do not work with just students. Guidance Counselors often involve a student's teachers or parents in the counseling process. Guidance Counselors may also refer students to external agencies that are equipped to dealing with a student's concerns.

With that said, the role of the Guidance Counselor is ever-changing and depends on a variety of factors within the school. For example, while I am writing this blog post, Erik could be preparing for the ACT test administration; Anne could be writing a college letter of recommendation; Amanda could be meeting with a parent; Gennie could be working on schedule changes; Russ could be counseling a student; Matt could be teaching "Embracing Diversity"; Tracy could be working with her class on mindfulness strategies; Jen could be attending a cluster meeting; Lindsey could be teaching an Empathy workshop; and Kathy could be facilitating a leadership group. No
day is ever the same.

As the K-12 Content Specialist, I would like to publicly thank the Guidance Counselors for their hard work and dedication to the Medfield Public School community. Medfield is fortunate to have devoted counselors whose primary focus is the support and well-being of our students.