Mission Statement

The mission of the Counseling Department at Los Cerros Middle School is to ensure that all students acquire the educational, self-knowledge and workplace awareness skills necessary for success in all areas of  their lives.

Statement of Philosophy

The Guidance Department activities are based upon the recognition of the dignity and worth of all students and their right to guidance and counseling services.

Why Middle School Counselors?

Middle school students are characterized by rapid physical growth, curiosity about their world and an emerging self-identity. Through a comprehensive developmental school counseling program, counselors work as a team member with school staff, parents and the community to create a caring, supportive climate and atmosphere whereby young adolescents can achieve academic success. Middle school counselors enhance the learning process and promote academic achievement. School counseling programs are essential for students to achieve optimal personal growth, acquire positive social skills and values, set appropriate career goals and realize full academic potential to become productive, contributing members of the world community. The professional middle school counselor holds a master’s degree and required state certification in school counseling. Maintaining certification includes on-going professional development to stay current with education reform and challenges facing today’s students. Professional association membership is encouraged as it enhances the school counselor’s knowledge and effectiveness.

Counseling services include:

• Academic Guidance and Counseling assists students and their parents to understand curricular options, plan a program of studies, schedule and interpret academic testing, and seek post secondary academic opportunities.
• Career Guidance and Counseling assists students to understand and make plans for jobs, apprenticeships, and post secondary opportunities.
• Personal/Social Guidance and Counseling assists students to understand themselves, the rights and needs of others, conflict resolution and encourages individual goal setting.

 These services are delivered through:

• Classroom Guidance is a series of classroom lessons conducted by counselor (s) at various grade levels to promote academic, personal/social and career development of all students.
• Small Group Counseling allows students to share mutual concerns with their peers. Emphasis is upon problem solving and the development of positive attitudes and effective personal skills.
• Individual Counseling helps students learn more efficiently and effectively, with an emphasis on identifying concerns early before they become overwhelming.

Confidentiality

An important obligation of counselors is to maintain the confidentiality of relationships with students. Therefore, the confidentiality of information received, and of any written or pupil records, is safeguarded. The counselor is obliged not to disclose information that a student has shared within the context of the counseling relationship, unless such disclosures are necessary to protect the student from posing a serious threat to him or herself or to others.