Welcome to the Stony Brook
Guidance Web Page!
Click here for 2017-2018 New Student Registration Information
Vision Statement for the Guidance Department
The Stony Brook School guidance department - in collaboration with the faculty, parents and community - will provide all students with the academic, career and personal/social development needed to acquire the attitudes, knowledge and skills to live fulfilling lives as responsible and resilient members of society.
All students in grades 6-8 will participate in a planned, developmentally age appropriate, and sequential school counseling curriculum based the National Standards for School Counseling Programs. The program will focus on preparing students to become effective learners, exposing students to future opportunities for higher education and work, and helping students achieve social, emotional, and academic success in school.
Stony Brook counselors will strive to ensure that all students feel safe, welcome, and valued. Counselors will help students create an environment that embraces diversity, supports individuality, and encourages responsiblity.
What is a Middle School Counselor?
Middle school counselors are professional educators with a mental health perspective who understand and respond to the challenges presented by today’s diverse student population. Middle school counselors do not work in isolation; rather they are integral to the total educational program. They provide proactive leadership that engages all stakeholders in the delivery of programs and services to help students achieve success in school. Professional school counselors align with the school’s mission to support the academic achievement of all students as they prepare for the ever-changing world of the 21st century. This mission is accomplished through the design, development, implementation and evaluation of a comprehensive, developmental and systematic school counseling program. The ASCA National Standards in the academic,
National Model: A Framework For School Counseling Programs, with it’s data driven and results-based focus serves as a guide for today’s school counselor who is uniquely trained to implement this program.
Middle School Counselors Implement the Counseling Program by Providing:
- School Guidance Curriculum
- Academic skills support
- Organizational, study and test-taking skills
- Education in understanding self and others
- Coping strategies
- Peer relationships and effective social skills
- Communication, problem-solving, decision-making and conflict resolution
- Career awareness, exploration and planning
- Substance abuse education
- Multicultural/diversity awareness
- Individual Student Planning
- Goal-setting/decision- making
- Academic planning
- Career planning
- Education in understanding of self, including strengths and weaknesses
- Transition planning
- Responsive Services
- Individual and small group counseling
- Individual/family/school crisis intervention
- Peer facilitation
- Consultation, collaboration and teaming
Program management and operation
- Parent information night
- Academic planning programs
- Parent and family education
- One-on-one parent conferencing
- Assessment results interpretation
- College/career exploration
- Career portfolio development
- Assistance with students’ academic plans
- Classroom guidance activities on study skills, career development, etc.
- Academic support, learning style assessment and education to help students succeed academically
- Classroom career speakers
- At-risk student identification and implementation of interventions to enhance success
- Parent communication/education
- School climate
- Behavioral management plans
- School-wide needs assessment
- Student data and results
Student assistance team building
- Peer education
- Peer support
- Academic support
- School climate
- Leadership development
- Job shadowing, service learning
- Crisis interventions