Celebrate National School Counseling Week

National School Counseling Week is February 3-7, 2014.

School counselors are certified school professionals who specialize in helping students make decisions about their personal and educational needs while providing information about colleges and other life choices. The school counseling profession started about 100 years ago with caring teachers that helped their students plan for the future. In the early 1900s, students began to have more educational and occupational options so school counseling became its own profession.

The role of the counselor has changed over the years, but the focus remains the same. School counselors help all students in the areas of academic achievement, personal/social development, and career development, ensuring today’s students become the productive, well-adjusted adults of tomorrow.

They counsel students on courses and activities that relate to their interests, connecting their educational goals with their future career goals. By providing career guidance and resources, school counselors help students think about, plan for, and apply to college and vocational programs.

Counselors work with students to address physical, personal, and emotional changes that affect school performance. Counselors focus on resiliency and life skills to promote success. Conflict resolution, mediation, motivation, and aspiration are common themes counselors address to positively affect the school climate. School counselors focus on success through study and test-taking skills and use data-informed practice to increase opportunity and promote achievement.

School counseling is an integral part of the education system. School counselors advocate for students, providing support and advice. Get to know your school counselors as they are a valuable resource for student success! Check out the FLVS School Counselor office for tips, tools, and valuable resources.

Celebrate National School Counseling Week from February 3-7, 2014, and join us for our February webinar events:

Testing Webinar: FCAT & EOC

Join the FLVS Counselor team to learn more about Florida’s standardized tests: the FCAT and EOCs. We will give you information on test format, test taking tips and ways to cope with the stress of test day. We’ll also give you all the secrets you need to succeed on test day! Log in at www.tinyurl.com/FLVSCounselors on February 5, 2014, at 6 p.m. ET.

Teen Dating Violence: Information & Prevention

Teen relationships can be hard! How do you know you are in a healthy relationship? What are some of the warning signs that your relationship may be an unhealthy one? Join the FLVS School Counselors and the HOPE Team as we observe National Teen Dating Abuse, Awareness and Safety month. We will discuss what dating violence is, warning signs, and ways to have healthy and positive teen relationships. This session may discuss sensitive topics that are not suitable for every student. Log in to www.tinyurl.com/FLVSCounselors on February 26, 2014, at 6 p.m. ET.