White Plains City School District Guidance/School Counseling Comprehensive Program
Description of White Plains City School District:
The White Plains City Schools serve students in kindergarten through 12th grade on nine campuses.
The school district has:
- Five elementary schools for kindergartners through 5th graders, each offering the same challenging curriculum in safe and nurturing environments.
- A 6th grade campus at Eastview and a 7th and 8th grade campus at Highlands; both prepare students to meet the expectations of the high school.
- One high school for 9th through 12th graders offering a variety of courses, including dual enrollment, honors and Advanced Placement courses in all academic areas and noteworthy electives.
- An alternative high school for 9th through 12th graders needing a smaller setting.
White Plains City Schools Mission Statement:
The mission of the White Plains School District is to educate and inspire all students, while nurturing their dreams, so they learn continually, think critically, pursue their aspirations and contribute to a diverse and dynamic world.
White Plains City Schools Vision Statement:
We aspire to unlock the infinite and unique potential of each student every day.
Brief Description of the School District’s School Counseling Program:
The School Counseling Department in White Plains City School District is a comprehensive and integral part of the student’s total educational experience. It is designed to help students with their educational, emotional and social development. The School Counseling Department services all students from the time that they enter school through graduation. School counseling is a service, which includes a planned curriculum and informal supports, which are designed to assist students in understanding themselves better in order to become contributing citizens. The goal of our program is to meet the individual needs of each of our students, so that they have a successful school experience and are prepared for life after high school.
The school counselor is a professional who will play a continued and key role throughout the duration of the student’s school life. From kindergarten through 5th grade, the school counselor supports the students in identifying and understanding their social and emotional needs, as well as, supporting them in understanding their interests. From 6th through 12th grade, the school counselor advises and counsels students about the selection of courses, relationships with teachers and other significant adults, relationships with peers, extra-curricular involvement, and post-secondary planning. Getting to know the student well and understanding the student’s aptitudes, abilities and aspirations helps the counselor support the student in reaching his or her goals. The relationship between the student and counselor is at the heart of all school counseling activities and services.
In addition, school counselors work closely with administrators, district coordinators, teachers, and other professionals outside of school as the need arises. School counselors also work cooperatively with other pupil personnel staff such as:
- School psychologists
- School social workers
- School nurses
School Counseling Program Mission Statement:
The mission of the White Plains City School District School Counseling Department is to take a proactive approach in supporting all students academically, socially, and emotionally in kindergarten through 12th grade. We assist students in acquiring the skills, knowledge and perspective needed to contribute to a diverse and dynamic world.
Accountability and Data for Program Evaluation:
The School Counseling Department utilizes the following measures to assess the program’s effectiveness:
- Surveys and inventories (middle and high school)
- School attendance records
- Guidance evening presentation attendance (middle and high school)
- Extracurricular participation
- Individual student meetings with their counselors
- Parent and School Counselor meetings
- Graduation rates
- College representative visits
- College applications and acceptances
- Progress reports and report cards
- Summer school enrollment
- Formative assessments during school counseling classroom presentations
- Response to Intervention data
- Responsive Classroom data
Professional Memberships:
Our school counselors are active members in the following organizations:
- College Board
- American School Counselor Association
- National Association of College Admissions Counselors
- New York State Association for College Admission Counseling
- New York State School Counselor Association
- Westchester, Putnam and Rockland Counselor Association
Professional Development:
Our school counselors are actively engaged in ongoing professional development in the following areas:
- Mindfulness training
- DBT Steps A training
- Roundtable discussions (various topics)
- Responsive Classroom training
- Annual attendance at the National Association of College Admissions Counselors conference
- Annual attendance at the New York State Association for College Admission Counseling conference
- Annual visits to college campuses
- Annual attendance at the Westchester Guidance Expo
- Annual attendance at safety workshops
School Counselors Program Development:
Our school counselors designed the White Plains City School District School Guidance/School Counseling Program, and the program was created to address the needs of all learners. Our Advisory Council, consisting of school counselors from all grade levels, building level administration, district level administration, parents , meets twice during the school year to review and evaluate the effectiveness of our School Counseling Program to ensure it is addressing the needs of our students.