North High School and North High School Engagement Center

Counseling Department Philosophy Statement North High School Counselors believe that a comprehensive school counseling program, using the ASCA model as a guide, is an integral component of every student’s overall education experience. The North High School Counseling program is focused on providing guidance curriculum, individual planning, responsive services, and system support to the entire school community.

Counseling Department Beliefs:  Every student can learn and succeed.  Every student has the right to a rigorous education.  Every student will graduate high school prepared for their post-secondary path.  Counseling services will be provided to all students.  Our counseling program is a collaborative effort amongst our entire school community.  The framework of our program will be driven by data to better meet the specific needs of our students.  Counselors are advocates for all students who teach and encourage self- advocacy skills.  Counselors are committed to linking students, who need additional support, to interventions and services to enhance their success.  All students have the right to feel safe and secure at school and in their community.  Each student’s diverse and individual needs are considered when planning and implementing the comprehensive school counseling program.  State-certified counselors will plan, manage and deliver comprehensive counseling services in collaboration with other school support staff  Professional development is crucial for counselor and program development.  The student and parent(s) are responsible for monitoring the student’s educational progress with the assistance of a professional school counselor.  All counselors abide by the professional ethics of guidance and counseling as directed by the American School Counselor Association.  The school counseling program should be proactive, with a focus on prevention previous to reaction.

In accordance with our philosophy statement and beliefs, the North High School and North High School Engagement Center Counseling Program will provide:

 Access to the counseling program for 100% of the student population.  A programmatic approach to school counseling services/programs.  Accountability for school counseling programs through data review, action plans and results reports.  Counselors who devote full-time to the program’s implementation as prescribed by the ASCA National Model.  Identification and achievement of student competencies and outcomes through the school counseling program.  A school counseling program which is developmental in design. The program offers sequentially planned activities which meet the needs of children and adolescents as they grow and progress from one grade level to the next.

The North High School and North High School Engagement Center Counseling program will be evaluated annually. Individual counselors shall be evaluated by administration using a counselor specific evaluation tool developed by the district. The comprehensive school counseling program shall be evaluated by Denver Public School’s Director of Counseling.