District 11 Educational Support Services
Counseling Services

Welcome

"District 11 Counselors assist students by providing support in transitioning from elementary and middle schools, school orientation for new comers, student goal development, academic advisement, student leadership development, and skill development for transition into higher education or into the work force."
~
Teina McConnell
Liaison for School Counselors mccontl@d11.org  Tel: 719-5
20-2351




 

News

District 11 Prepares Students for Career/Post Secondary Success
During the Fall of 2007, the Curriculum and Career Technology Education Departments began aligning curriculum, core courses and electives with career clusters and pathways. This enables students to create a plan of study based on their individual strengths, interests, and aptitudes. This emphasis is in collaboration with CollegeinColorado.org and allows students to view multiple career and post secondary options while studying foundational courses that may prepare them for high skill, high wage, and higher education opportunities in high demand industries. 

What We Believe

Mission:
Assist students in their progression through school by supporting students’ efforts in enhancing and realizing their personal and academic potential, and to support staff and our community in their endeavors to increase student achievement and personal development.   

Curriculum

Secondary School Comprehensive and Developmental Counseling Plan
Each school has curriculum that fits into seven distinct categories. While schools may tailor the curriculum to meet the needs of its unique environment, the general theme of the curriculum, the standards and competencies it applies to, and the evaluation of the curriculum is the same from school to school. Each of these categories is detailed within the Curriculum Descriptors. The curriculum is met proactively through guidance curriculum lessons in the classroom, small group settings, and lastly through individual advisement. The categories are also served by counselors at the responsive services and system support levels of counseling as these two delivery systems infiltrate all aspects of professional counseling. 

Counseling Curriculum

Grade 5 Grade 6 Grade 7 Grade 8 Grade 9 Grade 10 Grade 11 Grade 12

5th Grade Counseling Curriculum
Quarter 1: August - October 15

September/October - Select feeder schools come on invitation for a VIP tour of middle school 'Spending 5th grade preparing for life.' Pre-test given by 5th grade teacher; informal consensogram; results data collected by 5th grade teacher on key presentation points (e.g. percentage of homework turned in); post-test given by 5th grade teacher.

Quarter 3: January - March
January/March - Visits to each elementary feeder school to include: course registration, life in middle school, Q and A time, (middle school students to assist).

Quarter 4: April - May
April/May - 5th grade preview days - 5th graders from all feeders come to visit the middle school and receive orientation including tours and expectations of middle school.

6th Grade Counseling Curriculum
Quarter 1: August - October 15
August - 6th grade orientation to include:  WEB, scavenger hunt, teacher meet and greet, schedules and lockers, and lunch.
September - Safety and Connections:  Bullyproofing, PBS, WEB, and/or Student 2 Student
September - PBS and Boystown, and life skills
Resource
Gifts and Talents for Teenagers: Discovering Your Unique Strengths by Carol Carter

Quarter 2: October 16 - December
October - Academic/personal-social guidance lesson:  'How to be Retained'
Essential skills:  can be presented through Student Success Skills, AVID principles, or 'The October - December - Guide.' Lessons include:  time management, organization, preparing for tests, Socratic seminar, and/or Cornell notes. View a Sample Completed Student Electronic Portfolio - Learning Styles.
Each student will save the portfolio completed tasks to his or her Electronic Portfolio. See a Sample Student Portfolio of technology skills.

Quarter 3: January - March

January/ February - CSAP rep rubric so that any student can explain the CSAP rubric; increased CSAP scores
January/March - CSAP rep rubric so that any student can explain the CSAP rubric; increased CSAP scores

7th Grade Counseling Curriculum
Quarter 1: August - October 15

September - Safety and Connections: Bullyproofing, PBS, WEB, and/or Student 2 Student
September - PBS and Boystown, life skills
September/October - Academic/personal-social guidance lesson:  'How to be Retained'
R
esource People Smarts for Teenagers: Becoming Emotionally Intelligent by Carol Carter

Quarter 2: October 16 -
December
October/December - Essential skills:  can be presented through Student Success Skills, AVID principles, or 'The Guide.' Lessons include:  time management, organization, preparing for tests, socratic seminar, and/or Cornell notes. Any student can demonstrate Cornell notes/AVID binder; 'Essential Skills' class grades are passing

Quarter 3: January - March

January - February CSAP prep rubric
January - March Course selection and registration for 8th grade to include: preparing for 8th grade.
January - March AVID Recruitment measured by numbers of students who apply to AVID; successful teacher recommendation process

Quarter 4: April - May
April - May Classroom Guidance:  WEB mentoring/Student 2 Student measured by numbers of students who apply to be a WEB mentor; successful teacher recommendation process
April - May COIN Jr. or DISCOVER Interest Inventory to include 6-year academic plan
All students participate and maintain career portfolio.

8th Grade Counseling Curriculum
Quarter 1: August - October 15

September - Safety and Connections: Bullyproofing, PBS, WEB, and/or Student 2 Student
PBS and Boystown, lifeskills
September - October - Academic/personal-social guidance lesson: Retention policy, preparing for high school, understanding and attaining high school credits, and impact of CSAP.

Quarter 2: October 16 - December
December - 8th grade information session to include an introduction to high school: credits/graduation requirements/CCHE, grades, transcripts, high school planning, importance of test scores in class placement, distinctions between drop-out, GED, high school diploma, and college.
January - February CSAP prep rubric so that any student can explain the CSAP rubric; increased CSAP scores
Resource Making the Most of High School: Success Secrets for Freshmen by Carol Carter

Quarter 3: January - March
February - Presentation to all 8th graders regarding high school planning, course selection, and registration for 9th grade to include:  importance of standardized testing, credits, graduation requirements, leadership skills, CCHE, clubs and activities, and sports.

Quarter 4: April - May
April - May - Career Day: 'Ellis Island' pre-post test on knowledge of ethnicity/immigration, etc.; 100% of 8th grade students participate
May - Current 9th grade student panel for incoming 9th graders to talk about successes and how to avoid pitfalls to include: time management, organization, academic planning, and self-advocacy. Information given regarding Orientation, Summer Institute, and Link Crew.

9th Grade Counseling Curriculum
Quarter 1: August - October 15

August - Career Survey through COIN or DISCOVER
August - September - Alternative school orientation to include:  personal learning plan, interest inventory, and learning styles.
October - December - Large group sessions:  Student Success Skills (100% of students with 2 or more F grades)
Resource Study Skills for High School Students by Carol Carter

Quarter 2: October 16 - December
November - December - Career awareness/personality typing in computer lab (College in Colorado or Education Planner) with review of Q1 grades with all 9th
October - December - Resources visit: Zangle, utilizing teachers, understanding credits, transcripts, AE, and help with transitions. 
October - December - Large group sessions: Student Success Skills (100% of students with 2 or more F grades)

Quarter 3: January - March
February - Presentation to all freshmen high school planning (4-year plan), transcript review, CCHE requirements, and registration for 10th grade
March - Regular and honors track students presented with upperclassmen panel of students who struggled and are now graduating

Quarter 4: April - May
May - Post Graduate Center (PGC) visit and introduction to post-secondary planning to include PSAT/PLAN, movement from regular to IB, summer school, planning for sophomore year.  Scavenger hunt activity and/or upperclassmen experienced in use of the PGC to share knowledge.

10th Grade Counseling Curriculum 
Quarter 1: August - October 15

September - 21st century skills (student success skills) to 100% of credit deficient students through tutorial classes to include: credit retrieval, time management, and organization.
September Career Fair
September - October - Introductory session on post-secondary planning to include:  standardized testing (PSAT/PLAN, ACT and SAT), credit recovery options, credits and a 4-year plan review, diversity and bullying, and community service.

Quarter 2: October 16 - December
November - Career Exploration unit to include: test prep/information on standardized tests (PLAN, PSAT), Career Interest Inventory, College In Colorado account, clubs, activities and sports, leadership opportunities, and important websites for post-secondary planning.
October - December:
Resource Sophomore Guide to Preparing for Life After High School by Carol Carter

Quarter 3: January - March
January - March - 2 day career workshop in conjunction with Health classes in the computer lab:  Day 1-Interest Inventory, Day2- results and how to analyze data and apply to next steps.
February - Sophomore full-class presentation: Post-Secondary planning and course selection.  Emphasis on exploration, research, standardized tests, and high performance this year.
January - March - Career Survey through COIN or DISCOVER

11th Grade Counseling Curriculum

Quarter 1: August - October 15
Junior full-class Presentation: Post-Secondary Planning.  Emphasis on exploration, research, standardized tests, credits and recovery, NCAA, ASVAB, special events (eg Out-of-State and In-State College Nights), and high performance this year.
Career Fair - Career survey and exploration with Junior English teachers culminating in a research paper that highlights a particular career path.
Resource Junior Guide to Senior Year Success: Becoming a Global Citizen by Carol Carter

Quarter 2: October 16 - December
Test prep/information on standardized tests presented to all junior classes.  Also includes 21st century skills, and transcript review.

Quarter 3: January - March
February - Course selection presentation to all juniors including discussion on graduation requirements and post-secondary options, credits and recovery, and upward trend towards more rigorous coursework.
April - ACT preregistration as well as outline testing schedule, career/college magazines, NCAA information, and ASVAB.

Quarter 4: April - May
May - Senior prep seminar, to include:  timeline of senior year, profile for letters of recommendation, essays, college visits, goals for the fall, post-secondary options, scholarship information, tests,
http://www.mymajors.com and credits and recovery.
Junior Guide to Senior Year Success by Carol Carter

12th Grade Counseling Curriculum
Quarter 1: August - October 15

September - Post secondary planning with seniors to include credits, GPA, test scores, correspondence course deadlines, senior keep sheet time line, essay, senior information card, college planning guide and questions, college reps, college fairs, vocational and military information, ACT dates, 21st century skills, and appointment with counselor. Fact finding activity to include researching and reporting on a variety of information in the PGC.
September - December - Senior Breakfast Seminars:  AE meetings to discuss a variety of pertinent topics including:  application tips, essay writing, new college freshmen panel, ASVAB, safety issues in college, financial responsibility, new courses of study in college, and transitioning to college and getting involved.
Resource Majoring in The Rest of Your Life: Career Secrets for College Students by Carol Carter

Quarter 2: October 16 - December
Financial Aid information delivered through Economics classes to include paying for college and managing debt.

Quarter 3: January - March
Financial Aid information delivered through Economics classes to include paying for college and managing debt.

Quarter 4: April - May
Senoritis visit: staying strong until year end, final transcripts, important dates for grades and credits

 


Responsive Services and System Support  

  • Staff Development: Counselors educate staff and/or facilitate outside experts to come in and educate staff on a variety of topics. Counselors work as a portion of the leadership team in the building to ensure that the educational needs of staff are continually addressed.
  • Parent Involvement: An increasingly important and large portion of a counselor’s role is to foster home-school relationships. This involves informational sessions and a large role as liaison between parents and the school to promote student achievement, and support the academic, career, and personal/social development of the student. 
  • Support Groups: Support groups are utilized on an ‘as-needed’ basis and include a variety of academic, career, and personal/social development topics. Groups will vary from school-to-school and from year-to-year based upon the needs of students and their parents.
  • ESL: Counselors act as a liaison for the ESL department in their building. If no such department exists, counselors provide and maintain a liaison role for any student in their building who has declined services.
  • Special Education: Counselors serve as a part of the Special Education IEP process, including: initial staffing, annual reviews, schedule adjustment, and student monitoring with the case manager to ensure successful movement toward graduation, and beyond
  • 504: Counselors write, maintain, and disseminate 504 plans as needed in their buildings. We serve as the school contact for parents, administrators, teachers, and ESP staff to ensure the fidelity of 504 implementation. We also educate parents and students to advocate for their 504 plans.

 

Assessment

School Counselors provide support in student assessment by coordinating and disaggregation of : 

  • State and National ACT, SAT, and  ASVAB in Relation to College Entrance

  • CSAP/Terra Nova/MAPS 

  • CSAP/Terra Nova Correlation to College Entrance Exams, and PSAT/PLAN Information

Parent & Community Member Resources

www.collegeincolorado.org - career inventories and aptitude tests, selecting a a field of study and

Colorado Commission on Higher Education (CCHE) Requirements for Entrance into 4-Year Colorado Colleges
Phase II:  Class of 2010+ 

 

CCHE

= District 11

English

4 units

8 credits

Mathematics (Algebra ½ level and higher) 

4 units

8 credits

Natural/Physical Science (2 units must be lab based) 

3 units

6 credits

Social Sciences (at least 1 unit of U.S. or World History) 

3 units

6 credits

Foreign Language (must be same language) 

2 units

4 credits

Academic Electives 

2 units

4 credits

Total =

18 units

36 credits

Teacher Resources

Partnership for 21st Century Skills - Bill Gates said that the nation's schools must take steps to ensure that curricula are engaging and relevant to students' current needs. He cited the Partnership for 21st Century Skills, of which Microsoft is a member, as a model.


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