School Counseling Services
Mission Statement
The MSAD 6 School Counseling Program is an integral part of the district’s comprehensive educational program, aligned with the shared mission to help all students reach their full potential. School Counselors design and deliver a school counseling program that improves student outcomes. School Counselors help students develop mindsets and behaviors in the areas of Academic (Learning to Learn), Career (Learning to Work), Social/Emotional development (Learning to Live), as well as Community Involvement (Learning to Contribute) to ensure success in school and future, post-secondary pursuits.
School counselors believe:
Every student can learn, and every student can succeed.
Every student should have access to and opportunity for a high-quality education.
Every student should graduate from high school prepared for postsecondary opportunities.
Every student should have access to a comprehensive school counseling program.
Effective school counseling is a collaborative process involving school counselors, students, families, teachers, administrators, other school staff and education stakeholders.
School Counselors are leaders in the school, district, state and nation.
Comprehensive school counseling programs promote and enhance student academic, career and social/emotional outcomes. (American School Counseling Association, 2019)
Healthy, Safe, Engaged, Supported, Challenged
While our buildings, student populations vary, there are key themes in our role as school counselors, focused on positively influencing the global development of each student's well-being, potential and our BE community as a whole.
Our comprehensive K-12 program is student-centered and prevention-focused. Counselors are committed to nurturing the Whole Child - advocating for the cognitive and affective development of our students. The Whole Child Approach necessitates understanding of all the factors related to learning - health, safety, connectedness to school, family engagement, personalization, relevance, and so forth. School counselors advocate for all students to have access to high-quality services and supports enabling them to set and reach high goals for learning.
Each student is an asset and diversity is a strength! As school counselors, we work closely with students, teachers, parents, and administrators, as well as school nurses, social workers, school psychologists and other support staff that comprise Student Services - to serve diverse student needs and promote a safe, caring respectful climate. School counselors regularly provide individual and group short-term counseling services, classroom instruction, coordinating of services including referrals for longer-term support, assistance with academic and post-secondary planning, and crisis intervention support.
At each transition, school counselors work collaboratively to guide a continuation of support and advocacy. The K-12 Counseling Team meets regularly to coordinate services and nurture positive outcomes, as students move throughout the stages of their Bonny Eagle experience.
Elementary, Middle and High School years
Elementary years
are a time when students begin to develop their academic self-concept and feelings of competence and confidence as learners (The Essential Role of Elementary School Counselors, ASCA). They are beginning to develop decision-making, communication and life skills, as well as character values. It is also a time when students develop and acquire attitudes toward school, self, peers, social groups and family. Working with young children, elementary school counselors provide a proactive program, focused on early identification and intervention of children’s academic and social/emotional needs. The elementary school years set the foundation for developing the knowledge, attitudes and skills necessary for children to become healthy, competent and confident learners. School Counselors help their students achieve academic success, develop an understanding of career opportunities, and develop social/emotional skills in response to issues they face.
Middle School
is an exciting yet challenging time for students, their parents and teachers (The Essential Role of Middle School Counselors, ASCA). During this passage from childhood to adolescence, middle school students are characterized by a need to explore a variety of interests, connecting their learning in the classroom to its practical application in life and work; high levels of activity coupled with frequent fatigue due to rapid growth; a search for their own unique identity as they begin turning more frequently to peers rather than parents for ideas and affirmation; extreme sensitivity to the comments from others; and heavy reliance on friends to provide comfort, understanding and approval. The knowledge, attitudes and skills students acquire during these years support a trajectory for future successes.
The work of the middle school counselors is essential in preparing students for the ever-changing world of the 21st century. Working to identify students' academic, and social/emotional needs, as well as provide necessary interventions is essential in removing barriers to learning and helping students develop skills and behaviors critical for academic achievement. Middle school counselors provide advocacy for students to achieve personal growth, acquire positive social skills, identify healthy choices, and to dive further into the exploration of post-secondary pathways.
High School
High school is the final transition into adulthood, postsecondary education and the world of work as students begin separating from parents and defining their independence (The Essential Role of High School Counselors, ASCA). Students are deciding who they are, what they do well and what they will do when they graduate. During these adolescent years, students are evaluating their strengths, skills and abilities. The biggest influence is their peer group. They are searching for a place to belong and often rely on peer acceptance and feedback. They too face increased pressures regarding risk behaviors while exploring the boundaries of more acceptable behavior and mature, meaningful relationships. They need guidance in using technology to further their academic and career goals and also need assistance managing and responding to the challenges of using technology safely and appropriately for personal expression. High School students need guidance in making concrete and compounded decisions. They must navigate academic, peer and parental pressures as they face high-stakes testing, the challenges of college admissions, scholarship and financial aid application process and entrance into a competitive job market.
High School years are full of growth, promise, excitement, frustration, disappointment and hope. It is the time when students begin to discover what the future holds for them. High school counselors are educators uniquely trained in child and adolescent development, learning strategies, self-management and social skills who understand and promote success for today’s diverse students.
At the secondary level, the counselor’s responsibilities typically shift to more individual postsecondary planning, helping students determine their strengths and optimal course of action. High school counselors provide a proactive program that engages students and includes collaboration with teachers, parents, opportunities and decision-makers.
The result of this effort is reflected in the Bonny Eagle High School shared vision: "BEHS students, supported by the BEHS community, will become motivated life-long learners who develop the skills to become responsible citizens through creativity and collaboration."
To learn more about our K-12 Comprehensive School Counseling Program, please click here.
For more information on counseling services and resources specific to each level, we encourage you to visit the appropriate school site.