What is Comprehensive School Counseling?

The Comprehensive School Counseling Program is an integral part of the primary educational mission of the district. This program supports, facilitates, and encourages classroom instruction and student achievement. Our school counseling program is proactive and preventative in its focus. It assists students in acquiring and using life long learning skills. More specifically, our school counseling program employs strategies to enhance academic, encourage self awareness, foster interpersonal communication skills, provide career awareness, develop employment readiness, and impact life skills for all students.

Mission Statement

The mission of the Ridge View Counseling Program is to promote a purpose for learning by helping students discover who they are,how they develop, and what skills they need to become a responsible member of society. The School Counseling Program is delivered by all, for all to ensure every student receives 100% of the school counseling program that addresses their academic, career, and personal/social development.

Career Readiness Class:

• We use “The Real Game” curriculum.  Students will simulate an adult’s life to include, a career, paycheck, bills, learn to budget their money and save. 
• Students also will spend time researching a career of their interest.  We will learn the various career pathways and how careers are classified in the pathways.

• We use “Roads to Success, 7th grade” curriculum.  This curriculum is developed by the I Have A Plan Iowa group.  Through this curriculum we use their website, www.ihaveaplaniowa.org, to take interest surveys, and research a variety of careers.
• Students will also learn more about common Mental Health issues.   

• We use “Roads to Success, 8th grade” curriculum.  In Iowa, 8th grade students are required to begin their 4 year plan through the I Have A Plan website.  After some initial exploring, students choose a career to begin planning their 4 years of high school.  The website assists in suggesting courses to help students explore their interests.  The plan can be changed at anytime by the student.  Parental input is highly important.

Resources & Helpful Links

I hope you find these resources helpful for you and your family.

Career Exploration:

Bullying:

https://www.stopbullying.gov/  

http://yourlifeiowa.org/ 

Depression/Suicide prevention:

http://www.save.org

http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/

Alcohol/Drug use:

http://kidshealth.org/teen/drug_alcohol/alcohol/alcohol.html

ADHD:

http://www.chadd.org

Study Skills:

http://ucc.vt.edu/academic_support/study_skills_information.html

http://www.howtostudy.org

Parenting:

http://www.loveandlogic.com

Step Families:

http://www.stepfamily.net

Books

Personal/Social:

Reviving Ophelia: Saving the Selves of Adolescent Girls by Mary Pipher

Real Boys: Rescuing Our Sons from the Myths of Boyhood by William S. Pollack

How to Handle Bullies, Teasers and other Meanies by Kate Cohen

Positive Discipline for Teenagers by Jane Nelson Lynn Lott

Queen Bees and Wannabees by Rosalind Wiseman

Academic:

Seven Habits of Highly Effective Teens by Sean Covey

Life Strategies for Teens by Jay McGraw

Organizing from the Inside Out for Teens by Julie Morgensten

Ending the Homework Hassle by John Rosemond

Survival Guide for Kids with Learning Disabilities by Gary Fisher