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COUNSELING SERVICES
ACADEMIC COUNSELING Academic counselors assist students in making realistic appraisals of their educational needs and goals. Students are directed to Honors Programs and Advanced Placement classes when appropriate. Students experiencing academic difficulty meet with Academic Counselors to assess and to attempt to remedy the program. Academic Counselors maintain communication with parents and teachers as needed throughout the year. Progress reports, tutoring services and contractual agreements are implemented as needed.
PERSONAL COUNSELING Students wishing to discuss personal issues may make appointments with any member of the counseling staff. Department members recognize that they are unable to commit themselves to long-term personal counseling, but are available to assist students on a short-term basis. Counselors aid students and their families in engaging outside psychological services which may be required for long-term needs.
COLLEGE AND CAREER COUNSELING Two full time counselors are available to disseminate information regarding college admissions requirements, financial aid and scholarship opportunities, as well as career summaries and educational requirements. College visitations are hosted and an annual College Fair program is scheduled for interested students and parents. Internet access is available for on-line registration for college admissions, SAT registration and college/scholarship web searches. Specific counseling services offered include: Naviance Family Connection, CSU Mentor, UC essay writing workshops, resume workshops, How to Make the Most of College Visit presentations, NCAA workshops, Private School Essay workshops, on-line application sessions for UC and CSU, student/parent counseling appointments, and scholarship assistance.
COLLEGE AND CAREER LIBRARY Students have access to college catalogs, college viewbooks, videos, and numerous texts addressing career and college choices. Our resource room includes numerous career exploration textbooks outlining job descriptions, salary expectations, career outlook and educational requirements for specific professions. Publications outlining scholarship opportunities are available for interested students and parents.
TESTING PROGRAM Freshmen: NEDT
PARENT PROGRAMS College Information Nights and Financial Aid Information Night are provided for junior and senior families. We also present a College Information program for 9/10/11 th grade families in the spring.
COUNSELING WORKSHOPS FOR INDIVIDUAL CLASSES Counselors prepare workshops which address special interest topics as reflected by the results of an annual student needs questionnaire. The areas of focus appropriate to grade levels are: 9th GRADE: Members of the Counseling staff and student leaders conduct an intensive orientation program which outlines departmental services which students may utilize throughout their high school career. Concepts addressed include transition from middle school to high school, extracurricular pursuits, time management, service opportunities, facing teenage pressures and becoming a leader. This program is interactive in nature. Freshmen also participate in a workshop focusing on positive coping skills when dealing with adversity. They will also participate in an introductory interest exploration workshop. l0th GRADE: Members of the Counseling staff and student leaders conduct the “Parent/Teen Communication Program. This workshop incorporates small group discussion (facilitated by students) for students and parents regarding issues of adolescent pressure. The results of the OLP annual questionnaire outlining the frequency of risky behaviors among our student body are presented during this program. The goal of the workshop is to encourage open dialogue as the key to responsible decision making. This program is mandatory for ALL sophomore parents and students. In addition, members of the staff and student leaders conduct an intensive orientation program outlining issues of adolescent development. Topics include balancing jobs with extracurricular, responsible decision making, facing temptations of alcohol/drugs, sexual pressures, beginning the college search process, changing relationships and goal setting. Sophomore also participate in a workshop focusing on positive coping skills when dealing with adversity and a “Do What You Are Program” assisting them with career exploration. All sophomores will be introduced to the Naviance Family Connection Program and the CSU Mentor Program. 11th GRADE: Counselors conduct a workshop on stress management. Students are provided with information addressing time management, realistic goal setting and stress reduction methods. College counselors conduct value workshops and an introductory college information workshop for all junior students. Students are oriented to the departmental resources which are available for their use. In addition, individual appointments are arranged for each junior and their family regarding college admissions. Seniors present a workshop to all junior students offering advice regarding the college application process. Juniors also participate in a workshop focusing on positive coping skills when dealing with adversity. All juniors will be introduced to the Naviance Family Connection Program and the CSU Mentor Program. 12th GRADE: College Counselors conduct a college orientation workshop for all seniors and conducts presentations outlining the UC essay writing process, on-line application filing for colleges, resume workshops and student/family appointments. Students are informed of college programs and scholarship opportunities through daily announcements and Naviance e-mail. Seniors are provided with an OLP college informational packet outlining deadlines, testing strategies, scholarship/financial aid opportunities and colleges to consider. Admissions representatives from over 75 colleges meet with interested students during scheduled campus visits. In addition, a member of the counseling staff and several alumnae provide information regarding the transition from high school to college during a workshop designed to provide insight into the first semester/year at college. Resolutions, goal planning, change and communication are addressed during this interactive program. All seniors will schedule an individual appointment in January/February with one of the college counselors to discuss their college admissions programs. In April/May, each senior will participate in an exit interview with one of the college counselors to assure that all college admission requirements have been fulfilled. All seniors will be introduced to the Naviance Family Connection and the CSU Mentor Program.
NAVIANCE FAMILY CONNECTION The Naviance “TCCi/Family Connection” web-based program offers students and parents a comprehensive website for college and career decision making. All students, as well as their parents will be assigned a username and password in order to access this service from any computer at anytime. Family Connection will allow students to build a resume, manage timelines and deadlines for college admissions, research colleges, compare their academic profiles to past OLP students who have been admitted to that particular college, sign up for college visits at OLP, and search for national scholarships. Additionally, a personality/career interest inventory can be accessed and will be administered by the Counseling Department.
CSU MENTOR PROGRAM Juniors and sophomores will participate in an annual CSU mentor workshop, an on-line resource managed by the California State University system. The website allows students to research individual campuses, plan for higher education financing, ensure their high school courses meet CSU subject requirements, and apply for admission. OLP sophomores and juniors will be trained on how to use the High school Planner component which allows students to track their progress toward CSU eligibility based upon the CSU accepted course list and CSU subject requirements. Students will be given their own password and username to access their personal Planner at anytime to update their grades and check their progress toward meeting basic CSU admission requirements.
CAREER DAY The Department sponsors a bi-annual Career Day which incorporates over 50 alumnae and community professionals. Speakers address their job responsibilities and answer student questions addressing job satisfaction, educational requirements and work experience necessary for their particular profession.
TUTORING PROGRAM Students needing special assistance are advised to attend tutoring labs staffed by mathematics, foreign language and science and English teachers. Individual peer to peer tutoring and off campus professional tutoring referrals are available through the Counseling Department.
AWARENESS GROUPS The counseling staff has designed groups addressing issues such as alcoholism/chemical use, single parent/divorced families, eating disorders and overcoming shyness. Participation in these groups is voluntary. These counselor led educational groups are designed to address the emotions and challenges that these issues can create for individuals and families.
PEER COUNSELING The Counseling Department conducts an extensive Peer Counseling Network. Upon completion of a one semester leadership training course, student leaders facilitate numerous school-wide programs. Each program is written and facilitated by the students. Program goals include the exploration of constructive communication, self-awareness, acceptance of others and enhanced decision making. Programs include: Freshman and Sophomore Orientation Programs: (See descriptions above) 8th Grade Visitation Program: Peer leaders facilitate small discussion groups addressing issues of starting high school, extracurricular activities starting over and other others areas of concerns to elementary school students. Parent/Teen Communication Program: (see description under Sophomore services) Advisory Program: (See description below) Discovering Positive Coping Styles: Student leaders share experiences of facing divorce within families, eating disorders, alcohol/chemical use, sexual abuse, transitions, over-achieving, dealing with death and changing relationships. These testimonials enlighten audiences to the strength gained through challenge. Student leaders create a group discussion program in order to enhance student participation and recognition of individual strength. All four grade levels participate in this workshop.
ADVISORY PROGRAM The Advisory program is designed to link each student to a faculty member and student leaders in an out-of-classroom setting. Student facilitators and faculty advisors participate in 6 workshops which address issues of psychological development among adolescents (integrity, transitions, self-esteem, alcohol/drug issues, diversity/acceptance, relationships, responsible decision making). Members of the peer leadership program create multi-media presentations addressing an annual theme. These video productions include interviews with students (male and female), teachers, parents, alumnae, children and community psychologists in order to provide support information to the student body. Students conduct numerous presentations to address these topics at the request of the health instructors and also visit elementary schools and universities. |
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