525: Counselling Services
Responsible Administrator: Associate Superintendent Education Services
PURPOSE
Sturgeon Public Schools believes in a community approach to assist all students in achieving their full potential. Counselling is an integral part of a healthy school community, which includes a continuum of supports and services.
PROCESS
The Associate Superintendent, Education Services, will be responsible to maintain this procedure.
PROCEDURE
1. The Superintendent of Schools shall ensure that counselling services are available to all Sturgeon Public Schools students as directed by the Board.
2. Principals shall ensure that counselling services are available to all students within their schools.
3. Counselling supports and services address students’ educational, personal, social, emotional, and career needs. This is facilitated by the development of a continuum of supports and services, which includes a school counsellor, other school/ division staff, and parents/ guardians working together with community services and professionals.
4. Through a comprehensive counselling and wellness approach, school communities build welcoming, caring, respectful and safe learning environments that support healthy relationships and facilitate student learning. Each school is responsible for having a Counselling Wellness Plan that is the shared responsibility of the entire school staff.
5. Schools shall have counsellors who have successful certified teaching experience, current counselling knowledge and skills focused on communication, awareness, prevention, and intervention. This is supported divisionally through on-going professional development.
6. As outlined in the School Counsellor Handbook, the school counsellor shall:
6.1 Take the lead in developing the Counselling Wellness Plan, coordinating services, and providing direct and indirect support to students, staff, and parents/guardians.
6.2 Acknowledge the limited scope of their practice, which requires them to refer to specialized outside services to best meet the needs of students.
6.3 Support transitions and career planning.
6.4 Have a non-administrative assignment when possible.
7. Principals shall be responsible for monitoring and communicating the effectiveness of the counselling supports and services to appropriate stakeholders, in accordance with these guidelines.
References:
Sturgeon Public Schools – Counselling Wellness Plan
School Counsellor Handbook
History
2020 Jan 29 Initial Approval
2020 Jul 24 Amended
Administrative Procedures V. Student Services