Guidance and Counseling

The district’s comprehensive guidance and counseling program is an integral part of the total educational program and provides important benefits to students by addressing their intellectual, social and emotional needs.

District Mission

To establish successful learning experiences for all and create responsible citizens capable of lifelong accomplishments in environments of change.

District Goals:

J Provide a solid foundation in the basics J Ensure safe and respectful schools

J Prepare students for the 21 st century J Embrace the community as partners

Goals for Graduates:

We will know we have achieved our mission and district goals when our graduates are:

J Independent Learners J Effective Communicators J Responsible Persons

J Adaptable Problem Solvers and Decision Makers J Contributing Citizens

J Productive Quality Workers

Mission of the Guidance and Counseling Program

The mission of the North Kansas City School District Guidance and Counseling Program (K-12) is to help students develop interpersonal relationships, make informed decisions and develop the ability to explore and plan for careers.

Goals for the Guidance and Counseling Program (K-12)

J Students will understand and accept themselves.

J Students will understand and get along with others.

J Students will demonstrate the ability to access information from various resources.

J Students will develop skills for effective decision making and problem solving.

J Students will understand how interests and abilities relate to future plans.

J Students will understand how to become responsible citizens.

Area 1 Knowledge of Self and Others:

J Understanding and Accepting Self

J Making Decisions

J Understanding and Getting Along with Others

J Knowing How Drugs and Alcohol Affect Me and My Friends

J Learning About Family Responsibilities

Area 2 School-to-Career

J Exploring and Planning for Careers

J Understanding Diversity As it Relates to School and Work

J Learning How to Use Leisure Time

J Making Decisions About High School and Post-Secondary Choices

J Developing Skills for Future Employment

PROGRAM COMPONENTS

Guidance Curriculum includes structured developmental experiences presented systematically through classroom and group activities, kindergarten through grade twelve. The curriculum emphasizes decision-making, self-understanding, career exploration and preparation, and the improvement of study skills.

Individual Planning includes counseling activities to assist all students to plan, monitor and manage their own learning as well as their personal career development. Individual planning emphasizes test interpretation, informal counseling, and educational counseling including college and post-secondary, vocational-technical planning and career planning.

Responsive Services includes counseling or referral activities to meet the immediate needs and concerns of students. Responsive services include personal counseling, crisis counseling, agency referral, consultation for parents, teachers and other professionals, support groups and problem solving.

System Support includes indirect guidance management activities that maintain and enhance the total guidance program. Responsibilities in this component include staff and community relations, special research projects, committees, professional development and student support teams.