Counselor/Guidance

The Role of Our SJCS Counselor

At SJCS, our school counselor plays a vital role in supporting the success and well-being of every student. The counselor collaborates with teachers, the J-Lab resource teacher, and parents to ensure that each student receives the necessary support to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Student Support:
    The counselor is available throughout the school day to meet with students, addressing any academic, social, or emotional concerns. By providing a safe and supportive environment, the counselor helps students navigate challenges and develop healthy coping skills.

  • Collaboration with Teachers and Staff:
    Working closely with teachers, the counselor helps create individualized classroom strategies to support student success. Additionally, the counselor collaborates with the J-Lab resource teacher to develop academic plans that make the best use of the school’s resources.

  • Parent Support and Resources:
    The counselor is a resource for parents, providing guidance on academic and emotional concerns, and assisting with referrals as needed. The counselor helps ensure that families are informed and supported in their child’s educational journey.

  • Accommodations for Learning Differences:
    For students with diagnosed learning differences, the counselor prepares and manages accommodations based on assessment data provided by parents. The counselor also supports families through the process of obtaining further testing if necessary.

  • Standardized Testing:
    Each October, students in grades 1–8 take the ITBS (Iowa Test of Basic Skills) and CogAT (Cognitive Abilities Test). The counselor oversees the administration of these tests, communicates results to teachers and parents, and helps interpret the data to track student progress and identify areas for improvement.

  • Academic Progress Monitoring:
    The counselor monitors overall academic progress across the school and provides ongoing updates to parents and staff, helping to ensure that each student is reaching their full potential.

Our school counselor is dedicated to creating a supportive environment where students can thrive both academically and personally. By working with students, parents, and staff, the counselor plays an essential role in fostering a well-rounded and successful educational experience at SJCS.


Guidance at SJCS

At SJCS, our guidance program supports the holistic development of students by addressing their social, emotional, physical, spiritual, and educational growth. Our guidance curriculum is designed to help students develop essential life skills, such as personal and interpersonal communication, conflict resolution, health behaviors, moral values, and career planning.

Elementary School Guidance (PreK–5)

For students in Kindergarten through 5th grade, guidance lessons are taught weekly in the classroom by the classroom teacher. Our comprehensive guidance curriculum, which includes programs like Second Step and Steps to Respect, focuses on building social-emotional skills, teaching conflict resolution strategies, and preventing bullying. These research-based programs are designed to foster positive behavior and help students build strong interpersonal relationships.

The counselor also collaborates with school administrators to organize assemblies and teacher trainings that complement and enhance these weekly lessons, ensuring that guidance concepts are reinforced throughout the school community.

Middle School Guidance (6–8)

For middle school students, our guidance program shifts focus to personal and social development, with the goal of helping students navigate the challenges and transitions of adolescence. We aim to lay the foundation for both personal growth and academic success. Our program is centered on helping students develop self-respect, empathy, and strong interpersonal skills, all of which are key to building positive relationships with peers, teachers, and others in their community.

By focusing on respect for themselves and others, our middle school guidance program seeks to enhance students' social skills and emotional intelligence, empowering them to thrive in both academic settings and social environments.

Overall, the SJCS guidance program helps students develop the skills they need to succeed in school and life, while fostering an inclusive, supportive, and respectful school culture.