Academic Counseling
When students choose their courses for the following year, they discuss the choices with their counselor who may make suggestions in light of the students expressed goals. In addition, when a student is experiencing difficulty with a particular subject or instructor he should contact his counselor. A meeting may be recommended by the faculty member, parent or the counselor.
Educational and Career Planning
Information on hundreds of career and educational institutions is available in the Center. A computer program is also available to each student. This program begins with a personality test that will then be used to discuss personal strengths and interests and how these may be matched to colleges and careers. Students are encouraged to make use of the various resources in the Center and are encouraged to talk with their counselor concerning their educational plans and career options. While the counselors will talk with each student concerning their goals at regular intervals, the students are always encouraged to initiate these meetings and to make use of the resources as often as needed.
Personal Counseling
Many times there are issues not directly related to education that provide an obstacle to success at school. Some of these may include: personal problems, issues involving things such as home life, friends, substance abuse, human sexuality, or any number of other things. Students should feel free to discuss problems of this nature with any of the counselors.
Confidentiality is an important aspect of the relationship the student and counselor develop in the areas of personal life and its possible problems. The counselor will maintain this confidentiality unless the fear of injury to the student or to others becomes real. In these cases the counselor will discreetly assist the student in a manner which will protect all those involved regardless of confidentiality rules that apply in other situations.
Standardized Testing and Interpretation of Results
The Counseling Center administers batteries of aptitude, achievement and interest surveys in order to help students plan their futures on the basis of proven competency and ability.
Student Record Keeping
The official educational data on every student is maintained in perpetuity in the Counseling Center. This includes identifying data, birth date, final grades for academic work completed, standardized test results and attendance data. To ensure the privacy of a student and his family, written authorization is required from either the student himself if he has reached 18 years of age or from his parent/guardian for release of information to any other interested parties. Parents may request the release of transcripts to college
coaches in order to complete applications for college athletic scholarships. A file is maintained recording the name and title of anyone requesting student information from school records. The date that this information is sought is also recorded. Faculty members have access to the records of those students in his/her classes. Parents may view their sons records by requesting an appointment with his counselor. The transcript on each student will be completed by July 31 of each year.
Tutoring
The Counselors work with the National Honors Society students each year to develop a list of NHS student tutors who are available to meet with students who want tutoring during the school day. NHS students meet to tutor other students in room 511, every period of the day. Students should see their Counselor for further information.
Parents should be aware that when a student is first experiencing trouble with a subject, the teacher should be contacted, either by the parent or student. All teachers are available either before or after school at certain times during the week to tutor students in the subject they teach.
Tutoring is available outside the school from various organizations and companies. We do not specifically recommend any outside group, but we do have some names of DeMatha alumni who are tutoring current students successfully. Seethe Counselors for further information.
Extended Time for PSAT, SAT and ACT
The College Board requires that any student asking for extended time on the PSAT or SAT have their SSD forms completed and approved about 6 weeks before the test date. Regulations for extended time on the ACT are similar. Please see Mrs. Ritz to obtain the SSD forms. Note that the College Board will not approve any requests for extended time unless the student has been tested and found with a medical and/or psychological diagnosis, documented and dated in the past few years, that would warrant extended time.
Extended Time at DeMatha
If a student feels that extended time on a subject test during the normal school day would be helpful, arrangements need to be made with the teacher of that subject before the day of the test. If you need assistance with this, please contact your Counselor.