Loudoun County Public School Counselors

Helping Students Succeed in School

 Counselors Help Students Learn  

• Each school of Loudoun County Public Schools has a school counseling program. Licensed counselors are responsible for the organization and management of guidance programs in the schools.
• Counselors work with students, parents, teachers, and administrators to help students succeed in school and prepare for meaningful, productive living. Guidance programs are child – centered, developmental, and preventive, and also encourage students’ academic, social/emotional, and career awareness at each stage of their development.
• Guidance services are inclusive and respectful of differences in gender, religion, ethnicity, race, ability, handicapping condition, and age.

What Does a School Counselor Do?

• Provides systematic and developmental classroom guidance to all students
• Counsels with students individually and/or in groups with signed parental permission
• Responds to student needs in crisis situations
• Orients students to a new school settings
• Participates actively in the referral process of students to special programs and/or services
• Analyzes test results to provide information about abilities, achievement, interests and needs
• Coordinates efforts with other school specialists
• Conducts conferences with parents
• Facilitates parent discussion groups
• Adheres to ethical and legal standards

Why Do Parents Contact a School Counselor?

• Academic achievemnt
• New school registration, orientation, and transition
• Test interpretation
• Special needs of students
• Student crisis situations
• Family transitions
• Higher education issues

What Are the Objectives of the School Counseling Program?

All elementary school counselors in Loudoun County are required to teach the following objectives from the three major domains: academic development, career development and personal/social development from the “Standards for School Counseling Programs in Virginia Public Schools”

Kindergarten

Academic

• Understand the expectations of the educational environment
• Use appropriate communication skills to ask for help when needed
• Work cooperatively in small and large groups towards a common goal

Career

• Demonstrate goal setting

Personal /Social

• Demonstrate good manners and respectful behavior towards others

First Grade

Academic

• Understand the importance of individual effort, hard work, and persistence
• Use appropriate communication skills to ask for help when needed
• Work cooperatively in small and large groups towards a common goal

Career

• Understand the concept of job and career
• Understand the importance of teamwork in working towards a common goal

Personal/Social

• Understand how to make and keep friends and work cooperatively with others
• Identify resource people in the school and community and understand how to seek their help

Second Grade

Academic

• Demonstrate individual initiative and positive interest in learning
• Use appropriate communication skills to ask for help when needed
• Work cooperatively in small and large groups towards a common goal.

Career

• Understand that behaviors such as punctuality, courtesy, proper dress and proper language are essential to current and future success.

Personal/Social

• Exhibit the principal of charter, including honesty, trustworthiness, respect for the rights and property of others, respect for rules and laws, taking responsibility for own actions, fairness, caring and citizenship

Third Grade

Academic

• Use appropriate communication skills to ask for help when needed
• Work cooperatively in small and large groups towards a common goal

Career

• Understand the relationship of individual effort, hard work and persistence to achievement

Personal/Social

• Understand that American are one people of many diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds and national origins who are united as Americans by common customs and traditions

• Understand the importance of short-term and long-term goals

Fourth Grade

Academic

• Demonstrate time management and organizational skills
• Apply study skills necessary for academic achievement

Career

• Recognize the benefits of both individual initiative and teamwork
• Identify hobbies and interests

Personal/Social

• Understand decision making and problem-solving strategies

Fifth Grade

Academic

• Recognize personal strengths and weaknesses related to learning
• Understand the choices, options and requirements of the middle school environment

Career

• Recognize that the changing workplace requires lifelong learning
• Identify career choices through exploration

Personal /Social

• Understand change as a part of growth
• Identify the emotional and physical dangers of substance use and abuse
• Use strategies for managing peer pressure