Connecting For A Successful School Year

Tuesday, March 1, 2005

Connecting For A Successful School Year (NAPSA)—Ensuring a positive school experience for your child may beeasier if you connect with your child’s school counselor. School counselors make a measurable impact in students’ lives, supporting their academic success, health and personal wellbeing. They also provide a critical communication link between parents and students. However, a recent study by the American School Counselor Association shows that more than onethird of surveyed parents report they have hadlittle or no contact with their child’s school counselor in the past school year. The American School Counselor Association offers five “Back to School” tips to help parents communicate and work with their child’s school counselor to ensure a successful school year: 1. Understand the expertise and responsibilities of your child’s school counselor. Professional school counselors function as a facilitator between parents, teachers and the student in matters concerning the student’s goals, abilities and any areas needing improvement. School counselors not only provide services to students in need, but to all students. 2. Meet or contact your child’s school counselor at least three times a year to ensure yourchild’s positive school experience. At the beginning of a school year, find out who the counselor is and what his or her backgroundis. 3. Diseuss your child’s challenges and concerns with the school counselor. While you know your child best, the school counselor can help you better under- Your child’s school counselor can help you find resources inside and outside the school. stand your child as a student. 4. Learn about your child’s school and social connections from the school counselor. A school counselor can help you get in touch with the appropriate schoolofficials; learn about school policies on behavior, attendance and dress; know the school calendark and stay connected with the school in many other ways. The school counselor can also help you locate resources in the community when you need them. 5. If your child needs help, work with the school counselor to identify resources and find solutions to problems. Discuss resources available within and outside the school and get information on how such programscan benefit your child. Your school counselor can be a valuable partner in your child’s education and preparation for life beyond school. Parents can go to www.School Counselor.org to learn more about the various roles of school counselors and how to work with counselors to promote their children’s school success.

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