To provide an environment that will assist students in becoming positive and self-directed learners.  The guidance program advocates equal academic and career opportunities for all students and provides the support needed to achieve this goal.

Guidance

A Guidance program is available to assist students in assessing educational alternatives, selecting appropriate educational activities, evaluating their progress, making intelligent career choices, and selecting sound courses of action for their lives.

The guidance program at Balboa Academy has access to support personnel and coordinates their intervention as needed.  A school psychologist, school nurse, and other available personnel provide services to students when needed.

School Counselors are a type of helper in your school. We help students problem solving, understanding feelings, making friends and other school and personal problems.

What things do we do?

Councilors will….

• Work with individuals and groups
• Help identify needs of students
• Encourage better interpersonal relationships
• Promote positive attitudes and choices
• Aid teachers and parents in helping students
• Assist people in making use of community resources
• Coordinate efforts with other school programs
• Assist students with the process of growing up
• Coordinate referrals to outside agencies
• Provide “preventive” services
• Maintain confidentiality

Who are School Counselors here for?

Your School Counselors are here for EVERYONE! We are here for every student, every teacher, and every parent, who is part of the Balboa Academy community.

More information about how we help your child at Balboa Academy….

Classroom Guidance

Students from First until forth grade, receive a series of classroom guidance lessons (Affective Education). These lessons are developmentally appropriate for each grade level, and are generally preventative in nature. Our goal is to help empower students with the self-knowledge, coping, and life skills that will enable them to become self-directed learners, clear and effective communicators, collaborative workers, creative problem solvers, and involved, responsible citizens now, and in the future.

Small Group Counseling

We form needs-based groups on a variety of topics throughout the school year. Small groups usually meet in my office. Some typical topic for small groups might include, but are not limited to: new students, friendships, conflict resolution, loss, and family change.

If you would like to see your child participate in a group please feel free to contact acounclor at 211-0035.

Individual Counseling

Counselors work with students individually for a number of problems that they might present, such as friendship issues, difficulty in the classroom, on the playground, or in the bus, conflict resolution, new student orientation, difficulty coming to school, anger management, personal issues, to name a few.

Referrals for students to talk with a school counselor can be made by classroom teachers, by parents, or by the children themselves.

Services Provided at Balboa Academy

The following services are provided through the High School Counselor and other support personnel at Balboa Academy:

Career guidance is provided through the counselor.  Students complete questionnaires to determine their interests and strengths.

Through computer and Internet research, students investigate pertinent information that will aid them on their career quests.

Seniors and juniors attend college fairs during the school year.  Students are encouraged to further document their college alternatives by utilizing Internet resources and timelines.

College counseling and information is provided through the counselor’s office.  Catalogues, SAT and ACT information and preparation materials are also available.

Balboa Academy Guidance program offers students the following services to assist them individually:

Teachers, counselor and psychologist provide tutoring assistance.

At risk the counselor closely monitors students.  Weekly reports are given to parents to maintain communication and information.  Teachers are asked to provide information that will assist the students to improve their academic performance.

The school counselor monitors school grades for all students Students who receive D’s in any subject, are closely monitored. 

Mediation and Conflict Resolution is on going through the elementary and secondary school.  The program is established through teacher, parent or peer request.  Individual counseling is also provided on referral from parents, teachers and peers.

Students whose needs cannot be met by resources available within the school are referred to appropriate agencies for assistance.

Testing and assessment are coordinated through the counselor’s office for middle and high school students. 

College Planning