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School Guidance/Counseling Program Overview
Virginia Beach City Public Schools offers a comprehensive K-12 school
counseling program that is an integral part of each school's total
educational program designed to promote the academic, social, and career
development of all students. As an essential part of the instructional
program, school counseling helps to build a foundation for student learning
and academic success.
Program Design
The division has adapted the American School Counselor Association (ASCA)
National model as the framework for developing a school counseling program
because the model emphasizes a comprehensive and developmental approach for
implementing a school counseling program. The concepts of student advocacy,
leadership, collaboration, and systemic change are infused throughout the
school counseling program.
All schools are required to have a Guidance Advisory Council to inform all
stakeholders about the school counseling program. This council is comprised
of representatives from the school and community that include students,
parents, administrators, faculty, businesses, universities, and other local
agencies.
Program Goals
Student goals and Myrick's (1997) principle for developing counseling
programs provide the basis of Virginia Beach Public City Public Schools'
guidance program. These goals are:
Understanding the school environment
School success skills
Career awareness and educational planning
Understanding self and others
Understanding attitudes and behaviors
Decision making and problem solving
Interpersonal and communication skills
Community pride and involvement
Program Components
Our comprehensive school counseling programs are developmentally designed to
serve all students and include the following services:
Counseling Services
Individual
Group
Preventive or Remedial
Crisis Intervention
Referrals from students (self), parents , teachers, or others
Classroom Guidance Services
Academic Planning
Career Awareness
Decision making
Personal/Social Development Skills
Consultation Services
Parents
Teachers
Administrators
Community Agencies
Coordination
Registration of New Students
Course Selection
Student Records
Testing Program (counselor's role may vary by school)
Orientation Programs
Peer Facilitator Programs
Special Programs
Referrals to community agencies
College and Career Information
College application process ( SAT/PSAT, Financial Aid, Scholarships,
Transcripts)
Career/Vocational preparation
Parent Workshops
Presentations
Military (deployment, support, transitioning)
Frequently Asked Questions
The following questions and answers are intended to serve as a parent
resource for services available through your child's school counseling
program. If you have a question that is not included in this list, please
contact your child's guidance office.
How do I receive a copy of my child's transcript?
Please contact your child's school counselor. Procedures vary from school to
school.
How will my child be assigned a school counselor?
At the secondary level counselors are assigned either by student's last name
or grade level. Parents should contact their child's school to see how
counselors are assigned.
Who should I talk to if I think my child's grade is unfair?
Parents first should contact the teacher to determine how the grade was
calculated. If a parent is not satisfied with the teacher's explanation, the
parent then should contact the school's principal.
I am going through a divorce. What can I do to help my child get through
this?
A parent may want to contact the child's school counselor so that the
counselor may monitor the student's academic progress. Also the parent
should check with the school counselor to see what type of individual and
group counseling services are available to assist the student during this
difficult period.
My family and I will soon be moving into the area. How can I assure a smooth
transition into this school system for my child?
If you are moving into the area and will be registering your child for
school it is important to have the proper records for registration such as
immunization records, most recent report cards, and proof of residency for
the school you plan to enroll your child. At the start of the registration
process, please alert the school counselor to any problems that may have
impeded progress in the past or other concerns that you may have regarding
the transition process to a new school. Also, it is a good idea to take a
tour of the school with your child and participate in any new student
orientation program that is available at the school. You may contact the
school's guidance office to make an appointment.
How do I register my child for school?
If you are new to our community, we welcome you and your family to Virginia
Beach and look forward to enrolling your child or children into a school
division ahead of the curve. Detailed information and requirements for
student registration are available for all new students and their parents.
Who should I talk to if I think that my child needs extra help in school?
Parents are always encouraged to talk with teachers about any difficulties
that a student may have with a class to determine weaknesses and problem
areas. After talking with the teacher, parents then may want to schedule a
meeting with the school counselor to see what services are available that
will best address academic problems.
How can I best communicate with teachers and school counselors so I am a
partner in my child's services?
Parents are always encouraged to communicate with teachers about their
child's progress. This can be done by participating in back-to-school and
orientation programs scheduled at each school, arranging a meeting with all
of your child's teachers and school counselor to monitor progress, e-
mailing, as well as telephone conferences. If your child's school offers a
tracker or journal notebook for student assignments, check it daily for
messages from teachers.
How do I set up a parent conference with a school counselor?
Parents are asked to call the guidance office at their child's school to
schedule a conference with their school counselor.
Can I request a progress report between grading periods?
Parents should contact the student's school counselor to determine how to
best monitor a student's progress between grading periods.
As a parent, how do I request counseling for my child?
Parents may contact the school school counselor to request counseling to
guide students to more productive actions at school and home and to assist
students in problem solving. Counselors at all levels are trained to assist
students with complex problems that may impact their academic, social, and
personal development. Please note that school counselors are not trained for
issues that require therapeutic or clinical interventions and/or strategies.
How can I volunteer at my child's school?
he PTA at each school offers a Volunteers-in-Education (VIE) program and
coordinates the largest number of volunteers to our schools (more than
13,000). Seniors and retired citizens are encouraged to volunteer through
the Golden Circle Program . VBCPS volunteers expand and enrich activities
for students and staff by serving as tutors, mentors, classroom, office, and
library assistants and as participants on curriculum committees and school
planning councils. To volunteer, contact your neighborhood school or the
Partnership Office at 757.263.1337 or melissa.mcquarrie@vbschools.com.
I understand schools offer parent/student workshops. Do they vary from
school to school? How are parents/students notified?
Our schools offer parent/student workshops throughout the year. Because
workshops are based on the type of issues or topics that may impact a
specific school community, workshops vary from school to school. To find out
what programs are offered through your child's school counselor, parents are
encouraged to read monthly school newsletters, visit their school Web site,
and/or contact their school guidance staff.
How can I find out about scholarships and financial aid for my college-bound
child?
Virginia Beach City Public Schools offers a scholarship-find service through
Scholarship Central – an online resource that locates various scholarships
for high school students. Our high school counselors are working together,
as a team, to provide and direct all to scholarship opportunities for
proprietary schools, colleges, and universities. The class of 2006 was
awarded $22,129,535 in scholarships as reported by graduating seniors to
high school counseling offices. Parents and students are encouraged to talk
with your child's school counselor and/or the ACCESS advisor at each high
school about scholarship opportunities and financial assistance for post
secondary education.
Who should I contact to discuss my child's schedule change?
Parents should contact your child's school counselor to discuss reasons that
a student's schedule may need to be changed. Schedules changes are usually
done only for academic reasons, such as a student was scheduled for an
incorrect course, or did not successfully complete a prerequisite for a
course.
How can I determine if my child is meeting all graduation requirements?
Parents of rising ninth graders have an opportunity to work with their
child's middle school counselor in developing a four year academic plan for
high school that will include graduation requirements for each diploma
option. Once in high school the program plan is reviewed and updated each
year to reflect the needs of the student based on the diploma option.
Parents will also need to work very closely with your child's high school
counselor to ensure that students are meeting graduation requirements for
verified credits.
Specific graduation requirements for the Standard Diploma, Advanced Studies
Diploma, Special Diploma, and Modified Standard Diploma are available on our
Web site. The Virginia Department of Education published the brochure
Virginia Graduation Requirements 2007 and Beyond to help high school
students understand diploma requirements that apply to the graduation
classes of 2007 and beyond.
My child wishes to drop out of school against my wishes. Who should I speak
with?
The first person the parent should contact is their child’s school counselor
to decide on an appropriate course of action to keep students enrolled in
school. The school counselor, the student and the parent can review the
student's academic profile and provide the student with information on
available programs within the school, provide additional resources to the
parent, or refer the student to alternative programs if necessary. If the
parent wishes to speak to an additional staff to gain more information about
compulsory attendance laws, the person can contact the Office of Student
Leadership at 757.263.2033.
How can I make arrangements to home-school my child? What is the oversight
provided by Virginia Beach City Public Schools?
In order to provide home instruction, the parent must send in a Notice of
Intent to Provide Home Instruction to the Office of Student Services. On
the form, the parent must indicate how he/she is eligible to provide home
instruction and provide documentation to support the eligibility. The parent
needs to submit the intent form to the Office of Student Services before
he/she begins home instruction.
The Office of Student Services is responsible for reviewing the Notice of
Intent to Provide Home Instruction to determine if it complies with the Code
of Virginia. In addition, the Office of Student Services reviews the
evidence of achievement that the parents submit each year to determine if
the evidence of achievement complies with the Code of Virginia.
The Office of Student Services 757.263.2033 is also available to answer any
questions the parent may have regarding home instruction.
If my child is interested in joining a club or becoming involved with their
school, what should they do?
All students are welcomed and encouraged to participate in extra-curricular
activities. Students need to listen for club announcements regarding
meetings. Students are always encouraged to participate in clubs that are
related to courses that they are enrolled. A good place to start is with the
school's Student Activities Coordinators (middle and high school) or SCA
sponsor (elementary school.)
How do I register my child for SAT's or ACT's?
Registration information for any college admission test is available in all
high school guidance offices and on our Web site. Parents should contact
their child's school counselor for information regarding a specific test or
visit the college board website at: http://www.collegeboard.com or ACT
website at http://www.act.org
My child enrolled in high school is interested in continuing on to college.
How can I find out about the many college options and opportunities? Each
year there is a division-wide College Night at the Virginia Beach Convention
Center. Please contact your school's guidance counselor for dates and times.
As a high school parent, how am I notified of my child's GPA and class rank?
Parents are encouraged to work with their child's school counselor to
receive information about your child's GPA. GPA information may be obtained
by requesting a copy of your child's high school transcript from the
guidance office. Class ranking is not available until the senior year and
may change throughout the senior year. Therefore, the final class rank is
not determined until the end of last grading period of the senior year.
Does the school system offer funded testing designed to measure student
interest/aptitude for certain career fields?
Parents may work with their child's school counselor to see what type of
interest/aptitude inventory may be administered to access career interest.
Most high schools offer the ASVB, Career Scope, and Kuder to determine a
student's interest/aptitude at no cost.
As a parent, how do I request student records for my child that is currently
enrolled in Virginia Beach City Public Schools?
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords parents and
students over 18 years of age ("eligible students") certain rights with
respect to the student's education records. Parents of students who are
under eighteen years of age (or eligible students) may obtain copies of
education and/or health records directly from the school where their child
is currently enrolled. There is a minimal fee to obtain student records.
However, there is never a fee charged to obtain a copy of a student’s
Individualized Education Program (IEP).
When parents are divorced or separated, the principal (or appropriate school
official) shall give full rights to either parent, unless the school has
been provided with evidence that there is a court order, or legally binding
document relating to such matters as divorce, separation, or custody that
specifically revokes these rights.
A stepparent has the same rights under FERPA as natural parents, provided
that the stepparent is present on a day-to-day basis with the natural parent
and child, and the other parent is absent from the home. A stepparent who is
not present on a day-to-day basis in the home of the child, does not have
rights under FERPA with respect to the child’s scholastic records.
As a former Virginia Beach City Public Schools’ student, how can I obtain
copy of my transcript?
To request a copy of your school transcript, SAT scores, or immunization
record, please be advised that your records may no longer be housed at the
last Virginia Beach school attended. Generally, the elementary and middle
schools keep student records a minimum of two years and a maximum of five
years, whereas the high schools maintain their records for only two to three
years. Former students, or parents/guardians of students who are under the
age of eighteen, are required to complete, sign and date the Records Release
Form for Former Students .
There is a $3.00 fee per document, and requests will be processed within 15
working days upon receipt of a completed and signed records release form and
payment. Payment is by check or money order only. No credit or debit cards
are accepted. Payment must accompany the Records Release Form and can be
mailed to the address listed on the form. It is imperative that the
information submitted is accurate and legible. Your request will stay on
file with the Office of Guidance Services and Student Records for five
months. If you have any questions regarding student records, or would like a
Records Release Form mailed directly to you, please e-mail
linda.links@vbschools.com or call 757.493.5429 between the hours of 8:00
a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Monday thru Friday. The Student Records Office is not open
on Saturday or Sunday. You may leave a voice message at 757.493.5429, and
your call will be returned as soon as possible.
I am a graduate of Virginia Beach City Public Schools in need of a copy of
my high school diploma. Who should I contact?
Graduates of Virginia Beach City Public Schools needing to order a duplicate
or replacement high school diploma should contact JOSTEN’S directly at
757.366.9644. The cost for a duplicate or replacement diploma is $3.55.
Please allow eight to ten weeks for delivery.
How can I obtain a copy of my GED Certificate?
Persons who have taken and successfully completed the GED program through
Virginia Beach City Public Schools' Adult Learning Center can request a copy
of their GED through one of the following methods:
E-mail:
joyce.lovitt@vbschools.com
U.S. Mail:
Adult Learning Center
Virginia Beach City Public Schools
4160 Virginia Beach Boulevard
Virginia Beach, VA 23452
Telephone: 757.306.0991
Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.,
Monday through Thursday, 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
The Adult Learning Center also furnishes general information brochures for
those persons seeking to enroll in the General Educational Development
Program.
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