IX. COUNSELING AND GUIDANCE
The Counseling and Guidance Department is designed to provide services to meet the unique needs of each member of the student body. Each student is assigned a counselor during each year of enrollment at St. Ignatius.
COLLEGE COUNSELING’S STATEMENT OF PRINCIPLES AND GOOD PRACTICE
St. Ignatius College Prep supports the National Association for College Admission Counseling’s Statement of Principles and Good Practice. Therefore, the school will, when it deems appropriate, notify colleges of any notable changes in students’ academic or personal status including but not limited to, a significant drop in grades, disqualifications, suspension and/or expulsion. Two-day suspensions will be reported to colleges and universities on the student’s transcript. Students and counselors are expected to respond truthfully regarding disciplinary infractions. Such reporting occurs at the time the application is submitted, while the application is being reviewed, and/or after the admission decision had been made. The school will work closely with students in reporting these matters to colleges.
Counselor assignments are noted on the student's schedule, and cannot be changed.
St. Ignatius makes a heavy commitment of time and resources to student counseling. Students who make regular use of the resources available through the counseling department normally find their high school and college performance measurably enhanced.
College Guidance
Education on the college admissions process for students and parents begins freshman year. Beginning first semester junior year and throughout senior year, the Counseling Department provides services to help students apply to colleges and financial aid programs that are particularly suitable to their interests. Through a variety of classroom meetings, college visitors, evening programs and individual guidance, students are assisted through the college admissions cycle. Although lower division students cannot begin application procedures for college, they should conscientiously apply themselves to their studies and plan their coursework in a way, which increases the probability that they will be accepted by colleges of their choosing.
College Resource Center
The College Resource Center provides students with information about a wide array of colleges and majors. It is open each day and staffed with aides who can help students learn to use available resources.
Learning Disabilities Counselor
All students with documented learning disabilities will be assigned to the Learning Specialist, who is a member of the Counseling Department. The Learning Specialist at St. Ignatius College Preparatory is dedicated to serving those students who meet the admissions criteria and who are documented as needing academic accommodations while attending St. Ignatius. The goals are to promote equal access, empowerment, support, and education for individuals with disabilities. to the Learning Specialist provides resources, advocacy, and communication throughout the school community. The Learning Specialist recognizes individual differences and strives to assist the student with these differences. Ultimately, the goal is to challenge those individuals served to reach beyond their boundaries and gain compensatory skills that will enable them to overcome the rigors of a college preparatory curriculum and beyond.
Documented Learning Disabled students will be allowed extra time on all tests and quizzes. The Learning Specialist shall coordinate the administration of these extra time length tests.
Academic Support Center
The Academic Support Center is open to any and all SI students in need of academic assistance. The program director oversees the center’s various resources, including: one-on-one CSF peer tutoring, study skills workshops for freshmen, faculty tutoring, Monday through Thursday before-and-after school study hall, online paper editing assistance, and one-on-one peer mentoring with at-risk students and the Peer Assistance program.
Students on academic probation are mandated by school policy to attend at least two study hall sessions per week. However, any and all students needing academic support and/or quiet study space are encouraged to attend. Teachers may refer students to study hall or to any of the ASC’s available programs.
In addition to coordinating the ASC’s programs, the ASC director is available to assist students one-on-one with time management, organization, and general study skills. The ASC director assists and encourages students to be self-advocating and self-determining individuals.
Tutoring
Tutoring is available for all St. Ignatius students before and after school, Monday through Thursday, and during 4th and 5th lunch periods. Students should check with their counselors for times and locations. Private tutors are not allowed on campus.
Athletic Advisor
The Athletic Advisor is responsible for advising and guiding the student-athlete and his or her parents through the college admissions process. The Athletic Advisor works in close collaboration with the Counseling Department and the Athletic Department
Confidentiality Policy
There are four instances in which a counselor and/or teacher is legally bound to inform a parent and/or authority with information given during a counseling session: 1) when a student indicates he or she is going to physically harm himself or herself or jeopardize his or her life; 2) when a student indicates he or she is going to physically harm another or jeopardize another’s life or has knowledge that another’s well–being is threatened; 3) when a student indicates he or she is being sexually, physically and/or emotionally abused; 4) when a student indicates he or she has committed a felony (i.e., selling drugs, stealing a car, etc.).
Adults (teachers, counselors moderators, coaches, secretaries, trainers) in the St. Ignatius community who are aware of an alleged infraction of a school policy have a responsibility to report the information.
Parent/Teacher Conferences
Frequently parents wish to speak with teachers individually to discuss their child’s progress. Counselors are most willing to contact teachers and to provide them with any additional information, which may be pertinent. To make teacher appointments, parents should contact their child’s counselor who will see the teacher involved. The teacher will then phone the parent the following day and make arrangements for a telephone conference or an office appointment.
Pregnancy Policy
Any student who becomes pregnant will be permitted to remain a student with good standing at St. Ignatius and to continue on-campus instruction as medically advisable. A pregnant student must advise a counselor or administrator of her condition in order to make appropriate arrangements. In no instances does St. Ignatius College Preparatory consider elective abortion an acceptable option.
Seeing Your Counselor
Counselors generally see students when grades or other factors indicate that a student may be experiencing unusual difficulty. However, no counselor can read minds, and it is the responsibility of the student to make an appointment with his or her counselor when circumstances arise which require an appointment. Your counselor will meet with you as soon as possible.
The Principal of St. Ignatius College Preparatory reserves the right to amend the Student/Parent Handbook at any time without prior notice.