School Counseling Department

Counseling Department Philosophy

The Counseling Department at Hanover High School is committed to the belief that students can be trusted to make important decisions about managing their school lives. By approaching students with trust and dignity and giving them the freedom to make significant decisions, they learn to act responsibly and maturely. Along with parents, other school personnel and the community, our goal is to enable each student to reach a high level of self-understanding, self-direction and learning.

The school counselor assists students as they face new problems such as adjusting to the high school community, finding their place as students, and making post-secondary decisions. The school counselor strives to help students reach their potential as students, as individuals and as citizens.

Counseling Department: Who We Are

The Counseling Department has four full-time counselors and one part-time counselors. Students are assigned to a counselor, who will be listed on the student’s course schedule.

Andrea Johnstone, Director

Tom Eberhardt

Laurie Harrington

Elizabeth Keene

Joseph Stallsmith

Stacey Smith, Registrar

Alison Rose, Counseling Secretary

Student Assistance Counselor

Chris Seibel is the Student Assistant Counselor. Chris is full time and works with the Counseling Department. He is licensed as both a Clinical Mental Health Counselor and a Drug and Alcohol Counselor. He is available to meet with students and families around personal concerns affecting school performances as well as make referrals to other community resources. He also meets with students who are seeking support in their decision not to use alcohol and drugs. He is available through appointments or on a drop in basis.

Counseling Services: What We Do

Counseling services are available to students, parents, and faculty both through structured programs and on an as-needed basis. All students and parents are encouraged to meet with their counselor when the need arises. Counseling services include assistance in designing meaningful academic programs, dealing with personal and interpersonal concerns, exploring and developing career plans, and planning for college and work.

Ninth graders meet with counselors in the fall to learn about Counseling services and to discuss concerns or questions about high school. Sophomores meet with their counselors during the fall and winter to learn about career opportunities, career decision making, standardized testing, and junior and senior year school opportunities. Juniors meet in the spring for college and post high school planning. Seniors meet in the fall to go over college and future plans. The department organizes an orientation for new students, works with middle schools to facilitate the transition to high school and assists with career and college planning and course registration and selection.

Counseling Department: How We Work

Teachers, parents, and administrators frequently refer individual students with academic or personal difficulties to a counselor. Counselors regularly review academic progress, and students in academic difficulty are invited to meet with their counselor to discuss problems and potential resolutions. Staffings with teachers, parents, and students are arranged when needed. A staffing is an opportunity for teachers and parents to share concerns and determine appropriate courses of action.

Counselors are available on a drop-in basis and/or by appointment. Counselors meet with students and families around academic concerns, post high school planning, and personal issues. Counselors respond to individual students in crisis as well as situations affecting the entire school.

Counseling services are based on the three tenets:

1. Talking to a counselor is voluntary.

2. Except in cases of personal safety, what a student says is confidential.

3. The responsibility for solving a problem belongs to the student.

Some Counseling Department Specifics

Records and Transcripts

A cumulative record file is maintained in the Counseling office for each student. Students may request to have records in this file sent to schools, colleges, and organizations of their choice. These records are open to review by students and parents upon arrangement with the Counseling office.

Counseling Resources

The College and Career Center has a library of college and career reference materials, college catalogues, summer and travel opportunities, alternative education programs, Career and College exploration books and computer programs, video viewbooks, scholarship and financial aid information, and computer resources.

Naviance, a web based Career and College Planning program is available to high school students in grades 10-12. Usually introduced to students in 10th grade, students will register with a Counselor and obtain a username and password to access the Naviance program.

Choosing Courses

Students choose courses with the advice of teachers and counselors. The Counseling Department attempts to tailor students’ programs to individual needs, desires, and aspirations. Parents participate in this process by approving course choices. Registration for the following year takes place in February and March. Students usually receive a final course schedule in June.

Report Cards

At the end of each quarter report cards are posted on the student’s portal. Various school publications indicate report card dates, and the school places a notice in the Principal’s Weekly email.

Counseling Department: How to Reach Us

Please call the Counseling Department Secretary at 643-3431, extension 2106. Counselors make every effort to return phone calls in a timely fashion. Be sure to state if your question or concern is an emergency. Or, you may e-mail us at (counselor) first name. (counselor) last name@hanovernorwichschools.org.

Note: Particularly busy times for counselors are at the beginning of each semester when students are making course and schedule changes, and just prior to November 1, November 15, and December break as we are processing many college applications. We ask for your understanding if it takes us a little longer to return your call or to respond to your email.

Student & Parent Portal Info

Portal Information

HHS has a student grade portal available to students and parents that will allow students and parents to see a snapshot of student grades. Although, student learning encompasses far more than can be expressed on a portal update or report card, it is hoped that the information provided by the portal will strengthen communication among students, parents and teachers. The portal gives students an opportunity to improve as independent learners who are responsible for their own education. Grades are recorded in a way that best reflects their program and they update their grades every two weeks. The grades on the portal are only a snapshot of a student’s current grades. There may be factors such as category weighting and participation that may affect the final grade calculation at the end of each grading period.

For portal access information contact 643-3431 ext. 2511.