School Counseling

MISSION

The mission of the School Counseling Department is to provide comprehensive developmental school counseling services for all students. During their time at Canton High School, students will pursue and expand their abilities, interests, and aptitudes. Through their roles as a personal counselor, academic counselor, post-secondary counselor, consultant, and facilitator, the school counseling staff at Canton High School assists students in the process of self-discovery. The school counselors encourage each student to pursue the most appropriately challenging academic program they can handle with success. 

Each student will meet in a seminar once per seven-day cycle for one term of the year. In seminar, school counselors will work with small groups of students to proactively discuss developmentally appropriate issues. Seminars in all grade levels are taught from the Growth Mindset Theory by Carol Dweck. The seminars consist of vertically aligned lesson plans which build upon the middle school curriculum and are divided into three main units: academic, social/emotional and career/college.  Students are encouraged to meet individually with their counselors in addition to these group sessions in order to discuss any academic, social or personal issues.

PREPARATION FOR HIGHER EDUCATION

Those students who plan to attend institutions of higher learning must explore, individually and in seminars, the requirements for admission to the schools of their choice. Students will use Naviance college and career planning software as they navigate this complex process. Generally speaking, both rigor of academic program and quality of achievement are critical factors in admission to schools of higher learning.

The wide array of four-year colleges, two-year colleges, technical colleges, and other formal academic programs differ greatly in their requirements for admission. While most institutions do not adhere specifically to rigid course requirements, many expect a candidate to have successfully completed at least 16-20 college preparatory courses chosen from among English, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, and World Languages. Four-year colleges and universities desire students who challenge themselves but not to the detriment of their academic performance.

Admission requirements for Massachusetts state colleges and universities are set by the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education. Students must complete the aforementioned 16 core courses including a minimum of four years of English, four years of math, three years of social studies (including US History), three years of science (including two laboratory sciences), and two years of a world language. Students must maintain a “B” average in these courses to be considered a strong candidate for admission to in-state public four-year colleges and universities.

Many college representatives visit Canton High School during the school year to meet with interested students. Students must receive permission from teachers in advance to miss class time to meet with a college admissions representative. Students are required to bring a pass signed by their teacher and are responsible for making up any missed work. The dates and times of these visits are posted on the Naviance website and the list of visiting college representatives are emailed to senior students and families the preceding Friday as a reminder for the visits scheduled the following week.

COLLEGE ADMISSIONS TESTING

The SAT is offered seven times each year to students who wish to take this exam. The SAT is an optional test for many colleges and universities throughout the country. The SAT Reasoning Test is a 2.5-hour test consisting of two sections, evidence-based reading and writing, and mathematics. Registration materials for these exams are available online at www.collegeboard.org. ACT is another college entrance exam that is accepted by all colleges and universities in lieu of the SAT. This test consists of English, reading, math, and science sections with an optional writing section. More information and registration materials are available at www.act.org. In October on a school day, the Pre-ACT is offered to sophomores and The Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) is offered to juniors as opportunities to take a practice college admissions test. The SAT is also offered on a school day twice per academic year, once in the fall and again each spring. Canton High School’s CEEB school code is 220-545

All students will meet with their school counselor in small groups once per cycle for one term; freshmen and seniors meet first term, sophomores and juniors meet third term. These seminars are designed to address the developmental needs of adolescents, maximize their learning experiences and help them plan for the future.

SCHOOL COUNSELING SEMINAR

Course Name: 9th Grade Seminar

Course # 961

Level: Unleveled

Grade Level: 9

Credits: .5

The primary focus of the program is the orientation of ninth graders to Canton High School. Students meet during the first term to become familiar with their new school and to get to know each other and to understand the role of school counselors at Canton High School.  Counselors review the student handbook, the program of studies, and other materials to help them understand the procedures, rules, regulations, the general high school program, and services and opportunities. In addition, students learn about student and teacher expectations, study skills, and other topics of importance to ninth graders.

Course Name: 10th Grade Seminar

Course # 962

Level: Unleveled

Grade Level: 10

Credits: .5

This third term program focuses on decision-making skills and self-assessment. Students use the “Do What You Are” feature of the school counseling department’s Naviance software package to explore personality types, career interests, and possible college selections. In addition, students assess their academic and extracurricular participation and progress, their strengths and weaknesses, and begin discussion of the variety of post-secondary options available. Students will also learn about the purpose and schedule of the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System.

Course Name: 11th Grade Seminar

Course # 963

Level: Unleveled   

Grade Level: 11

Credits: .5

This third term program focuses on post-high school planning with particular emphasis on the college search process. Through a systematic approach, students come to understand what they are looking for in a college as well as what colleges look for in applicants. Students learn how to determine which colleges are an academic fit and to understand the importance of investigating colleges with a wide range of selectivity. Techniques for investigation, tours, interviews, and narrowing down one’s list of colleges are also discussed so that students are prepared to make the best use of the summer for continuing their research. Students enrolled in Career Planning do not take 11th Grade Seminar.

Course Name: 12th Grade Seminar

Course # 964

Level:Unleveled

Grade Level: 12

Credits: .5

In the first term of the year, students planning to attend college after high school review and revise their previous choices and finalize their plans. In addition to refining their list of schools, students will learn about their own and their counselor’s responsibilities in the application process, and they will discuss interviews, essays, and application preparation. Lastly, students will gain an understanding of the financial aid process. Students who wish to pursue options other than four-year colleges upon graduation will be able to explore different careers, trade schools, and community college opportunities to reach their long-term personal goals.

CAREER EDUCATION

Course Name: Career Planning

Course # 920

Level: CP

Grade Level: 11-12

Credits: 3

This course will help students develop their personal career strategies and find the appropriate college/work path. Students will gain an understanding through self-assessment and career exploration. The curriculum offers a variety of evaluative activities that will assist in researching careers and higher education options. The students will also develop skills and competencies including preparing a resume, writing a cover letter, filling out an application, and developing interviewing techniques. In addition, students will have the opportunity to search for the college, university, or technical school that best meets their career goals as well as prospective scholarship information.