HMS Counseling Program
School counseling services can contribute to the personal growth, educational development, and emotional well-being of students. Research suggests that counseling services can have long-term effects on a child's well-being, prevent a student from turning to violence and improve a student's academic achievement. Below is information on some aspects of our comprehensive program.
Our Department's Mission and Vision
Mission
Our mission is to provide a comprehensive, developmental school counseling program addressing the academic, career, personal and social development of all students. In partnership with students, staff, family, community, and workforce; we strive to prepare students to become effective lifelong learners and leaders, achieve success in school, live successful rewarding lives, and develop into contributing members of society.
Vision
Our vision is to provide developmentally appropriate counseling services for all students; so that; they become successful leaders recognizing and achieving to their fullest potential in all areas of life.
Types of Services We Provide
Direct Services
In-person interactions between school counselors and students, including:
School Counseling Core Curriculum
Individual Student Planning
Responsive Services
Indirect Services
Provided on behalf of students as a result of the school counselors' interactions with others, including:
Referrals
Collaboration
Consultation
Career Exploration
ALL Students will be exploring careers throughout the school year. They will...
Use computer based programs in SchooLinks and SCOIS
Complete Career Related modules through Everfi
Attend a Career Fair Field Trip (7th Grade Only)
Attend a field trip to Golden Strip Career Center (8th grade only)
To view your child's career cluster interests and other assignments that they have completed through SchooLinks, students can log into their BACKPACK account through the District Portal. (For a quick link, click on that word "backpack.")
(Note: Your student's username and password are the same as their e-mail's username and password.)
SchooLinks
SchooLinks is a comprehensive K-12 college and career readiness solution that helps districts and schools align student strengths and interests to postsecondary goals, improving student outcomes and connecting learning to life. This is the 2nd year that SchooLinks is being used. Your student's SchooLinks account will follow them through high school.
How do students access SchooLinks?
Students get to SchooLinks by going to their Backpack. Log into the Backpack with the regular district username and password. Once in the Backpack, click on the last icon on the bottom left called "Graduation." There will be a direct link to the student's personal SchooLinks profile.
When will someone show me how to use this?
6th-8th grade students will be doing lessons throughout the school year with their counselor and through PAWS Time. 8th graders will also participate in Individualized Graduation Plan meetings with their school counselor and parents. During this meeting the students and parents will explore SchooLinks and look at their individual SchooLinks profiles. Students are welcome to start exploring and using SchooLinks on their own whenever they want!
Finding Your Why...
There are 6 larger career pathways, that 16 clusters are connected to.
A career cluster is a group of careers that share common features. The clusters are used as an organizational tool that helps you find the role that suits your skills and interests.
Counseling Advisory Committee
This committee, consist of the school counselors, staff, parents, business partners and community representatives who all have a vested interest in ensuring that the school counseling program positively impacts students success. The members of the Counseling Advisory Committee serve from one to three years. This ensures that there are always experienced members serving. This committee provides input into the school counseling program, makes recommendations for improvements where necessary, and monitors the effectiveness of current initiatives. The committee works to align the goals of the Greenville County School District goals with the counseling goals of the school which are based upon the needs of our students. These needs are gathered in the form of data collected from a variety of sources including the students themselves.
In order to best meet the social and emotional needs of students, this committee is presented with a variety of school-wide data in order to make a determination of which areas may have the greatest impact on student social and emotional development. Areas that do not meet this criterion are referred to the School Improvement Council for further discussion.
The advisory committee is made up of a diverse group of parents who have children in a variety of different grade levels throughout the school. They provide a voice and input for support that parents and students may need to enhance their academic, social, emotional, and future success. Administrators also participate in this committee by providing vital data about the schools yearly student progress, as well as areas of improvement. Community leaders who represent local business and organizations are part of this committee as well. Their role is to provide input on what they see as community needs, as well as promote counseling and educational programs that will have a direct impact on past, present and future students at Hillcrest Middle. Teachers play an integral role. One teacher from each grade level serves on the committee. Their input is critical to shaping the counseling program from the ground up, as well as ensuring that the counseling programs meet the development needs of the students.
The responsibilities of this committee include:
Assessing the school counseling program effectiveness throughout the school year
Recommending priorities within the counseling plan based on the data presented
Providing positive public relations to the community regarding the counseling department
Collaborating efforts of the counseling program with those of the Parent Teacher Association (PTA), School Improvement Council (SIC), school board and community
Communicating identified needs for staff development
Assisting staff in developing, administering and analyzing the needs of students, teachers and parents as they relate to the counseling program
Enlisting parents as volunteers, where appropriate, in the counseling program
Establishing, maintaining and updating the parent information resource center and parent resource library
Aiding in the planning and conducting school-wide counseling events
Supporting continuous improvements in counseling services
References
"Home - American School Counselor Association (ASCA)." https://www.schoolcounselor.org/.