LHS School Counseling Services

The counselors at LHS work with teachers and parents to help students make an effective adjustment to high school. Parents and students are urged to meet often with their assigned counselor throughout the four years. Students may make an appointment to meet with their assigned counselor by signing up on the appointment sheet posted in the Counseling Center. Students may not meet with a counselor during a class period unless it is an emergency; students may visit the Counseling Center during study hall or lunch to work on counseling-related tasks and must enter on time or with a pass.

Counseling Activities

The following are activities that are provided through the Counseling Department:

• Consultation with parents and teachers regarding student performances. • Meet individually with students new to the district.

• Consult and coordinate with outside agency personnel.

• Participate in IEP meetings.

• Assist teachers in identifying and working with students who are not achieving.

• Work with ESL/foreign exchange students as they transition into LHS.

• Inform teachers of students having special learning needs and/ or health considerations.

• Prepare National Merit Finalist candidate materials.

• Process college applications and write counselor recommendations.

• Administer/proctor/organize standardized testing.

• Disseminate college, scholarship and career information.

• Coordinate the class scheduling of all students for the following year.

• Provide scheduled time for college and military representatives to meet with students.

• Provide scheduling services to the parochial schools’ incoming 8th graders.

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Available Technology and Resources

The Counseling Center has student computers with several helpful programs, including:

• Naviance is a powerful program to help students with their college search, scholarships, technical schools, or career searches.

• SAT and ACT tutorials are available for test-taking practice.

Recruiting Opportunities and Suggestions

Juniors and seniors have a variety of opportunities to meet with recruiters representing colleges and the military. A key opportunity to meet with representatives of colleges, universities, tech/trade schools and the military services is available during the annual College Night format held throughout Northeast Ohio. This format allows the students to have informal conversations with numerous representatives in order to learn about their colleges or military opportunities.

The ASVAB Career Exploration Assessment is designed to help you learn more about yourself and the world of work, identify and explore potentially satisfying occupations, and develop an effective strategy to realize your goals.

While these opportunities are provided to our students to help them with making decisions regarding their future plans, we discourage students from making any long-term commitments until both student and parent(s) are thoroughly informed about the commitment. We also encourage students to look into all opportunities that are available to them as a graduating senior.

Appointments

Students are asked to make appointments to see their school counselor.

The Counseling Center is located on the 1st floor of the “A” building.

The LHS Counselors are Mrs. Dalton, Ms. DeChant, Mrs. Drost, Mrs. Gentry, and Mrs. Marcinek.

Mrs. Kapsalis is the Counseling Secretary.

The Counseling Center telephone number is 529-4032.

Course Credit

A class designated as a year-long course must be completed to earn the credit. Credit will not be granted for the first semester of a yearlong course until the entire course is completed. (Cases involving January completion or other unique circumstances will be decided by the building principal.)

Credit Flexibility

Pursuant to Ohio Revised Code 3313.603(J), the Lakewood City Schools and Lakewood High School have developed policy and operating standards to include a uniform method for recording demonstrated proficiency on high school transcripts and award high school credits in accordance with the plan developed by the State Board of Education and Ohio Board of Regents.

Summer School

A high school summer school of six weeks is held each summer. The summer school curriculum at Lakewood High School has been designed to benefit all students entering grades 9, 10, 11, and 12 in addition to August graduates. Summer school provides an opportunity for every student to pursue some interesting line of study or to strengthen a weak skill. Young adults should be encouraged to use their summer leisure to study subjects which interest them, to enroll in practical courses which they cannot fit into their regular schedule, and to take courses failed during the academic year. A fee is charged for all summer school courses.

Summer school information is available in April of each school year in the Counseling Center. Classes taken at other summer school programs should be pre-approved by a school counselor. Grades from other summer school programs should be mailed to the student’s counselor in order to receive credit and be added to the transcript.

Course Credits Not Earned at LHS

High school course credits earned outside of Lakewood High School will be accepted only if they are comparable to courses provided by LHS and/or deemed of appropriate content and rigor. Courses must be taught by a high school licensed teacher and follow a high school level course of study. Final determination of credit acceptance or rejection is made by the building principal.