The Role of the Guidance

Counsellor in a High School

Goal of the Guidance Program

Help the learner discover who they
really want to be to find their
Passion to find the pathway
that is best for them - to create
the maximum potential for
success as fully functioning
members of society.

Individual, Small Group Counselling or

Classroom Sessions
Academic

Counselling
Successful habits
Future course planning
Monitoring student progress in courses
Post-secondary goals
Career Counselling
Keeping options open
Career Exploration
Interest inventories
Pathway exploration and planning

Individual, Small Group Counselling or

Classroom Sessions
Personal

/ Social Counselling
Friends, family
Conflict resolution
Self Esteem
Anti-bullying
Character Education
Work with student success teacher to
meet the needs of at risk students

Department Head
Responsibilities
Provide

the counsellors with extra

assistance when requested.
Attend dept. heads, subject council and
counsellor association meetings.
Call and conduct department meetings
and TEAM meetings.
Instructional leader for guidance courses

Department Head
Responsibilities
Be

responsible to the principal for the

total performance of the department.
Assume responsibility for the
development, implementation, and
evaluation of the Guidance and Career
Education Program (CIA).
Submit budget and staffing requests to
the principal.

Role as a Counsellor
Be

available first and foremost to

students and parent requesting an
interview.
Be able to deal effectively and efficiently
with student, staff and parent concerns.
Know when to refer a student to another
person or agency.
Play an active part in the total program of
the Guidance Dept.

Role as a Counsellor
Be

continually seeking ways to improve

as a counsellor and to reflect the Ethical
Guidelines as published by OSCA
Be a member of any conference or IPRC
concerning their students.
Work with the Student Success Team to
ensure the success of all students
Be a resource for career studies teachers

Role as a Counsellor
Career

Information and Career Planning

Post Secondary Education Liaison
Student Financial Aid
Educational Information
Community Relations and Career Fair
Student Mentoring/ Mentoring Program

Role as a Counsellor
Course

selections
Graduation Lists
Feeder School / Transition Years
Program
Student Records
Continuing Education
Member of Student Success Team

Post Secondary Liaison

To act

as the contact
person for OUAC and
OCAS
To act as the liaison
person with post
secondary institutions
To coordinate visits to the
school by apprenticeship,
college and university
personnel.

Post Secondary Liaison

To inform

students of
important dates and
deadlines.
Maintain the
resources of the
Career Centre
including calendars,
SAT and TOEFL
applications.

Career Information and Career

Planning Centre
Display

appropriate career and

educational information, posters and
brochures.
Update career files (i.e. monographs)
Develop and gather and revise learning
packages (i.e. job skills , resume writing)
Collect and display government
publications

Student Aid
To maintain

an update file of
scholarships and bursary application
forms.
Organize a system for gathering
nominees or applications
Organize an information session for
students and parents on OSAP

Community Relations and Career

Fair
Act

as resource person for Take Our

Kids to Work Day
Implement a Career Fair Program
Develop a resource file with names of
people in the community who would
speak to students
Coordinate a visit by Canada Student
Employment Centre

Student Tutoring Programs

in

the community. Compile and update a

list of available tutors
Develop a peer tutoring / mentoring
program.
Organize an ESL buddy system
Compile study skills and time
management packages.

Course Selections
Work

with the administration to produce the

calendar and registration forms.
Organize classroom presentations.
Collect the registration forms.
Produce and distribute verification sheets.
Organize curriculum nights
Refine the stats for the SAC committee

Graduation Lists
Prepare

a preliminary list of graduates

Ensure individual counsellors remove
and notify ineligible students as the year
proceeds.
Update list for the grad committee
Verify Ontario Scholar candidates

Feeder School /Transition Program

Plan

with administration a Grade 8 Open House.

Organize a transitions discussions with grade 8
teachers, counsellors and student success
teachers.
Produce and distribute courseverification sheets.
Work with special education to discuss identified
students.
Prepare appropriate information for summer
mailing.
Plan for August orientation activities.

Student Records
With

the Principal, ensure that OSRs are

maintained and updated
Determine proper credit equivalencies
for students from out of province
Ensure that credit histories are correct

Continuing Education
Obtain

up to date applications and

information sheets from the board.
Register students for night, summer, online courses.
Confirm that final marks are entered for
credit summaries, including
Conservatory Music and international
languages.