School counseling program in Oak Park takes look ahead

Acorn Staff Writer


For years, the Oak Park Unified School District (OPUSD) supported only the high school with counseling services. Now, the district is one of the few in the area to support the entire student population––grades kindergarten through 12–– with counselors.


About six years ago, OPUSD expanded counseling services from the high school to the middle school level. Last year, they added services for elementary students. The program expansion will have long term benefits for students, according to Bob Fraser, the district’s assistant superintendent for human resources.


Fraser said the district hopes to track students from elementary school through high school to see how much the extra counseling services have helped.


Counselors help students students with their lives both in and out of the classroom. The services differ from grade level to grade level. From kindergarten to second grade, students are given guidance lessons and are taught about passive and aggressive behaviors. Counseling at the elementary level frequently involves parents.


When students reach the middle school level, the services switch to academics and the social aspects of teen behavior. Besides letters being sent home to a parents when a student has done wrong, a letter is sent home when they do well. Hundreds of letters go out each year, according to the district.


At the middle school level, counselors also screen students for the GATE (Gifted and Talented Education) program and work to get non-GATE students accepted. But a lot of counseling focuses on areas such dress code violations, gum chewing in class and horseplay in class, sources say.


Once a student reaches high school, much of the counseling time is geared toward graduation goals. Counselors write recommendation letters for students trying to acquire grants and scholarships and for others just trying to get accepted into college. Counselors are there to teach students about responsibility and to work with them closely throughout their education career.


The program also has dealt with sensitive subjects like the death of a friend. In addition, counselors give advice on substance abuse and conflict resolution.


Many counselors say they are trying to focus more on prevention rather than intervention. In cases of suspension or expulsion, counselors are instrumental in helping students stay out of further trouble once they return to school.


For the most part, the counselors want to change the image of the counseling program. They believe many people are under the impression that if a counselor is involved with a student then it is because the student is in trouble. The counselors say their goal is to help kids who are succeeding, not just those who are failing.





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