Our Guidance Department Believes that:
- As our community’s most valuable asset, all children have a right to safety, love and learning.
- Lifelong learning is essential for success in a changing society.
- Education is the shared responsibility of the institution, the governing authority, student, family, government, and stakeholders.
- A core of common values, ethical conduct, and an appreciation of diversity are fundamental to sustaining our society.
- The primary responsibility of education is to assist each child in discovering and reaching his or her potential.
- An effective educational institution and its organizations purposefully provide for self-renewal through flexibility and a willingness to change.
- Recognizing that children learn at different rates and in different ways, effective education develops the whole person intellectually, emotionally, socially, and physically.
- Effective education fosters honesty, good sportsmanship, and personal integrity.
Our Guidance Department provides individual, group, and classroom guidance to help in the academic, social, and emotional development of our students. We strive to help every child recognize his or her unique strengths and gifts, and our goal is to help each child reach his or her full potential. Please feel free to contact us at any time you have questions or concerns.
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Guidance Services
Certified guidance counselors meet with students individually, in small groups, and in the classroom setting. The following functions of the school counselor are developmental and impact on all grade levels:
- Academic Improvement and Planning: includes the selection of a plan of study, placement into appropriate courses and programs, identifying learning styles, and developing appropriate study skills.
- Personal/Social Growth: includes counseling focused on building self-esteem, communication skills, conflict-resolution, decision-making, relationship skills, and character-building.
- Crisis Intervention: includes counseling students in crisis (often at a moment’s notice) and providing referrals if necessary.
- Transitional Services: orients students as they move from grade to grade to provide a comfortable and successful learning environment.
- Parent Support: assists parents in helping their students reach their goals and maximize their potential.
- Career/Life Planning: increases students’ awareness of the career and educational planning process and of individual careers themselves while instilling in students the values and attitudes necessary for becoming successful contributors to their families and society.
- College Planning: helping students understand the college admissions process, as well as assisting them in choosing their ideal college. Counselors assist students with scheduling testing and completing the application process.
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Scheduling an Appointment with the Counselor
Pre School/Lower School
Appointments with the guidance counselor for grades pre K-4 are usually arranged by the classroom teacher and/or the parent. Parents who would like to set up an appointment for their child may contact the classroom teacher or the guidance counselor, Mrs. Molly Sewell, (msewell@caravel.org) directly.
Middle School
As students become more independent in middle school, they are invited to seek out the guidance counselor if they are experiencing difficulties academically, socially, or emotionally. Students are invited to confidentially schedule an appointment at their convenience (often during h-period or lunch). Teachers may also make referrals to the guidance counselor if they believe the student is struggling academically, socially, or emotionally. Parents should feel free to contact the guidance counselor, Mrs. Molly Sewell (msewell@caravel.org), at any time to set up an appointment for themselves or their child.
Upper School
Upper school students are free to visit the guidance office during their study hall, lunch, or h-period. Students should also feel free to stop by the guidance office to schedule an appointment.
All 12th grade students will receive a pass to the guidance office in the fall for a scheduled conference with the counselor. In the winter, 9th grade students will receive classroom guidance on academic and future planning, and 10th grade students will take a Career Exploration course with the guidance counselor. In the spring, 11th grade students will be scheduled for individual conferences with the counselor. Parents should feel free to contact the upper school guidance counselor, Kristi Tulowitzki (ktulowitzki@caravel.org), at any time.
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