Student Services
Parent Information
What is a School-wide Guidance and Counselling Program?
The comprehensive and developmental guidance and counselling program is school-wide and designed for all students. It is not restricted to students with exceptional learning needs or students who are facing stressful life situations or personal difficulties. In fact, all students receive service from the school counsellor throughout the school year as part of their regular school experience.
The programming covers a breadth of topics in a variety of ways while being continuous, recognizing that the process of guidance and counselling is ongoing. The services are intended to help all students realize their full potential regardless of any physical, social, emotional, or educational challenges.
What is School Counselling and Guidance?
School counselling is a process that addresses the specific developmental needs of students in the school. It is designed to heal hurts, strengthen personal, social, and emotional resiliency, and often involves individual or small group conversations, artwork, and/or planning. School guidance education involves instruction and sharing information that increases student knowledge, skills, and awareness. A variety of Manitoba curricula contain learning outcomes for guidance education.
The primary goal of school guidance and counselling services is to enhance and promote student learning. These services are designed to provide supports and resources to students at all grade levels, to their families, and to educators. They are intended to facilitate the educational, personal, social, emotional, and career development of students in schools and in the community.
Who are School Counsellors?
School counsellors are educators who work together with other certified teachers and clinical professionals to increase opportunities for success in the lives of all learners.
What do School Counsellors Do?
School counsellors are educators who work together with other certified teachers and clinical professionals to increase opportunities for success in the lives of all learners.
- direct instruction
- guidance education
- team teaching
- group and individual counselling
- student support team planning
What kinds of Topics are Addressed by School Counsellors?
The topics addressed by school counsellors are varied and focused to meet the needs of the students and school community. Generally, school guidance and counselling services are focused on three distinct areas, although these areas are frequently combined to create a meaningful context within student learning activities.
Personal/Social Development
This area focuses on self-knowledge, social skills, and safety issues that students face as they mature and become more independent. This area addresses common issues faced by all young people at each particular age and stage of development and maturity. Some specific topics in this area are:
- friendships/relationships
- anger/behaviour management
- restitution
- bullying/violence
- self-knowledge and personal growth
- personal safety
- decision-making and the maturing mind
- substance use
- healthy lifestyles
Educational Development
The educational area of guidance and counselling services focuses on knowledge and skills that students require over time to become effective, independent learners within and beyond the school setting. Some specific topics in this area are:
- study skills
- listening skills
- effective communication
- time management
Career Development
Developing an early awareness of career opportunities emphasizes decision making and illustrates the importance of work in our individual lives, and to the local and global communities to which we all belong. This emphasis evolves into recognizing personal attributes and preferences through career exploration and career preparation in Senior Years. From Kindergarten to Grade 12, the focus of career development is on skill development rather than on specific career preparation. Some specific topics in this area are:
- course selections
- educational planning
- volunteer opportunities
- personal skills/interests and related careers
- life after high school
