School Counseling
The Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake K-12 School Counseling program is designed to enhance the academic, career, and social-emotional development of our students. The mission is to provide all students with comprehensive and developmentally appropriate activities, services, and counseling to maximize student success. School counselors, directly and indirectly, help students apply academic achievement strategies, manage emotions, apply interpersonal skills, and explore career pathways. School counselors help set students on a path for postsecondary success including higher education, vocational training, military, and/or the workforce.
School counselors are K-12 certified educators who are student advocates and collaborate with teachers, administrators, families, and community members to create a culture of success for all. Though daily roles may look different at each grade level, our driving principles remain the same at all levels: School counselors provide critical social-emotional and academic support to help set students on a path for postsecondary success.
What is the role of a school counselor?
Elementary School
The work of elementary school counselors focuses on building baseline social skills like self awareness, social awareness, and self management. Classroom presentations and small group activities cover topics such as social skills, career awareness, problem solving strategies, and academic skill building. Elementary school counselors provide curriculum that supports the learning environment and has a positive impact on student success.
Follow this link to visit the Elementary School Counseling webpage.
Middle School
Middle school counselors focus on helping students balance the demands of school, family, and friends. Special attention is paid to teaching study, organizational, and time management skills. Social skills like cooperation, teamwork, independence, and responsible decision making are also emphasized. Continued career exploration is also facilitated. Counselors are available as resources to families as students navigate their way through middle school.
Follow this link to visit the O’Rourke Middle School Counseling Center webpage.
High School
High school counselors help students in areas of academic achievement, career development, and social emotional growth. Counselors provide individual academic planning and goal setting; post secondary exploration including higher education, military or entrance to the workforce; and collaboration with families, teachers, and administrators to promote student success. The goal of the high school counseling team is to contribute to the academic, social, and career development of students as they transition from teenagers to well-rounded, productive adults.
Follow this link to visit the BH-BL High School Counseling Center webpage.
Social-Emotional Learning (SEL)
Why SEL?
According to the Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning (CASEL), the world’s leading organization promoting integrated academic, social and emotional learning for all children in schools, social and emoti
onal learning (SEL) is the process through which all young people and adults acquire and apply the knowledge, skills, and attitudes related to 5 key areas:
- Self Awareness
- Self Management
- Social Awareness
- Relationship Skills
- Responsible Decision Making