Guidance and Learning Specialist Services


Guidance and Learning Specialist services are available to all high school CUSD students. Students are encouraged to seek individual help through Guidance and Learning Specialist when they feel it necessary. The Guidance and Learning staff is always willing and ready to help students in any way possible and hope that students will feel free to use the services provided. Services and information provided by the Guidance and Learning Specialists include:

  • Accountability for all Board approved goals
  • Providing guidance for students towards H.S. graduation
  • Providing career guidance and counseling
  • Monitor Attendance
  • Work the D, F, and I list for academic progress for students at risk
  • Graduation Information
  • Conflict resolution with students, and students and teachers
  • Behavior Issues/Referrals
  • Parent and teacher initiated conferences
  • College entrance test interpretation
  • Scholarship and financial aid information
  • Fill out the school’s section for college, financial aid, and scholarship application
  • Registration policies
  • Grades and grade point average
  • Personal counseling and/or referrals to community agencies
  • Attend I.E.P. meetings
  • Transcripts (interpretation)
  • Proctor PSAT, PLAN and AP testing
  • Student profiles for referral to and from alternative education
  • Conduct mini-Student Attendance Review Board (SARB) meetings
  • Prepare paperwork and attend Districts SARB’s
  • Special projects related to awards, parent nights, graduation, scholarships, etc
  • Conference attendance at UC, CSU, and community college conferences
  • 504 conferences/SST
  • Provide appropriate college information to students and parents
  • Oversee college/university representatives visits to the high school campus
  • College applications
  • Letters of recommendation
  • Fresno Area College Night Information
  • Determine UC/CSU eligibility and assistance
  • Supervision: a) before and after school, b) clubs schedule, c) department meetings, d) extra-curricular activities, e) rallies and assemblies, f) other, as assigned by supervisor
  • NCAA eligibility
  • Arrange UC/CSU/FCC/Reedley College campus visits and workshops
  • Community college registration, scheduling and testing on campus
  • Registration, scheduling, and program adjustments
  • Register new students
  • Parents can request progress report on a weekly basis
  • The Counseling Department will have announcements and other news in the school’s student-parent newsletter, daily bulletin, and CUSD Today
  • Set up for all academic presentations
  • Cover classes as per request

Yearly Counseling Services Defined:
  1. Eight Grade:
    2.
    1. Pre-Registration for high school, which will include freshmen parent orientation
    2. One-on-one registration for classes and summer session
  1. Ninth Grade:
    1. The establishment of a four-year educational and career plan
    2. An academic counseling session is conducted
    3. PSAT will be available
    4. One-on-one registration for classes and summer session
  1. Tenth Grade:
    1. A conference with each student and their parent or guardian will be held during after school hours
    2. The personalized four-year education/career plan will be updated by the student with the assistance of the Guidance and Learning Specialist
    3. All tenth grade students will be encouraged to take the PLAN and/or PSAT
    4. One-on-one registration for classes and summer session
  1. Eleventh Grade:
    1. Students will continue with the Career Education Program
        1. To include educational/career plan update
        2. To include any testing that may be necessary for identification of interests or aptitudes (optional)
    1. Students will be informed or their progress toward graduation
    2. Students will be given the following:
        1. PSAT/NMSQT, ACT, SAT I, SAT II, ASVAB testing information
        2. The opportunity to meet with college representatives
        3. NCAA eligibility conference
    1. Results of state and district competencies reported – student and parent contact
    2. One-on-one registration for classes and summer session
  1. Twelfth Grade:
    1. A senior conference, which includes a graduation requirement update, will be conducted
    2. Parents will receive notification when a student is deficient in a class required for graduation
    3. Seniors will be given:
        1. A copy of the College and Scholarship Handbook, which includes final testing options
        2. Information and registration forms for ACT, SAT I, SAT II
        3. Scholarship and financial aid information
        4. Assistance in filling out application for scholarships and college admission
        5. Financial aid workshop for parents and students
    1. Senior parent information night

 

Other Services Available to Students:

Psychological Counseling Services

Peer Counseling

Student Study Team (SST)

Section 504 Plan

Student Assistance Program (S.A.P.)

Student Services and Student Attendance Representative

 

PLANNING CALENDAR

AUGUST:

  • Post summer school stickers and update counseling cards
  • Notify parents of students who are deficient in progress toward graduation
  • Have conferences on any senior behind in credits and have them sign a contract
  • Register new students
  • Register Gateway, Enterprise, and Excel transfer students
  • Update SAT/ACT senior list recommendations
  • Verify that seniors are in all the right classes in order to graduate
  • Check to see that seniors and juniors not passing competencies are in appropriate lab classes
  • Establish an Academic Core list
  • Keep a list of semester class changes
  • Work the Course Conflict list so students will have classes

SEPTEMBER:

  • Begin senior conferences (credits, classes, college applications, scholarships, and testing)
  • Write letters of recommendation for college and scholarships (on-going)
  • Balance student numbers in classes; open and close class sections
  • Student program changes
  • Distribute SAT/ACT registration forms
  • Establish PLAN list
  • Select student candidates for UCCAP (UC Field Evaluation Program)
  • Select Boy/Girl of the Month candidates
  • Keep list of semester program changes
  • Attend Back to School Night
  • Present for Senior Parent Night

OCTOBER:

  • Continue senior conferences
  • Procter school-wide PSAT and PLAN tests
  • Notify and encourage students taking SAT/ACT to attend prep sessions
  • Complete CBEDS report
  • "WF" commences for dropping classes after 4 weeks of school
  • Monitor failure notices and contact student and parents on critical situations
  • Keep list of semester program changes
  • FCC and Reedley College applications
  • Help with UC application workshop; provide a list of UC candidates
  • Help with CSU application workshop; provide a list of CSU candidates

NOVEMBER:

  • Begin juniors conferences
  • Begin sophomores conferences
  • Review grade reports
  • Call and send home a letter and a copy of the grades to seniors in danger of not graduating
  • Reconsider Academic Core placement
  • Change class schedule as necessary
  • Keep a list of semester changes
  • FCC and Reedley College applications

 

DECEMBER:

  • Continue meeting with juniors
  • Review PSAT and PLAN results with students
  • Monitor SAT/ACT results and encourage students to improve low test scores
  • Help revise the Course Description Catalog
  • Distribute financial aid forms
  • FCC and Reedley applications

JANUARY:

  • Make semester changes
  • Enroll Gateway, Enterprise, and Excel returning students
  • Continue sophomore conferences
  • Attend financial aid workshop
  • Enroll seniors in Adult School course for graduation deficiencies
  • Fill out financial aid GPA verification forms
  • FCC and Reedley applications

FEBRUARY:

  • Post grades and evaluate credits
  • Send letters to students
  • Hold parent conference regarding non-graduation issues
  • Plan for feeder school spring registration
  • Continue sophomore conferences
  • Continue freshmen conferences
  • Help with FCC/Reedley College placement tests
  • Fill out and mail mid-year school reports to colleges and universities
  • Fill out CSU scholarship GPA verification
  • CART Applications (due mid February)

MARCH:

  • Student registration for summer school and the fall semester
  • Attend Freshmen Orientation Night
  • Attend Open House Night

APRIL:

  • Review grade reports
  • Continue with freshmen conferences
  • Help with FCC/Reedley College advising

MAY:

  • Check testing updates for semester and fall placement
  • Finish freshmen conference
  • Finish sophomore conferences
  • Finish junior conferences
  • Attend and participate in Scholarship Awards Night
  • Finish summer school registration by May 15th
  • Proctor AP exams
  • Help with FCC/Reedley College Registration
  • Attend Top 20/CSF Banquet

JUNE:

  • Check grades for summer school make-up or repeats
  • Check for "D’s" in math and foreign language classes and adjust summer or fall schedules
  • Resolve class conflicts based on the first run of the student’s schedules
  • Help with opening day of summer school
  • Update counseling cards
  • Help with Grad Night trip to Disneyland – check student bags and load buses