Counseling Programming
The focus and needs of each academic year can be different and is as follows:
Freshman Year
Our primary focus, as students begin their course of study at ECHS, is to assist freshmen with the transition to high school. Our school counselors will:
- Review student schedules prior to entrance
- Give students a general orientation
- Schedule an introductory meeting with each student
- Make necessary adjustments of any schedule conflicts
- Facilitate Naviance activities on PSAT Day in October
- Students may request drop-in sessions as needed
- Do small group lessons in the classroom
Sophomore Year
As students continue their education at East, our School Counseling Office helps them make progress toward their goals. Our school counselors will:
- Conduct initial review of schedules and adjustment of any schedule conflicts
- Highlighting ways to prep for PSATs
- Administration of PSAT (October)
- Explain PSAT results with students
- Monitor individual academic performance assessments
- Review 11th grade schedules and progress towards graduation requirements
- Students may request drop-in sessions as needed
- Do small group lessons in the classroom
Junior Year
A student’s junior year is full of college planning, preparing, testing, and searching. Our department works with juniors in the following ways:
- Initial review of schedules and adjustment of any schedule conflicts
- Help facilitate the college process using the web-based Naviance Student program
- Administration of PSAT (October)
- Review PSAT results and discuss resources for preparation for the SAT reasoning test (May) and the SAT subject tests (June)
- Individual conferences focusing on the important link between academic progress and the college/career search process
- Planning grade 12 schedule
- Small group lessons of college search process" through classroom visits.
- College admissions panel presentation in the fall
- Review 12th grade schedules and progress towards graduation
- Students may request drop-in sessions as needed
Senior Year
As a senior on the road to success, our school counseling office tries to make the college application process as seamless as possible. We are here to help our students finalize their college applications and prepare for the next phase of their education. The following can be expected for senior year:
- Schedule reviews
- Senior Planning Series in September to explain and assist with the College Application Process
- Long period “help” sessions for the college application process
- Continue with the Naviance Student program as the seniors move through the college application process
- Facilitation of visits by college admissions officers to East Catholic for student conferences (seniors)
- Financial Aid Night for parents filing FAFSA and profile forms
- Continue to meet with seniors individually to enable efficient college decision making
- Drop-in conferences as needed
- Letters of recommendation written by counselors
Simplifying the College Process
Formal discussion of the college selection process begins junior year when all juniors meet individually with their school counselor to review the search process. Ways we help:
- Highlight college fairs to families and encourage them to attend as early as sophomore year
- Help juniors narrow the search so they can visit potential college choices while the colleges are in session, especially during February and April school vacations
- At the start of senior year, counselors meet with seniors to discuss their choices and begin the application process
- College Application Series for students in September. (Invitations will be emailed after the first day of school)
- Receive all college applications in the School Counseling office before Thanksgiving break
- Hold an evening program in September to explain the financial aid process to seniors and their parents