Frequently Asked Questions
General Information
Q: What does the school counselor do?
A: The school counselor supports students’ academic success, social-emotional well-being, and career readiness. This includes student meetings, classroom lessons, crisis intervention, academic planning, and collaboration with teachers, families, and community partners.
Q: How can my student see the school counselor?
A: Students can request to meet with the counselor by asking their teacher for permission to come to the Counseling office, emailing the counselor, or visiting the counseling office and completing the Check In form. The School Counseling Administrative Assistant is also available to assist students.
Academic Support
Q: How can I stay in better contact regarding my child’s academic progress?
A: Parents are recommended to start by contacting the teacher. Parents can also sign up for Aspen Grade Alerts, so they receive an email notification if their child receives a grade below a certain threshold. See image below from an Aspen manual that walks parents through these steps:
Click Family tab, and then select the student. Click the Notification side-tab. Select the email address(es) you want notified with the grade alert. Select the Grades checkbox and enter a number for Grade Threshold.
Q: How does the counselor help students academically?
A: Counselors assist with academic planning, time management, graduation requirements, and postsecondary preparation. They also collaborate with teachers and families to support academic improvement.
Q: What if my child is struggling in a class?
A: Parents should first contact the teacher. If additional support is needed, the counselor can meet with your student to identify strategies, coordinate peer tutoring, or help create an after school extra help schedule.
Q: Does the counselor handle schedule changes?
A: Yes, but changes are limited to academic necessity or scheduling errors. Requests must be submitted within the first two weeks of the semester and require administrative approval.
Social & Emotional Support
Q: What types of issues can my student discuss with the counselor?
A: Students can talk about stress, anxiety, family changes, grief, conflict resolution, or self-esteem. Conversations are confidential unless safety concerns are present.
Q: How does confidentiality work?
A: Conversations between students and counselors are private unless the student is at risk of harm to themselves or others, or if abuse or neglect is suspected. These exceptions follow ethical and legal guidelines.
College & Career Readiness
Q: What services are offered for college and career planning?
A: Counselors guide students in exploring postsecondary options, planning coursework, preparing for college applications, and identifying scholarship and financial aid opportunities. Counselors will also help implement My Career and Academic Planning (MyCAP) curriculum through Success Blocks.
Family & Community Support
Q: Can the counselor connect families with community resources?
A: Yes. The counseling department maintains a list of local agencies that provide food, housing, mental health services, and financial support. This information is also available through the Pupil Personnel Services department.
Q: Are there parent workshops or information nights?
A: Yes. The counseling office hosts events on topics such as financial aid, college readiness, and mental health. Dates and details are shared through Parent Square and/or through Branagan’s Bulletin.
Additional Questions
Q: Can parents meet with the counselor?
A: Yes. Parents are welcome to schedule meetings to discuss academic progress, mental health concerns, or postsecondary planning. Please either contact the counselor directly to schedule in advance or the Administrative Assistant in the Counseling Office.
Q: How can families stay updated on counseling programs and resources?
A: Check the school’s website regularly, follow official social media channels, or subscribe through Parent Square.