Counseling & Services
School counselors promote and enhance achievement with an annual comprehensive school counseling plan that ensures that every student receives school counseling services. Credentialed school counselors provide comprehensive counseling programs that incorporate prevention and intervention with continuous academic, career, and personal/development activities that will prepare them for meaningful participation in a diverse, changing world. These activities include classroom guidance, small groups for skill mastery, individual counseling for students with specific needs, and a variety of other proactive and innovative ways to support student performance.
School counselors implement a program based on the National Standards for School Counseling Programs and the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) National Model. They also provide resources for staff, students, families, and others to ensure that a family-friendly environment is established and ensure that students have access to a safe school climate necessary for academic and social/emotional growth.
Parents are always welcome to come in or call 754-322-1850 for assistance or advice.
Understanding Your Middle School Child
The Adolescent Brain
Adolescents in the 21st century aren’t necessarily different from their predecessors, we just know more about them. In the last 20 or so years, the field of adolescent brain development research has gained momentum. It would seem that with this new awareness of what’s going inside adolescents’ heads, educators, and parents would be less perplexed by teen behavior. Alas, that’s not the case. As adolescents move through middle school and high school, some adults expect them to automatically make mature decisions, as if these external events magically grant adolescents adultlike thinking skills. This is a recipe for future conflict; adults become disappointed, and teenagers feel misunderstood. To get a firm understanding of this, let’s take a look inside the head of a teenager.
Learn more about Understanding the Adolescent Brain and The Role of School Counselors from the American School Counselor Association (ASCA).
Understanding Your Middle Grader
"My middle grader goes from being helpful and considerate to angry and stubborn in the blink of an eye." The middle years are full of challenges. As children become teens, they display new attitudes and reactions that appear to come out of nowhere. While it may seem like your middle grader is misbehaving, these qualities are actually a natural pan of growing up. Here are some typical middle grader behaviors and suggestions for ways to handle them.
Insight to "Understanding Your Middle Grader"
SCHOOL COUNSELING (GUIDANCE) APPOINTMENTS
Parents/Guardians
Parents may make appointments with the counselor throughout the school day. Please contact the Guidance Desk at 754-322-1870 to schedule an appointment with the counselor.
Students
Students may also see their counselor throughout the day by obtaining an appointment pass at the Guidance Desk. Appointment passes may be obtained during lunch and after school.
Students may walk-in without an appointment during their assigned lunch if they have a quick question that needs answering.
REGISTRATION APPOINTMENTS
Parents/ guardians are encouraged to register future Plantation High School students by appointment. Please call 754-322-1870 to make an appointment for registration. The appointment window is from 8am to 12:30pm.
Please refer to the registration checklist for paperwork needed at the time of your appointment.
The family therapists address a variety of family and emotional problems in counseling and provide therapy for individuals and families free of charge. When someone experiences emotional difficulty they may suffer repercussions that lead to problems in their general daily functioning. For students, this is often evident in the academic arena. Frequently school-related problems may be symptomatic of those troubles. The family therapists also address problems related to trauma, anxiety, depression, relationship issues, stress management, communication skills, personal issues, and many more.
Suicide is currently the second leading cause of death for youth, ages 10-14, and the third leading cause of death for youth 15-24 according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC, 2022). Awareness is one of the most critical steps to prevention. This starts by talking about suicide with our youth, recognizing warning signs, and understanding risk factors. The National Association for School Psychologists (NASP) offers tips for parents and educators on risk factors, warning signs, what to do, and reminders. Together, families, educators, and community partners can support our students and save thousands of lives.
For more information on Mental Health and Wellness, visit the Mental Health Portal
The Suicide Prevention manual details best practices for schools regarding suicide response and needs. View helpful tips for parents and educators on risk factors and warning signs.
