School Counseling

Welcome to Gwynedd!

* Connections Camp – This 2 day event prior to the start of school in August serves to provide an opportunity for the freshman class to engage with one another via interactive games, activities and Q&A with upperclassmen.

* Individual Meetings – Students will meet with their counselor early on to discuss their transition to high school and identify any immediate needs. Meetings will continue throughout the year focusing on course selection and a final review of the year/self-evaluation. Additional meetings are welcomed and can be scheduled as needed.

* Freshman Advisory Class – This course is designed to support freshmen in the transition to high school. Seminar topics include foundational study skills, personal learning style identification, and strategies for becoming a responsible learner. During the second semester, students will become more familiar with content that will be covered on standardized tests. The goal of the course is to present practical tools for freshmen to utilize and build upon throughout their high school experience.

*Students are introduced to the SCOIR program freshmen year, when they take a learning style inventory. SCOIR is a software tool specific to Gwynedd Mercy that is designed to assist with the college and career exploration process.

* PAL (Peer Advisory League) - Program of peer mentors who meet regularly throughout the year with small groups of freshmen to discuss the transition to high school as well as important adolescent issues.

* Individual Meetings – Students will meet with their counselor early on to discuss their academic progress and identify any immediate needs. Meetings will continue throughout the year focusing on course selection and a final review of the year/self-evaluation. Additional meetings are welcomed and can be scheduled as needed.

* Sophomore Career Advisory — The goal of this course is to guide sophomores through a variety of personal assessments in an effort to direct their college and career searches. Students will explore their personalities, interests, strengths, and values to identify potential career paths that would be a good match. SCOIR again will be used as a research tool given its extensive career database.

* Sophomore College Road Map Meetings – Opportunities for sophomore students and parents to meet with their counselors to assess their academic performance and plan a path to college.

Counselors are looking to gain insight into the student’s future plans and provide guidance on strategies for success.

* Individual Meetings – Students will meet with their counselor early on to discuss their academic progress and identify any immediate needs. Meetings will continue throughout the year focusing on course selection and a final review of the year/self-evaluation. Additional meetings are welcomed and can be scheduled as needed.

* Junior College Advisory - Juniors will meet once a month to discuss relevant topics related to the college search and application process. Areas covered will include standardized tests, SCOIR as a tool in the college search, the college visit, the college interview, the Common Application, developing activities resumes, and characteristics of colleges/universities that constitute a good fit for the student.

* Small Group Meetings – Counselors may use Theology classes throughout the year to host guest speakers or conduct small group meetings that focus on healthy relationships, mental health and wellness, healthy choices and peer pressure as needed

* Individual Meetings – Students will meet with their counselor early on to discuss their academic progress and finalize college application needs. Additional meetings are welcomed and can be scheduled as needed to discuss time-management and stress relief strategies, as well as strategies for academic success.

* Senior College Advisory – During the first half of senior year the class will address relevant topics related to completing the college application process. This course will cover guidelines for initiating the college application process at GMAHS, creating college application checklists and timelines, and utilizing SCOIR as an application tracking tool, while continuing to explore their college options. Time will also be devoted to education and research of scholarship and financial aid opportunities. In the spring semester, topics will shift toward the transition to college life and strategies for success in the first year of college.

* Small Group Meetings – Counselors may use Theology classes throughout the year to host guest speakers or conduct small group meetings that focus on healthy relationships, mental health and wellness, healthy choices and peer pressure as needed