National School Counseling Week

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Most Aldine ISD campuses will be off the week of the national observance; schools will observe National School Counseling Week from February 12 through February 16.

National School Counseling Week (NSCW) was established to honor the dedication of school counselors, who provide mental health and academic guidance to students of all ages and encourage individuals to seek professional help in person or online. This year’s theme is “School Counseling: Standards-Based, Student-Focused.” This week will focus public attention on the unique contribution of school counselors within U.S. school systems and how students are different due to what school counselors do. National School Counseling Week highlights the tremendous impact school counselors can have in helping students achieve school success and plan for a career.

When to Celebrate

The national observance falls from February 5 through February 9 this year. Following the traditional school year calendar, Aldine ISD campuses will be on a scheduled intersession (student holiday break) for the same period. Since most schools follow the traditional calendar, Aldine ISD campuses will observe their school counselors the week of February 12. 

As a reminder, schools following the Additional Days School Year (ADSY) Calendar — Ermel Elementary, Harris Elementary, Smith Elementary, and Vines EC/PreK/K School — Feb. 5, Feb. 6, Feb. 7, and Feb. 8. February 8 is a half-day for students and a work day for ADSY staff. February 9 is a staff development day/work day for ADSY staff. 

How to Celebrate

Look for photos, social media posts, and more from your child’s school. Families and students can also take part! Let the school counselor at your child’s school know how much you appreciate them.

Social Media: Share posts about National School Counselor Week on social media with the hashtag #NSCW or #NSCW24 and add #MyAldine.

What Do School Counselors Do?

Josefina Treviño-García, director of guidance and counseling, stated school counselors work with all students to remove learning barriers. Their work has a tremendous impact on helping students achieve school success and plan for a career.

“School counselors work with all students to remove barriers to learning by addressing students’ academic concerns, career options, and social-emotional skills,” said Treviño-García. “School counseling programs help increase student achievement and provide a much-needed resource for students, parents, teachers, and administrators. School counselors are integral to student success.”

School counselors may have unique duties depending on their role. Some counselors may be licensed therapists and offer counseling to students directly. Others may have a degree in education and take a more academic or career approach to guiding students. However, some of the school counselors’ most common roles are listed below.

• Provide mental health support and guidance.
• Offer career and college guidance
• Maintain student records
• Resolve conflict
• Communicate with parents or caregivers
• And More!

A Resource for Parents and Caregivers

It can be crucial for parents and school counselors to work together, as both are often in pursuit of the student’s well-being. It may be helpful to call, email, or have meetings with your child’s school counselor if you are having difficulty at home or want to work together to set up a better system at school for your child to succeed. Below are a few ways counselors and parents can work together:

• Establish accommodations for a child with a disability.
• Discuss topics at home that may be impacting the child’s academic performance.
• Provide early intervention for children in crisis.
• Help a child transition into a new school environment or class.
• Discuss disagreements in how the child is being taught.
• Find resources available in the school and on a community level for parents, children, and families.