Houston Middle School Counseling Department
HMS Counseling Vision Statement
The Houston Middle School Counseling program imagines an environment in which students experience success without limitations. Our students will connect learning to real world experiences. Our students will pursue excellence in academic, social/emotional and college and career development. Our students will understand cultural diversity and respect differences. Our students will be self-motivated individuals who are effectively contributing to the local and global community.
Where are the counselors located?
The counseling office is in Room 205.
What is a comprehensive counseling program?
It is an approach to school counseling designed to assist ALL students in the areas of academic, personal/social, and career development through core classroom curriculum (COUNSELOR CONNECT), individual planning, and responsive services.
Why counselors?
Middle school students are characterized by rapid physical growth, curiosity about their world and an emerging self-identity. Through a comprehensive developmental school counseling program, counselors work as a team member with school staff, parents and the community to create a caring, supportive climate and atmosphere whereby young adolescents can achieve academic success. Middle school counselors enhance the learning process and promote academic achievement. The professional middle school counselor holds a master’s degree and required state certification in school counseling.
What is COUNSELOR CONNECT?
COUNSELOR CONNECT, or Core Classroom Curriculum, is the teaching component of the HMS Comprehensive Counseling Program and consists of structured, developmentally sequenced activities presented systematically through classroom and group settings. The COUNSELOR CONNECT curriculum is designed to respond to competencies organized according to the following content areas: academic development, social/emotional development,
and college and career readiness.
What is Individual Planning?
School Counselors coordinate activities that help ALL students plan, monitor, and manage their own learning. These activities are generally delivered by working with individuals, small groups or advisement groups. Individual Planning meetings are designed to help students navigate the school system, find success in transitioning from school to school, grade to grade and eventually to higher education or career/technical training.
What are responsive services?
The Responsive Services component of the HMS Comprehensive Counseling Program is designed to meet the immediate needs and concerns of students. The overall focus of Responsive Services is prevention and intervention through activities and programs that are developed in response to student’s needs.
Do counselors have standards?
YES, Counselors have state and national standards with competencies that are delivered via three domains: academic, social/emotional, and college and career readiness. In addition, some counseling standards overlap with various academic standards. For further information about school counseling, see TN School Counseling Model or ASCA National Model.
Who sees the counselor?
EVERY student will see their grade level counselor during DISCOVER lessons. In addition, the counselor conducts Individual Planning Meetings, Individual sessions, and Small Groups to help students set and reach goals in the areas of academic development, social/emotional development, and college and career readiness.
What programs are provided by the HMS Counseling Department?
Above The Line Bullying Prevention and Intervention Program
Academic Support
College and Career Readiness
College and Career EXPO
COUNSELOR CONNECT Lessons
Individual Meetings
Mix it Up at Lunch Day
MOVERS (8th graders)
Parent Resources
Small Groups
The Houston Middle School Counseling program imagines an environment in which students experience success without limitations. Our students will connect learning to real world experiences. Our students will pursue excellence in academic, social/emotional and college and career development. Our students will understand cultural diversity and respect differences. Our students will be self-motivated individuals who are effectively contributing to the local and global community.
Where are the counselors located?
The counseling office is in Room 205.
What is a comprehensive counseling program?
It is an approach to school counseling designed to assist ALL students in the areas of academic, personal/social, and career development through core classroom curriculum (COUNSELOR CONNECT), individual planning, and responsive services.
Why counselors?
Middle school students are characterized by rapid physical growth, curiosity about their world and an emerging self-identity. Through a comprehensive developmental school counseling program, counselors work as a team member with school staff, parents and the community to create a caring, supportive climate and atmosphere whereby young adolescents can achieve academic success. Middle school counselors enhance the learning process and promote academic achievement. The professional middle school counselor holds a master’s degree and required state certification in school counseling.
What is COUNSELOR CONNECT?
COUNSELOR CONNECT, or Core Classroom Curriculum, is the teaching component of the HMS Comprehensive Counseling Program and consists of structured, developmentally sequenced activities presented systematically through classroom and group settings. The COUNSELOR CONNECT curriculum is designed to respond to competencies organized according to the following content areas: academic development, social/emotional development,
and college and career readiness.
What is Individual Planning?
School Counselors coordinate activities that help ALL students plan, monitor, and manage their own learning. These activities are generally delivered by working with individuals, small groups or advisement groups. Individual Planning meetings are designed to help students navigate the school system, find success in transitioning from school to school, grade to grade and eventually to higher education or career/technical training.
What are responsive services?
The Responsive Services component of the HMS Comprehensive Counseling Program is designed to meet the immediate needs and concerns of students. The overall focus of Responsive Services is prevention and intervention through activities and programs that are developed in response to student’s needs.
Do counselors have standards?
YES, Counselors have state and national standards with competencies that are delivered via three domains: academic, social/emotional, and college and career readiness. In addition, some counseling standards overlap with various academic standards. For further information about school counseling, see TN School Counseling Model or ASCA National Model.
Who sees the counselor?
EVERY student will see their grade level counselor during DISCOVER lessons. In addition, the counselor conducts Individual Planning Meetings, Individual sessions, and Small Groups to help students set and reach goals in the areas of academic development, social/emotional development, and college and career readiness.
What programs are provided by the HMS Counseling Department?
Above The Line Bullying Prevention and Intervention Program
Academic Support
College and Career Readiness
College and Career EXPO
COUNSELOR CONNECT Lessons
Individual Meetings
Mix it Up at Lunch Day
MOVERS (8th graders)
Parent Resources
Small Groups