Willowbrook celebrates National School Counseling Week 2020

From Feb. 3 to 7, Willowbrook celebrated National School Counseling Week. This year’s theme was “School Counselors: Helping Build Better Humans,” to highlight how counselors lend a hand and encourage students to be the change in the world. Throughout the week, school counselors are celebrated and recognized for the work they do, as well as the impact they have on students.

Willowbrook hosted a spirit week to showcase the many hats school counselors wear (see the week’s events at https://www.dupage88.net/site/public/files/?item=4957). Focus was placed on mental health awareness and how school counselors support students academically and emotionally. A selfie challenge took place for students to take pictures with their counselors, along with writing thank you notes.

In recent years, the term guidance counselor has evolved into school counselor to reflect the training school counselors undergo, as well as the multiple roles they play within the school environment. According to the American School Counselor Association (ASCA), a school counselor creates a comprehensive school counseling program that focuses on student outcomes, teaches student competencies and is delivered with identified professional competencies in the areas of academic achievement, college and career readiness and social-emotional development.

School counselors also enhance the learning process for all students through the “ASCA Mindsets & Behaviors for Student Success: K-12 College- and Career-Readiness Standards for Every Student.” The Mindset Standards below guide the development of effective school counseling programs, centered on three domains: academic, career and social-emotional development.

  • Belief in development of whole self, including a healthy balance of mental, social-emotional and physical well-being
  • Self-confidence in ability to succeed
  • Sense of belonging in the school environment
  • Understanding that postsecondary education and lifelong learning are necessary for long-term career success
  • Belief in using abilities to their fullest to achieve high-quality results and outcomes
  • Positive attitude toward work and learning

The Willowbrook Guidance Department has been RAMP (Recognized ASCA Model Program) certified for the last seven years. That certification means the School Counseling program is aligned with the national model defined by ASCA. The department has demonstrated it continues to provide programing for students to enhance and promote growth in deficit areas that are impacting their education and social-emotional learning. Only 31 schools in Illinois have been recognized with this achievement.