1. BWHS School Counseling Department Dave Royhab, Director Counseling Department Hours 8:15am – 4:15pm Phone 703-957-4402

2. Counselor Freshman Assignments Susan James: A – Co Beth Dekenipp: Cr – H Edna Rivera:I – Mi Kim Pond:Mo – Sa Michelle Hoffmann: Sc – Z

3. Guidance Support Staff Jan Develli, Career Center Assistant Melissa Pumphrey, Secretary Corina Lawson, Secretary

4. A high school counselor’s primary job is to help students (and parents!) navigate through high school! Personal and Social Development Post-Secondary Planning Academic Advising

5. Schedules Schedules distributed tomorrow are subject to change (rare) Students will receive an “official” schedule in homeroom on Monday (white paper)  Will also include their locker assignment and combination

6. First Week Homeroom Sign-Up Sheet You are signed up for a class you already passed You are signed up for the same class more than once You are signed up for two classes at the same time You are signed up for a class you believe you are missing the prerequisite for You believe you are missing a core class

7. Requests for Schedule Changes We are unable to consider any other schedule change requests until the second week of school Two types of schedule changes:  Elective Changes  Academic Level Changes

8. Elective Changes Students who do receive their first choice in electives are not be permitted to change their electives Students who do not receive their first choice in electives may be permitted to make schedule changes

9. Academic Level Changes Level changes will be considered on a case- by-case basis Many factors are considered:  Student input  Parent input  Counselor input  Overall course load  Teacher feedback  Availability of alternate courses  Post-secondary plans  Individual strengths & weaknesses 724610

10. Academic Level Changes Level changes are for students who are truly in a class that is too difficult for them Level changes often create schedule conflicts. Students who change levels may have to give up an elective Level changes are often not possible depending on class availability

11. How students can schedule a meeting with a school counselor During the first week of school, students can sign-up to see a counselor in homeroom for a qualifying reason After the first week, students sign-up to see a counselor by filling out a request form before or after school, or between classes For emergency situations, students should ask any adult for a hall pass to the counseling department

12. Coming Events LCPS College Fair – Sep 27 (Rock Ridge) College Information Night for Juniors – Oct 7 PSAT, grades 9, 10, & 11 – Oct 14 Classroom Guidance Presentations for Freshmen – December 2015

13. ParentVUE Parent Portal Replaces Clarity Access forms will be mailed home September 11 ParentVUE will go active September 15 Please monitor!

14. Communication Counseling section in the newsletter ConnectEd emails Counseling related events are posted on the school calendar & in the newsletter  Feel free to attend events aimed for other grade levels! Counseling webpage on the BWHS website  Counselors’ email links  Director’s email link  Presentation & Forms pages