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Welcome to the
CHS Counseling Center
General
Information:
The Centennial Counseling Center includes 3.5
professional school counselors and an office manager. Students
are assigned a counselor based on their grade level and the student's last name. Each counselor
works with students in acquiring guidance competencies that form the foundation
for their next steps educationally and occupationally. They assist
students in developing realistic educational and career plans based on a clear
understanding of themselves, their needs, interests, skills, and the realities
and possibilities of the worlds of education at work.
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The counseling program is designed to address the needs of all students by
helping them to acquire competencies in career planning and exploration,
knowledge of self and others, and educational and vocational development.
School counselors foster excellence by helping all students to achieve their
potential. They promote life-long learning through their work in four
program areas:
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Classroom
presentations and large-group activities such as career days and college
nights to help students learn coping skills, career planning and
decision-making skills, and to plan for the future.
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Individual
student planning for academic and career success through the development and
short-term and long-term educational and career plans.
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Individual
and small group counseling, consultation, and referral, related to helping
students with personal goals and concerns, and with educational progress.
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Management
activities to support the guidance program and other school programs.
A school psychologist has a permanent work space in the counseling center, as
does STARS (Students Taking A Right Stand). Additional professionals offering
special education support services utilize the center as needed.
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The CHS Counseling Center is located in Suite 145, near the Cougar Dining
Hall. Just as Centennial has a "dining hall" and not a
"cafeteria," it also has a "counseling center" and not
a "guidance department." The subtle differences in name
reflect subtle differences in philosophy and services. While we are
primarily academic counselors due to our location in a school setting, we
are trained to provide personal counseling and recognize each student's
mental health as an important part of their academic success.
Time constraints and student load limit our personal counseling to
short-term, crisis, and group settings. If a student or family needs
help in locating an agency of counselor for long-term, continuing
counseling, we will be glad to assist them.
Every student at CHS is assigned a counselor, based on the student's last name.
The alphabetical divisions for the 2006-2007 school year are as follows:
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All
Freshmen |
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Carol Smith
Monday, Tuesday, and Friday 11am
- 2:45pm |
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Grades
10-12 |
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A-D, Sq-T |
Mary Kay
Carter |
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E-K, U-Z |
Charlotte
Baird |
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L-Sp |
Mary Calhoun |
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Students will meet with their counselors at least once a year via scheduled
appointment, to which their parents are invited. Four-year plans are
created and updated at these appointments, and students are oriented to aspects
of the counseling center that they may use for academic and personal reasons.
In addition to this scheduled meeting, students are encouraged to request a
conference with their counselor whenever necessary. Conferences
should be requested by coming to the counseling center and signing the
appropriate counselor's clipboard, located outside her office. Teachers
are asked to limit releases from class with a pass from the counselor to
students who are obviously in distress.
Students must accumulate 22 credits to graduate. It is the counselors'
intent to keep parents well informed as to the student's progress toward
graduation. Students are classified to a certain grade level by the number
of years they have attended high school with the exception of senior status.
To be classified as a senior, a student must have a minimum of 13 credits and be
in his or her fourth year of high school.
In addition to academic advisement, personal and career counseling is available
to all students at Centennial High School. Students and their
parents are encouraged to contact counselors if a need arises.
Teachers are asked to see the student's counselor privately if they need to make
a referral. Various counseling groups will be established based on needs
assessment survey and on any obvious need.
A STARS (Students Taking A Right Stand) counselor coordinates efforts to
encourage a drug-free environment at CHS. The STARS counselor accepts
referrals for students showing signs of drug abuse and coordinates counseling
groups for at-risk students.
Our school psychologist is Michelle Peeler. Mrs. Peeler will handle
special educational referrals and evaluations. Michelle is here Tuesday
through Friday of each week. Her office is located in the counseling
center. A speech therapist is also available for students whose
individualized education plan reflects a need for this service.
Teens N Touch, which provides counseling and support for teen parents and
encourages teen abstinence through peer counseling, sponsors support groups and
provides an adult coordinator who also utilizes space in the Counseling Center.
In a continuing effort to provide for the academic and personal needs of our
students, the CHS counseling center also contracts outside agencies to
facilitate small group counseling sessions and supervises interns from area
universities. The counseling staff is always open to suggestions for
additional services we may provide. The CHS faculty and staff are
encouraged to submit suggestions and referrals at any time.
- For more information, please:
Call: 615-472-4282
FAX: 615-472-4283
Write: Centennial Counseling Center
Centennial High School
5050
Mallory Lane
Franklin, TN 37067
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