Student Support Services

U-Prep’s school counselors play a key role in contributing to the school’s close-knit community experience. Their priority is tending to the academic, career and personal/social needs of our students. They provide educational guidance to students and their parents by assisting with schedule planning, recommending courses and determining educational supports and solutions, teaching courses related to career and college readiness (e.g. Senior Transition, Peer Mentoring, Conflict Management), and hosting Parent University nights (e.g. College 101, Financial Aid Night). The U-Prep counselors also facilitate support systems for students based on their needs (e.g. Student Study Team meetings, referrals to community agencies). The administrator, counselor and teacher/advisors, working together, strive to provide the following personalized services to students and parents during the school year:

• Develop an individual educational/career plan, including a Career Education component that may be updated yearly with each student. Naviance is a career and college ready tool used by school counselors and accessible by parents; career plans are included within this program, among many other college planning tools designed for families. Naviance trainings occur during orientation, Parent University nights, Parent Venture, and various other opportunities such as Back to School Night.
• Schedule weekly meetings between advisors and their advisory groups.
• Provide an appointment system that will enable each student to see his/her counselor within a reasonable period of time.
• Conduct parent information nights to disseminate guidance information.
• Arrange for staff/parent/student conferences when appropriate.
• Be available for personal and/or crisis counseling and possible referral to outside resources.
• Instruct both parents and students in school graduation requirements.
• Meet with all students and their parents to discuss career educational goals, career test results and to develop high school plans that will lead the student to goal attainment. The counselor/ advisors of University Preparatory School will meet with each student after their freshman year and during sophomore year for sophomore counseling. The high school counselor meets weekly with the senior students through the Senior Transition course, and a periodic key times with the juniors (i.e. meetings to review PSAT scores, visits to Advisory class). Advisory classes place a heavy emphasis on an array of college and career readiness topics specific and appropriate to the grade-level served. Advisory classes also provide access to Naviance curriculum and resources.