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Counseling

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Jennifer Baitinger, M.Ed. School Counselor (grades 1 – 5)

Office hours: M – F, 7:30am – 3:00pm

703-228-8188 (office phone #),  jennifer.baitinger@apsva.us

Yesse Ramirez, M.Ed. School Counselor (Kindergarten)

W: 11:30am – 3:00pm, TH: 7:30am – 3:00pm

703-228-8188 (office phone #), yesenia.ramirez@apsva.us

Introduction to the Randolph counseling program:

The Randolph counseling program is a 2020 RAMP (Recognized ASCA Model Program) recipient. It is aligned with Randolph’s and Arlington Public School’s beliefs and philosophy, counseling mission statement and a privacy/confidentiality statement.

APS MISSION:

The mission of Arlington Public Schools (APS) counselors is to provide a comprehensive guidance program that will assist all students in acquiring the skills, knowledge, and attitudes needed to become effective students, responsible citizens, productive workers and lifelong learners.

The APS School Counseling Program is aligned with the school district’s Strategic Plan Goals: 1) Student Success – Multiple Pathways to Student Success 2) Student Well-being: Healthy, Safe, and Supported Students 3) Engaged workforce 4) Operational excellence; 5) Partnerships: Strong and Mutually Supportive Partnerships. The Strategic Plan Goals are an integral part of each school’s total program with a commitment to individual uniqueness, an understanding of multicultural diversity and the maximum development of human potential.

The counseling program addresses the academic, career and personal/social needs of all students.  Our ultimate goal is for students to graduate from the Arlington Public Schools system with the competencies necessary to be able to make self-directed, realistic and responsible decisions and to be successful contributors to society.  This supports the school system’s goal of preparing students to live and work in a global society.

BELIEFS AND PHILOSOPHY:

The professional school counselors in APS school district believe

  • All students have dignity and worth
  • All students have the right to participate in the school counseling program
  • All students’ ethnic, cultural, racial, sexual differences and special needs are considered in planning, and  implementing the school counseling program
  •  All students K-12 shall have access to a full-time, state-certified, master’s degree level school counselor to deliver the counseling program

The APS comprehensive school counseling program should:

  •  Be based on specified goals and developmental student competencies for all students K-12
  •  Be planned and coordinated by school counselor(s) in collaboration with other stakeholders (school staff, parent or guardian and community representatives)
  • Utilize the many combined resources of the community to deliver programs
  • Collaborate with stakeholders to monitor students’ results
  •  Use data to drive program development and evaluation

All professional school counselors in the APS school district:

  •  Abide by the professional school counseling ethics as advocated by the American School Counselor Association (ASCA)
  •  Participate in professional development activities essential to maintain a quality school counseling program.

Adapted from the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) National Model at www.schoolcounselor.org.

Confidentiality

Privacy and confidentiality are essential to having an effective school counseling program. Randolph recognizes the importance of good communication and good working relationships between students, parents, and the school. Therefore, every effort will be made to protect student and parent privacy rights except under certain limited conditions. These conditions generally included safety issues (harm to self and/others), legal issues, and professional responsibilities (see the ASCA Ethical Standards for School Counselors at www.schoolcounselor.org).