Counseling

COURSE SELECTION TIPS, GUIDELINES & SUPPORTS

There are many decisions that factor into a student’s course selection process for the upcoming school year.  Please review the following points as you begin your planning and make your final choices in your course selection.

ASSESSING COURSE LEVELS

It is very important that students take the appropriate course level that affords them a challenging experience AND the ability to experience success.  It can be easy to get caught up in the pressures of taking a high number of  advanced level  courses.  While some students may find success enrolling in multiple AP/honors classes, that path may not be best suited for others.  

EXPLORING YOUR INTERESTS

York High School has twelve academic departments filled with courses that meet graduation requirements and allow students to explore interests and passions that lead to future careers.  Students are encouraged to use the online course offering book and talk to their school counselor and teachers about the courses that interest them and align with their post-high school plans.

SUPPORTS AVAILABLE

Balance is important when making course selections for the upcoming year.  Families should consider the balance between a student’s academic course load  and their co-curricular activities.  

Academic support and assistance are available for all students. First and foremost, contact with the teacher should be made.  Teachers will be able to help clarify expectations, provide intervention, and offer additional resources to support instruction.  Additional academic supports include: York Tutoring Center (Peer Tutors), Study Tables, Math Support,  and the Math Lab.  Students and parents are encouraged to discuss these academic supports with their teacher and/or counselor.

Although every person handles stress differently, common signs that a student may be overwhelmed with his/her coursework include: feeling discouraged about academic progress, a lack of confidence in quality of their work, missing/incomplete assignments, difficulties in concentrating, and changes in their sleep patterns (too much, too little, or being tired all of the time).  If you notice any of these signs or have other questions or concerns, please be sure to reach out to your student’s school counselor.

2019 FOG Curriculum

ACADEMIC RESOURCES

There are a variety of ways in which students can seek support within the walls of YHS!  

From Peer Tutoring in the Learning Commons, the Math Lab, the Test Make-Up Center (TMC) and our College and Career Resouce Center (CCRC), we have a lot to offer.  

• Academic Resources for York Students
• Academic Supports During the School Day
• Learning Commons & Test Make-Up Center
• Transcript Request Form
• Attendance Office & Absence Guidelines
• AP Course Descriptions
• ACP Program Information

York's College & Career Resource Counselor is Mrs. Amy Thompson.  The work that Mrs. Thompson does complements the comprehensive counseling services that the York Counseling Department provides throughout each student's high school career.  

Junior and Senior students receive the most direct-services from the CCRC, but all students are encouraged to discuss post-secondary planning with their assigned school counselor, in addition to utilizing York's post-secondary planning resources: Naviance and SCOIR.  

Link to: College & Career Resource Center

Link to: SCOIR

Link to: Naviance Student

STANDARDIZED TESTING
York's CEEB Code is 141-805.  This code is necessary when registering for a standardized college admissions test.  

• Concordance Tables: SAT and ACT
• SAT Test Dates 
• ACT Test Dates 
• CollegeBoard (AP, PSAT, SAT Exams)
• IL State Scholar Program
• National Merit Scholarship Corporation

PE Medical Limitation Form

Your confidentiality and privacy as a student is important to  us as school counselors. What you tell us will never be repeated unless you reveal information on harming yourself, harming others, situations of being physically, emotionally, or sexually abused, or we are required by the court or legal proceedings to do so. If there is ever a need to reveal information, we  will ensure that you are aware of this and we will work with you to handle the situation in a way that respects you, your feelings, and your needs. 

York Counseling Department Vision

York Community High School’s Counseling Department’s vision is that all students are college, career and life ready adults who are resilient and meet the challenges and expectations of the 21st century. They are effective communicators, critical thinkers  and creative problem-solvers who achieve their post-secondary goals and aspirations and are happy, productive members of a global society.

York Counseling Department Mission

The mission of the York Counseling Department is to empower all students to discover their full potential by addressing their individual needs through implementation of a comprehensive and data-informed school counseling program. Counselors form strong connections with all students and families in order to support growth and achievement in the areas of academic, college/career, and social/emotional domains.   Counselors work in partnership with all school personnel and stakeholders to advocate for equity, access, and success for every student and ensure that all students become productive citizens and life-long learners who respect and embrace the diversity of others.

York Counseling Department Beliefs:

The counselors at York Community High School believe…

• All students can achieve academic success and graduate college, career, and life ready.

• Students developmental needs are best met by implementing a comprehensive school counseling program that supports academic, social-emotional, and career development. 

• School counselors must be advocates, leaders, collaborators, and consultants who create equitable access to rigorous curriculum, promote self-exploration, and encourage life-ready skills and self-advocacy. 

• School counselors must work in partnership with school personnel and other stakeholders to plan, manage, develop, and evaluate the comprehensive school counseling program in order to maximize student growth and achievement and meet the needs of all students.

• In order to promote the holistic growth and development of all students and promote academic achievement, counselors must analyze data to drive the school counseling program goals,  inform the evidenced based interventions, and evaluate the effectiveness of the counseling program.

• The ethical standards set forth by ASCA and supported by Elmhurst CUSD 205 are paramount in guiding all decisions and work that the counselors perform.