In-House Communication

Throughout the year counselors produce many documents that are distributed to all students (like course catalogs) or used to help with individual student planning (credit check sheets). Click on the headings below for examples of in-house communications.

Appointment Request Form
Counselors see hundreds of students throughout the year, some by drop-in, but many by appointment. This appointment request form serves two purposes: it encourages the student to actively engage with their counselor, and it gives the counselor a bit of a heads-up on the issue(s) that will be involved in the meeting. Click to the link. [Thanks to Harding Guidance]

Course Catalogs
Course Catalogs are valuable resources for students who are making decisions about registration, and parents who need information about the school and its programs. Additionally, they are an important recruting tool when advertising your school for next year's group of incoming freshmen. Click to Highland Park's Course Catalog.

Credit Check Forms
Currently St. Paul counselors must manually track each student's completion of graduation requirements. This process has been complicated in the past when students transfer between the schools which have different schedules. Beginning in fall, 2008 all St. Paul high schools will be on a quarter/semester system, thus simplifying this process.

Attached (click on the heading) is a sample of a credit check form counselors can use to track student's progress toward graduation. [Thanks to Harding and Highland Park Guidance]

Intervention Interview
This interview guide can be used with failing students to help identify ares of concern, existing attitudes toward school, and areas of success. It is an extensive interview, and could be used in whole or in part when working with students. The interview is also available through Naviance as a survey. Click to link. [Thanks to Harding Guidance]

Letter of Recommendation Requests
Fall brings beautiful colors and letters of recommendation requests from students - sometimes it can seem like there are more letters than leaves! Counselors use many different forms to have students prepare and share information that will be used in the letter. Click on the heading above to see some from different departments in the district. [Thanks to Harding and Highland Park Guidance]

Official Transcript Request Form
St. Paul high school guidance offices processes thousands of requests for Official Transcripts each year. This simple form allows students to request transcripts for multiple purposes (applications, mid-year reports, scholarships) and also identify other pertinent elements (additional paperwork, letters of recommendation). Click to link. [Thanks to Highland Park Guidance]

Orientation Handbook
Working with practicum students can be a rewarding experience. One tool to help bring a new practicum student into a busy school is an orientation handbook - one that holds all of those details any new staff members need at their fingertips. Click to link. [Thanks to Marianna Sullivan]

Registration Forms
Counselors seek to create registration materials that are easy for students to understand while containing a wealth of information about requirements and classes. While each school may contain unique programs, often there are common elements of registration forms that can be shared. Click the link to view grade level registration forms. [Thanks to Highland Park Guidance]